SolidWorks Integration Best Practices · S s • 3 2 2 Agenda • Some EPDM Basics • The basics of the EPDM SolidWorks Integration • Challenges for EPDM SolidWorks Users SolidWorks

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SolidWorks Enterprise PDM

SolidWorks Integration Best Practices

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Agenda

• Some EPDM Basics

• The basics of the EPDM SolidWorks Integration

• Challenges for EPDM SolidWorks Users

• SolidWorks Libraries

• Message Windows

• Tips and Techniques

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My Background

Justin Webster

Director – InFlow Technology

Computer Aided Technology / InFlow Technology

• 5+ Years working with EPDM

• Overseen 120+ EPDM implementations as consulting manager for InFlow

Technology

• 14 years experience in CAD/PLM Industry

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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

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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

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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

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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


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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 Version Version in the cache

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Enterprise PDM Task Pane Preview

• Version specific preview

• Custom properties

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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…


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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 Options

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Enterprise PDM Options

• Refresh options can improve

performance

• Vault settings related to serial

numbers (only admin can update

these settings)


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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


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Enterprise PDM View Settings

• Turn task pane icons on/off

• Change the background colors


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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

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Shortcuts

• Keyboard Commands

• Mouse Gestures

EPDM SW Integration - Other

Keyboard Shortcuts Mouse Gestures

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What is the hardest part of managing SolidWorks files in EPDM?

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

EPDM Challenges for SolidWorks users

VERSIONS

VERSION LINKS

CACHE

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In EPDM, check out the contains tab:


Version 6 Version 7

Look for Bold numbers

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Caching issues...

• In EPDM both drawings are the latest Version


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Caching issues…

• In EPDM both drawings are the latest Version


eDrawings SolidWorks

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More signs...

• The assembly is the latest version

• There is no record of changing the assembly

Yesterday


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More signs...

• The assembly is the latest version

• There is no record of changing the assembly


Today

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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!

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Why is it complicated?

Understanding references…


111

V1 V1 V1

V1

V1

222 333 444

V2

V2

111 V2

444

V3

V3

444

V1

555

V2

333

Which version of the assembly references the which version of the part?

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Understanding the cache

• The cache is the location on your machine where the file is downloaded

• The cache contains every file you have viewed or edited

• The version tab shows you what version of the file is in your cache


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Tips to help make sure you are using up to date references...

• Look at your task pane

• Look at contains and where used


There should be no bold numbers If the part file has no parents, your assembly needs updating…

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Always pay attention to the reference dialogs when you check in


Local Ver. column is bold when it does not match New Ver.

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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

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Check Out warning

• You will see this when you are opening a file that is read-only

• You can turn off this message


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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

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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


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File is not rebuilt

• Flag is triggered when children are saved after the parents

• Can indicate that your assembly is not up to date


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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

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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


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Shortcuts

• Adding links under Favorites

• Add shortcuts to browse and search the vault


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User settings control your user experience

• Automatically include children during change state or check out

• Controls which menus to show/hide

User Settings

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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

SolidWorks Library














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QUESTIONS???

For video replays:

http://www.cati.com/sww2013

http://www.cati.com/sww2012

Documents

SolidWorks Integration Best Practices · S s • 3 2 2 Agenda • Some EPDM Basics • The basics of the EPDM SolidWorks Integration • Challenges for EPDM SolidWorks Users SolidWorks