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Quickly Replacing Components that Assemble Many Times
by Jhirad Elkin, HP Indigo Division
Large assemblies have long model trees and include many standard parts such as screws, washers, studs, and so on. When you have to replace one of these parts in several locations, making your selections in the model tree is very complicated.
To simplify the task, you can use the search function and filter the component in the model tree, so that you highlight only the component to be replaced. You then use the Replace option. In our company we have a library of standard parts based on family tables, so replacement of a component is much faster.
The model shown below illustrates a typical scenario. The task is to replace 32 screws (marked in red) in an assembly with about 400 components. The bolts are assembled in many locations, and the model tree is very long.
Here’s what to do.
1. Click on  or under EDIT menu.
2. When the Search Tool dialog box opens, select Component.
3. Make the check box blank.
4. Enter the screw name and click on Find Now.
5. The results will be appear on the left side of the template and in the model tree. Select all the screws.
 
6. Move all the screws to the selected items row.
7. Select all the screws and click Options.
8. Select the options indicated below.
9. Select Close.
10. All screws in the model and model tree are now highlighted. Use the right mouse button or click on EDIT, REPLACE to use the Replace option. Note that you can unselect some of the screws only from the model tree (using the CTRL key).
11. In the Replace Comp dialog box, select Family Table.
12. Click on the selected model and select the new screw.
13. Click OK.
14. Check the model tree to make sure all the screws have been replaced.
These steps are based on using Wildfire 2.0. If anyone would like to use this technique in Pro/ENGINEER 2001, please contact me for the instructions. 
Elkan Jhirad is a product engineer at HP Indigo Division in Rehovot, Israel. He can be reached by e-mail at elkan.jhirad@hp.com.
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