Tag Archives: Troubleshooting

Using Convert Tasks in Enterprise PDM with Multiple Versions of SolidWorks

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Bill Mitchell

Many times it is a necessity to have multiple versions of SolidWorks installed on a computer serving as a Task Host for Enterprise PDM. One common problem with this type of Task Host is that an older version of SolidWorks may be set as the default application for SolidWorks file types. Since the older version of SolidWorks will fail to open the newer SolidWorks files the task requested by EPDM will fail.

Here are two adjustments that administrators can add to any Convert Task to help address this issue:

- Navigate to the specific Convert task in the Enterprise PDM Administration application.

- Open the task and select the ‘Output File Details’ settings section.

- Select the ‘Advanced Scripting Options’.

- Add the following statement to the script as shown: swApp.Visible = True

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will force SolidWorks to be visible during the conversion which can be helpful to see if the task properly launches the required client-side version of SolidWorks.

- Select the appropriate version of SolidWorks to use from the highlighted pull-down menu.

- Using the <Use default> option may cause the wrong version of SolidWorks to launch. Specifying the correct version can prevent a task failure due to future file version issues.

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Zero Thickness Geometry Explained

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Quinton Rocke

From time to time you may have received one of these error messages in SolidWorks:

  • Unable to create this feature because it would result in zero-thickness geometry.
  • The model could not be properly sectioned by the section line. Please check that the section line cuts through the model.

These messages will commonly occur when edges or vertices in a solid model do not properly connect with adjacent geometry. To put it simply every edge of a solid body must have exactly two adjacent faces.  Some examples of zero thickness are:

SolidWorks does not allow zero thickness geometry because it can lead to mathematical problems and downstream errors in the model.  If your unable to avoid the zero thickness design one quick way to work around this limitation is to disable the “Merge result” option of a boss/solid feature.

It is important to note that not merging the results of a solid feature will create a multi-body part.

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DDi CADcast 2013 What’s New: Administration & Installation

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Enrique Garcia

This DDi CADcast covers the new enhancements to the administration and installation functionality in SolidWorks 2013.

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Microsoft Pre-Requisites for SolidWorks 2013

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Michael Nolte

With the new version of SolidWorks that came out October 9th, 2012 along comes new Microsoft pre-requisites.

So here is the run down straight from the SolidWorks.com knowledge base. (If you don’t have a login to your customer portal account on SolidWorks.com be sure to create one)

Solution Id: S-059286

- Bonjour
(NEW for SolidWorks 2013; this is required for PhotoView 360 Network Render Client)
- Microsoft® .NET Framework 4.0 Client Profile & Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 Extended
(NEW for SolidWorks 2013; both are installed, in parallel, with a single EXE.
- Microsoft® .NET Framework 3.5*
(*.NET Framework 3.0 is a core component of Windows® Vista, so .NET Framework 3.5 will be installed if it is not detected. .NET Framework 3.5 is a core component of Windows® 7 and should not need to be installed)
- Microsoft Office 2003 Web Components
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Applications (VSTA)

Additional 64-bit Pre-Requisites

- Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (x64 version)
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable (x64 version)
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable (x64 version)
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Remote Debugger Light (x64 only)

The Installation Manager (IM) will install all of these components automatically if they are not already installed.

Note: for Administrative Images that have been created without the Installation Manager, these components MUST be deployed separately BEFORE the SolidWorks installation is deployed. The installer files for these components can be found in the PreReqs folder of the SolidWorks 2013 media (DVD/download).

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Search Routine for Referenced Documents

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Quinton Rocke

Most users don’t realize how SolidWorks searches for referenced files during the open process.  This lack of knowledge can contribute to many common file management issues. Even with a good PDM system like Enterprise PDM it is still very valueable to understand the search routine SolidWorks follows.  To view the search routine you can search the SolidWorks help for the term “search routine for referenced documents“.

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