What does everyone use to mass update data card information in PDM Professional? I have thousands of files that I would like to move into PDM and mass update their properties but I do not want to do them one-by-one. They are all dwg files (for now) and I have an excel file that includes all information per file that I would like to map to their data cards. PDMShell is what I have come up with so far and it seems to be very simple. However, there is a cost associated for the advanced version. Does anyone else use anything different? 

The dropdown currently has 2 options, "Show Latest Attached" and "Show All"

We currently just store all our data in file folders on a shared network drive and in general that works well for us.  We mostly do custom jobs that are pretty well self-contained, and we rarely have to revisit them after they are complete.  We simply "Pack and Go" one or more previous projects into a new folder when we start a new project.  I know we don't need PDM Pro, no workflows or sign off processes, no need for support for multiple sites, servers or web access.  These are the main benefits I see we would get:

• Basic File Management - prevent files from getting lost or deleted
• Prevent unintentional changes
• History
• Update/Maintain References
• Searching for files (including custom properties) 

Let me know your experience with PDM Standard:

1. How total many users do you have?
2. Who handles your day-to-day administration?  Answering questions, resolving issues, etc.?
3. Do you need to have someone on-site that is a trained administrator?
4. What benefits have you found using PDM Standard over simple network file folders?
5. What other complications have you run into that take additional time to use PDM vs network file folders?

Thanks for the input!

• I've tried creating a macro - That didn't work.
• I've tried using the SW Task Scheduler - That didn't work
• I've tried the Task Convert in the Administration Tool - That didn't work.
• I also created a new drawfontmap.txt to map fonts.

Each case gave me various results, but I need the SW Drawing formatting, Views, & Fonts to export exactly like the SLDDRW. Also without having the hidden layers get put onto the DWG.

Has anyone had a similar issue that may help my situation?
Thank you.

In the images below, "BOM table 1" is the preview on the file explorer, and "BOM table 2" is the BOM table in the drawing.  I'm looking to see if there's a way to make them match up.

To further clarify my question... When I create a BOM Table in a drawing, the first part and/or assembly in the feature tree is first in the BOM.  It follows that order all the way down and reorganizes based on the feature tree if I change the order of parts/assemblies.  Attached below are the BOMs generated with the feature tree reorganized.  The BOM automatically updates to the order of the feature tree.  

Is there a way to enable this functionality on the Windows File Manager BOM?  It looks like that BOM is static regardless of the structure of the feature tree.  It will update parts I remove and add to the assembly when I check the TLA back in, but it won't be in the order of the actual feature tree.  

I am a fairly new user and am undertaking a cleanup operation of our PDM vault. When the vault was originally set up, categories were not used and only some workflows were created with conditions. For some reason, many, many other workflows were created (see picture attached to understand my pain) and files have ended up here and there, linked to workflows that are not in use and have no conditions. Most of the files are just sitting in an inital state of whatever workflow they landed on.

I would like to begin utilizing categories and condensing down workflows to only have 2-3 at most. However, I need to figure out what to do with all of our existing files. Most of our actual SW files are in a workflow that I am planning on just updating instead of deleting. But, others are in workflows I definitely would intend to delete.

Is there any way I can update or change what workflow an existing file or file type is using? Any recomendations? I don't think me creating categories now would update any existing files into the right workflows...right? Or do I have to make new copies of everything (losing revisions 😞, not to mention there are hundreds of files) for them to enter the proper workflows after the categories are set up?

Any input would be appreciated!

Our Workflows.pdf

We include the revision in our print file naming (e.g., 1234567_A.pdf), so having the revision only on the 3D model is not an option — both must be aligned.

I'm curious how others handle this:

• Do you ensure that 2D and 3D files always follow the same path through the workflow?

• Do you use any methods to synchronize the revision between the 3D model and the referenced drawing?

• Do you rely on manual processes, Dispatch actions, or custom add-ins?

Any insights, best practices, or lessons learned would be greatly appreciated!

Is there any way I can allow duplicate file names for only one state of my workflow? I would like to create a workflow that allows duplicate file names only during the initial "Skunkworks" state. Once a file is ready to advance to the next state, "Prototyping", it should not be allowed to have the same file name as existing files in the workflow (that are also already beyond the initial state).

Or, is there any way to achieve allowing duplicate file names in a particular folder only?

P.S. We have PDM Pro 🙂

TIA!

There are the part numbers MF102-G0213-6000, MF102-G0213-6001, MF102-G0213-6002, MF102-G0213-6003, MF102-G0213-6004, ...

distributed across the different configurations (K2501A, K2501B, K2502A,....)

The screenshot shows how the PDM system outputs the data.
The PDM system does not display all part numbers.

The second picture shows my search settings from Quick Search.
Who could reveal whether this output is possible in the PDM system?

Regards
Thomas

We can drop and drag files into a SWx assembly from the File Explorer Vault. 

We can pick files within the current open folder, when the Vault interface opens within SWx.

I can create an assembly from a part or assembly.

However, during Insert Component, a search of the Vault from within SWx freezes the system and only Task Manager can get us out.

Has anyone run across this and found how to fix it?  In the interim, I'm having him drag and drop from File Explorer... 

Thank you for your help!

I've created many cool time-saving tools within PDM, but this one has me stumped. Has anyone ever created/developed a Progress Bar for the user who performed a right-click Task within PDM for a task that runs on a separate Task Station? If so, how did you go about it? Do you happen to have a file to share?

I continually get questioned: "Is the Task Station down?"
My response after opening up the admin tool to see the status, "Yes. It's running. Be Patient"

Thanks,
Rick

How can I fill in the current revision desc of all checked-in status files at one time in order to prepare for the next modification of status?

THANKS😃

Hello, there is a problem.Though I have already give them (all files) a desc that INITIAL RELEASE when I first checked them in PDM , it also remained me some files have variable revision desc when I change files' state next.

 B R.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Creating a Workflow Condition for a Specific File Type | GoEngineer

The argument should NOT contain an equal sign. it should just show %.doc%

This threw us off for a few weeks, but some other resources helped set it right.