Hello, in solidworks 2019
I designed an interface part directly in an assembly. I now want to recover holes in another assembly and solidworks forbids me to do so.
Moreover, despite the fact that all the files are open, when I changed the name of the assembly 1 file (proto ref to serial ref), the relationship of the part still points to the proto ref.
Solutions?
Hello
The subject of external refs is always difficult to deal with. But to have multiple contexts, start by checking these system options:
Need: Allow the creation of external part numbers to the model
Part Component Type: Any Component
For the context, it is to be seen according to your way of working and structuring your constructions.
Locking or deleting an external ref can also solve your problem.
Hello;
Changing the " Designation " of an assembly or component should not change its relationship to other components.
Only renaming the files can have this effect.
To check the relationships between your elements in the assembly and optionally point them to other files or locations:
=> Open menu (Solidworks) and then, pointing to your assembly, click on References...
Finally, to " Retrieve " holes from another assembly, make sure you are in Solved mode... and even then, it is possible that Solidworks is a little reluctant to duplicate the function to your new part.
Kind regards
Note: As much as possible, I advise you not to overuse external references... " Ok " during the " research/design " phase but remember to delete them as soon as possible (or at least lock them)...
Hello @Maclane
I'd like to take advantage of your intervention to ask if it's possible to directly modify the name of the referenced file in an assembly, rather than just its path, for example if we renamed it, or to alternate.
Edit: Ha I'm stupid, just click on the 1st column to edit it. 
Indeed, you have to recover and then remove the external refs
