SolidWorks Enterprise PDM
SolidWorks Integration Best Practices
Agenda
Some EPDM Basics
The basics of the EPDM SolidWorks Integration
Challenges for EPDM SolidWorks Users
SolidWorks Libraries
Message Windows
Tips and Techniques
My Background
Justin Webster
Director – InFlow Solutions
Computer Aided Technology / InFlow Technology
5+ Years working with EPDM
Overseen 90+ EPDM implementations as consulting manager for InFlow Technology
14 years experience in CAD/PLM Industry
Enterprise PDM Basics
Basic Terms Version – an iteration in the history of a file
Get Version – retrieving a particular version from the vault
Get Latest Version – retrieving the latest available version from the vault
Check In/Out – Releasing/Taking ownership of the files
Change State – Send a file along a workflow (i.e. Submit for Approval)
Data Card – information card that shows the properties of a file in the vault
EPDM SW Integration Interface
The Task Pane Toolbar
Status Icons
Columns
Preview
Enterprise PDM Menu EPDM Operations
EPDM Options
Right Click Options
Additional Options
Mouse Gestures
Shortcuts
EPDM SW Integration Interface
Get Latest Version
Get Version
Check Out
Check In
Change State
Properties
Replace Toolbox
Where Used
Browse to Folder
Zoom to Selection
Open file
Edit file Search
EPDM SW Integration Interface
Task Pane Icons Each file in the task pane will have a status
Once a file is modified, a pencil appears
Once the file is saved, the green icon appears
Once the file is checked in, the grey icon appears
EPDM SW Integration Interface
Task Pane Columns Customized under options
Version column is important
Quick Child Info
Check Out status
Workflow Status
“-” means file is different than vault
Latest Vault VersionVersion in the cache
EPDM SW Integration Interface
Enterprise PDM Task Pane Preview Version specific preview
Custom properties
EPDM SW Integration Interface
Enterprise PDM Menu Operations like Get Version and Check In/Out
With no selection, applies to active window
If assembly, highlighting a part will change focus
Options…
EPDM SW Integration Options
Enterprise PDM Server Options Show warning message if modifying a checked in file
Data card when new file is saved
Prompt to check out file if opened read-only
EPDM SW Integration Interface
Enterprise PDM Options Refresh options can improve performance
Vault settings related to serial numbers (only admin can update these settings)
EPDM SW Integration Options
Enterprise PDM View Settings Displaying properties in the task pane
Column header name
Displaying properties in the preview
Displaying a property as part of the filename column
Each property has to be set
EPDM SW Integration Options
Enterprise PDM View Settings Turn task pane icons on/off
Change the background colors
EPDM SW Integration - Other
Right Click Options Get Latest Version
Get Version
Check Out/In
Undo Check Out
Properties
RMB – Highlight Part RMB – Feature Tree
EPDM SW Integration - Other
Shortcuts Keyboard Commands
Mouse Gestures
Keyboard Shortcuts Mouse Gestures
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
What is the hardest part of managing SolidWorks files in EPDM?
VERSIONS
To be successful with 3D CAD and EPDM, you must understand:
• The basics of version control
• Version specific parent-child relationships
• The local client cache
VERSION LINKS
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
If you want to understand something…
…break it into pieces!
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
Why is it complicated?
Let’s break it down…
111
V1 V1 V1
V1
V1
222 333 444
V2
V2
111V2
444
V3
V3
444
V1
555
V2
333
Does the latest version of the assembly reference the latest version of the part?
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
Are my assemblies and drawings using the latest children?
There will be signs everywhere!
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
In EPDM, check out the contains tab:
Version 6 Version 7
Look for Bold numbers
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
And when you “Get Version”
You will see the Referenced Version is different than the Latest Version
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
More signs... In EPDM both drawings are the latest Version
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
More signs... In EPDM both drawings are the latest Version
eDrawings SolidWorks
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
More signs... The assembly is the latest version
There is no record of changing the assembly
Yesterday
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
More signs... The assembly is the latest version
There is no record of changing the assembly
Today
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
If users are having trouble, you will hear things like…
It opened fine yesterday!
The EPDM Preview looks different than SolidWorks!
How did my task pane get all red?
It looked good on my PC!
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
There should be no bold numbers
Tips to help make sure you are using up to date references... Look at your task pane
Look at contains and where used
If the part file has no parents, your assembly needs updating…
EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users
Always pay attention to the reference dialogs when you check in
Local Ver. column is bold when it does not match New Ver.
SolidWorks Library
Using the Design Library in the EPDM Vault
The files in the library folders must be cached to show
Use “auto caching” tool to make sure libraries are up to date
Auto caching tool can be hooked to SolidWorks launch command or on machine startup
http://www.inflow-tech.com/resource-center/plm-pdm-custom-applications-download.php
EPDM SW Integration Messages
Read only document warning You will see this when you flag a SolidWorks file as modified if it is not checked out
Only use “Don’t ask me again” if you are absolutely sure you know what you are modifying. The message will be gone during that session
Make sure you look for the “pencil” icon in the task pane
You can continue to work on the file.
EPDM SW Integration Messages
Check Out warning You will see this when you are opening a file that is read-only
You can turn off this message
EPDM SW Integration Messages
File is open in another application If you try to check out a file from Windows Explorer when it is open in SolidWorks
Normally this is set to an error, but it can be changed to a warning
If you are allow to check out the file, it will not change the read only status in SW
EPDM SW Integration Messages
Confirm Replace Checked Out File If you perform a Get Version when you have the file checked out and modified
Get Version will go to the vault and replace your file
Your changes will be discarded
EPDM SW Integration Tips
Avoid annoying “Save As” messages If files are not checked out but they get modified, you will get a “Save As” dialog for
each read-only file in session
Change the setting below in the SolidWorks Options menu
EPDM SW Integration Tips
Use File Explorer Previews are available
Clicking on a file will cache (if not already)
Simply drag and drop into SolidWorks
EPDM SW Integration Tips
Shortcuts Adding links under Favorites
Add shortcuts to browse and search the vault
EPDM SW Integration Questions
QUESTIONS???
http://www.cati.com/sww2012
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