Hello Andy,
no problem to discuss on that topic
"push the info inputed within WC down to the final drawing by way of a superimposed image on a blank designated spot on the pro/e drawing where the bom and/or rev history block used to be??? If that's the case sounds awesome!"
It is exactly what I propose ... but unfortunately , not yet Out of the Box.
PTC works on some enhancements for CreOView and watermarking.... to be able to dynamically load in CreoView some custom attributes (today when opening a drawing, even if linked to a WTPart, we have only draw attributes .. not wtpart, change , etc ...)
And I suggest you to vote for my idea:
http://communities.ptc.com/ideas/1065
Today , you've got some solutions :
-the basic one, just print the info page of the WTPart, the BOM report, and the associated Drawing.
-there's a custom hook that permit to add in ProE file some attributes (for example WTpart number, Change Notice number , etc ...) as System parameter (like REV and REV_DESCRIPTION) . But in that case , it's more a workaround, as it is not dynamic. because stored in the proe file as parameter.
-a more user friendly way is to build a cognos report, based on the BOM report, and add some change Info and the pdf file of the converted (by the worker) drawing
-today , we use a custom function (based on Itext, a free java library that permit to build PDF files). We take the pdf converted by the ProE worker, and then add superimposing attributes (wtpart number, version , lifecycle states, etc ...). Superimposing is more complicated than just adding a secondary sheet, as you have to define the block size (for example by drawing format, etc ...) but nothing impossible and easy to define if your drawings are normalized ...
In my previous company, drawings have no more table. only the "geometrical drawing part", and a link to the wtpart ... all the other informations were printed dynamically on demand. It was realy the WTpart that is the "REFERENCE"
Next step is no more drawings :-) full 3D definition with FTA ..... but at least for internal use.... in a "no drawing" PLM context/company ... still need to be able to visualize FTA annotations ... notably for exchange with sub contractors, or a shop floor, that do not necessary have an access to internal PLM and Viz or same CAD tool ... for that PTC and other PLM vendors really need to understand that there will always have the need to print some "paper" , or freely vizualize 3D FTA model : free Product View express can't viz the FTA annotation ... so I can't deliver a 3D model with a viewer ...
just my thought