Unfortunately my daily driver is SW2017, so I’m firmly stuck in the past. Hopefully we’ll get to upgrade this summer.
Yeah, that far back I wouldn’t trust flexible or virtual components as much. Virtual used to lose the internal files due to bugs. That wasn’t fun and we didn’t use them for a while.
I would wait for a bit more. SW2022 was quite stable, but the branch SW2023 and SW2024 is likely based on, is not so much and there are quite annoying bugs.
SW 2024 has fixed a lot of critical UI related flaws in the PDM administration, but the CAD has some annoyances, a new hole wizard logic.
Didn’t read 100% of replies. But I agree Virtual components are useful for purchased item assemblies. One downside is if there are shared components between multiple assemblies, then improving one subassembly or component doesn’t help the other instances if the sub is virtual.
There is a macro floating around the interweb that removes the “Copy of” text that annoyingly gets added to component names when changed to virtual.
As far as multibody vs assembly. I think assembly wins in most cases. It’s much easier to work on and improve. Performance difference is negligible… except if you use Exterior Faces option! But then you are simplifying a lot, and you might want to keep a copy of part and assembly. If the assembly is huge even exterior faces might be an excessive part file.
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