Tag Archives: PDM

Upgrading the SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Service

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Brad Rach

Upgrading the Workgroup PDM vault is often a process filled with frustration between orchestrating it with the users and insuring that all the data is maintained.

Upgrading the Workgroup PDM service is actually a very simple task which can be accomplished in 4 easy steps.

Step one: Create a backup of the VaultData folder. This can be accomplished by copying the folder onto a “backup” drive, creating a zip copy of the vault data folder or simply backing up the entire drive/machine.

Step two: Stop the Workgroup Service. Do this by accessing the “View Local Services” window, scrolling down and selecting SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Server, then select Stop the Service.

Step three: Run the SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Server installer. When the installer prompts for a serial number, simply insert your SolidWorks serial number for a Professional or Premium installation. Upon reaching the page for “Authentication Code” insure you have internet connection and press the button for “Get Code”. Continue through the installation until completion.

Step four: Restart the SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Server service which was stopped in step two. The SolidWorks Workgroup service will not proceed through project rebuild and be available for access upon completion.

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Upgrading SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Add-ins

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Bill Mitchell

Many PDM Administrators use Dispatch and the SolidWorks Task Scheduler as part of their SolidWorks Enterprise PDM implementation. These powerful tools unlock a large amount of automation for workflows but are version specific and need to be manually upgraded as part of any Enterprise PDM upgrade plan. The reason for this is that these add-ins can be customized. Allowing an automatic upgrade process to upgrade the DLL may risk the loss of the customization or scripting.

To upgrade the add-ins first complete the Enterprise upgrade process described in the Installation Guide, found under <Extracted Service Pack Install>\Support\Guides\GB\Installation Guide.pdf

After upgrading, log into the Enterprise Vault Administration application and expand the Add-ins section to verify which version of the add-in is running. The version will show in a numerical form YYYYSSBBBB.

Example: 2012040813

  • YYYY – Major Version (e.g. 2012)
  • SS – Service Pack (e.g. 04 = SP4)
  • BBBB – Build Number (e.g. 0813)

If an older version is found to be on the vault then upgrade the existing task add-in.

  1. Log in as Admin to the Enterprise Vault Administration application on an upgraded client.
  2. Select File > Open and browse to c:\program files\solidworks enterprise pdm\default data\
  3. Load the “Convert_GB.cex” file.
  4. Drag-and-drop the SWTaskAddIn to the add-ins node (not the Convert Task node).
  5. Select ‘Yes’ to update the existing add-in.

Exit Enterprise PDM and log in again to the Vault View to ensure the updated add-in is loaded. The Task Host Configuration in the client computers system tray will show the updated add-in is loaded.

 

 

 

 

** NOTE ** Once the add-in is upgraded you may still need to update any custom modifications to the existing task script.

 

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DDi CADcast 2013 What’s New: Workgroup & Enterprise PDM

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Cody Armstrong

This DDi CADcast covers the new features and enhancements to the Workgroup and Enterprise PDM in SolidWorks 2013.

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Creating a PDF upon check in of drawings in Workgroup PDM

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Cody Armstrong

There is an option built into Workgroup PDM that allows the user to automatically create PDF’s upon check-in of drawing files.  In the SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Vault Admin tool on the “Vault Settings” tab you will see an option to “Create PDF files in the vault on normal check in of SolidWorks drawings”.With this option checked, Workgroup PDM will automatically create a PDF of each drawing during the check in.  The PDF is not checked into the vault as a separate file, instead it is attached to the drawing file.  To access the PDF you must right-click the drawing in either the File Explorer tab in the SolidWorks Task Pane or in SolidWorks Explorer and select “View Document as PDF”.

Note: The PDF is overwritten each time a drawing is checked in, so it is not possible to review PDF’s from previous revisions.

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Enterprise PDM recover deleted files

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Michael Nolte

Suppose you just deleted a file by mistake and are in need of getting it back. What options do you have? Typically there are two routes towards fixing the situation, to restore the file or to check in a new file of the same name (essentially replacing the entry).

Two easy options, both of which are located on the “Deleted Items” tab of the “Enterprise PDM Vault Properties” dialog for the local vault view. (Right click over the Enterprise PDM blueberry, select properties, then switch to the “Deleted Items” tab)

Option 1 – “Recover” the file
Navigate to the “Deleted Items” tab of your local vault properties, check the “Include items in sub-folders” box, then right click over the file in question and select “Recover”. The file will be restored back into the original directory.

Option 2 – “Destroy” the file
Typically to check in a new file into the Enterprise PDM Vault it must be of a unique file name (depending on settings). If a file is to replaced the old instance must be deleted and then destroyed before you can check in another file of the same file name. In our scenario above the file is deleted already but we can’t check in a new file of the same name in until we “Destroy” the file from the Deleted Items tab.

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