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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


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


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


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


Enterprise PDM Task Pane Preview Version specific preview

Custom properties


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


Enterprise PDM Options Refresh options can improve performance

Vault settings related to serial numbers (only admin can update these settings)


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


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


If you want to understand something…

…break it into pieces!


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?


Are my assemblies and drawings using the latest children?

There will be signs everywhere!


In EPDM, check out the contains tab:

Version 6 Version 7

Look for Bold numbers


And when you “Get Version”

You will see the Referenced Version is different than the Latest Version


More signs... In EPDM both drawings are the latest Version


More signs... In EPDM both drawings are the latest Version

eDrawings SolidWorks


More signs... The assembly is the latest version

There is no record of changing the assembly

Yesterday


More signs... The assembly is the latest version

There is no record of changing the assembly

Today


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!


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…


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.


Check Out warning You will see this when you are opening a file that is read-only

You can turn off this message


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


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


Use File Explorer Previews are available

Clicking on a file will cache (if not already)

Simply drag and drop into SolidWorks


Shortcuts Adding links under Favorites

Add shortcuts to browse and search the vault

EPDM SW Integration Questions

QUESTIONS???

http://www.cati.com/sww2012

For video replays:

http://www.cati.com/sww2012

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