DS_Don

I am trying to create an "Alt" project that is very similar to an existing project. Is there a way to make a duplicate copy of a project?

fryeguy

Well the simple answer is to check out a project, right click, and pick Copy Project.

You should also determine where in your \My Documents\D-Tools SI5 Projects\Client Name\Project Name\ heirarchy you want to place the copied project.

Once you copy the project it will show up in the navigator with the same project number, client name and the project name will be "Copy of Original Project Name".

The file name will also be Original Project Name.dtl and will be located where you put it.

From the navigator you can right click on the project (verify the little arrow is shown to the left of the item) and select View Project Information. Click Edit and you can change Client Name, Project Name, and Project Number.

Changing the the filename is harder. Not sure how this works...

fryeguy

Can anyone shed some light on copying a project and then changing the name of the DTL file?

Travis R

A word of caution : When I first tried to "copy" a project it was a disaster!! the two projects were linked together, so when you changed one the other would change and it allowed two users to check in the same project. It sucked.

The way I do it now:

I have an existing project [proj A] that I want to copy.

I create a new project [Proj B] and set up all the important info like name and locations and such. Then create a new visio drawing. open the drawing, select -tools>insert system> navigate to [Proj A] and select all products and packages and it's done.

Now go into [Proj B] and clean up things like Misc Cost, Locations, Saleman, Designer or what ever. The important thing is that the bulk of the work is done.

I have a client that I created called Design (that's me). I use it to test these types of things now.


Another use of this is: I take a new job that I know is similar and print the pick list, then wipe the data matrix clean then insert system from a know good asbuilt and my work went from a two task to 3 hours.

This took some trial and error, but I've done it 40-50 times. does anyone have a better idea?

AE Engineer

Insert system is the best way I have found. When you copy the project, all of the data is copied, project numbers, project names, ect. It also copies all of the non-default data you may or may not want, like difficuly factors, +/- equipment margins, reduced or increased labor rates, all of the stuff you may forget about in the options file in the project. If you create a new project, then insert system, you are creating all new difficulties and margin rates that you can modify if you want, but it is not something you forget about. The only Time I copied a project it had reduced labor rates and a -15% margin correction on equipment because the job was for a friend of the owner of our company!!!! My god was that a mistake, It took me almost a week to catch where all of my profit had gone!

Insert system is the absolute best idea

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