There are three SOLIDWORKS PDM Display Types available in the Windows Explorer Local Vault:

• Show Files
• Show Bills of Materials
• Show Search Results

They can be found under the Display menu as shown below:

SOLIDWORKS PDM Display Types

Show Files

Show Files, is the default and most commonly used. This is the view, that displays the files and folders, that are part of your vault.

Show Files

Show Bills of Materials

Show Bills of Materials, will display all Named (saved)  BOMs, in a selected folder.

Show Bills of Materials

Show Search Results

Show Search Results, will show a selected Search Card and once the Search is launched, will display the results of the Search.

Show Search Results

Additional Search Cards can be selected from the Search menu, in the top-right of the Vault View.

Search Cards

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM Display Types in the Windows Explorer Local Vault appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

Every so often we’ll get a question from a SOLIDWORKS PDM user about the Windows Status Bar.

The Status Bar can provide a lot of useful information for Windows Users, such as the number of files in a folder, number of items selected and the total file size of the selected items.

Windows Status Bar

However the Status Bar is turned off by default in the SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault View, so users who frequently make use of the Status Bar may wonder how to get it back.

To turn it back on is very simple.  Go to  “Organize” then “Change folder and search options”.

Organize > Change folder and search options

Go to the “View” tab and find the check box for “Show status bar” and check it.

Folder Options

Once this is enabled it will display the Status Bar at the bottom of the Vault View, just as it would be displayed outside the vault.

Status Bar displayed in Vault View

The post Enabling the Windows Status Bar in SOLIDWORKS PDM appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional license are available in two basic formats, Processor Site Licenses (PSL), and individual Client Access Licenses (CAL).

Client Access Licenses are available as a single CAD Editor, single Contributor license or in 5 packs of Viewer licenses.  The client installation must match the CAL license version that is available on the SolidNetWork License Manager.  So for instance if you accidentally set up a client to use a Contributor license but you only have CAD Editor CALs, the user will be presented with an error when trying to log into the vault because that license type is not available.  To resolve this, the license type on the client would need to be modified.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional license

If you purchased a SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional PSLs however, it can provide a license to any client installation of SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional, whether that installation is set to use CAD Editor, Contributor or Viewer license types.

You can also use a combination of PSLs and individual CALs on a single SolidNetWork License Manager (either merged onto a single PDM Serial Number or using multiple serial numbers).

When a combination of PSLs and individual CALs are being served by a single SolidNetWork License Manager, by default the client will try to acquire the individual license first, and then if that is not available, it will look for an available PSL.

Processing a License Request

So, for instance, if a client is set to use SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional CAD Editor and the user tries to log into the vault the following steps will occur:

1. First, it will check if a CAD Editor license is available on the SolidNetWork License Manager.  If there is a SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional CAD Editor license available, it will take that license for the user.
2. If no CAD Editor license is available, it will then look for a SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Processor License (PSL) and take one if available.
3. If neither license types are available it will report to the user that no licenses are available and they cannot log into the vault.

Changing the License Order

If you wish to change the default license order, this is very easy to do using the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Client on the user’s computer.

Simply go to the “License Order” tab and select the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Processor License and click “Move Up” to move the PSL above the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional CAD Editor license so that it will take the PSL first.

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager license order

The post How SOLIDWORKS PDM Processor Site Licenses & Client Access Licenses work together appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Full Row Select is one of the most useful interface options in the PDM Vault View and is often one of the most commonly overlooked.

This feature allows you to select a file by clicking in any column, not just the file name.  This can be a real time saver if you have many columns in your vault view.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Full Row Select enabled

NOTE: To use Full Row Select effectively you should have your Vault View set to use Detail View.

In your SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault View pick on Display > Options > Full Row Select to enable this interface option.

Display > Options > Full Row Select

The post Are you using Full Row Select in your SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault View? appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Dispatch is a very powerful tool in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional.

However as the number of Dispatch Actions grows, the right-click shortcut menu list can get larger and larger, as shown below:

SOLIDWORKS PDM Dispatch Menu listing is quite large

At this time there is no way to filter out Dispatch Actions so that they only show for some Users or Group, or so that they only display in certain folders.

It is possible though to organize the Dispatch Actions into sub or fly out menus in the right-click shortcut menu.

Separate menu items with a backslash

In the Dispatch Action settings, under the Menu Command, the sub menus and command text can be separated using a back slash.

So Dispatch\Rename\Rename with Drawing Numbers will result in a fly out menu named “Dispatch” with a sub fly out menu named “Rename” and finally the command named “Rename with Drawing Numbers” as shown in the figure below;

Flyout menu applied

The post Organizing SOLIDWORKS PDM Dispatch Menu Commands appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

A question I often come across while on tech support is:

“How do I retrieve an old SOLIDWORKS PDM File Version from within my Vault and save it as a new version so that the versions in between remain preserved?”

SOLIDWORKS PDM File Version

Navigate to and select the file you’d like to get an older version of, then click on Actions > Get Version and select the older SOLIDWORKS PDM file version you’d like to retrieve.

Get Version

You can also select Get Version from the right-click shortcut menu.

Older Version Warnings

NOTE: the ‘Version 2/3’, ‘Local version: 2’ and ‘Latest version: 3’.

There is also an alert on the version tab to let you know that you do not have the latest version of this file on your local hard disk.

Right-click and Copy and Paste the file from PDM Vault to a local drive.

Check Out the file in PDM Vault.

File Check Out

Note: the local version updates to same as the latest version. In SOLIDWORKS PDM you can only check out the latest version of the files.

Copy and Paste the file from the local drive to the PDM Vault.

Warning: Replace File

Select Yes to replace the file in the PDM Vault or Yes to All if multiple files are selected.

Check In the file in the PDM Vault. Latest version 4 is same as version 2 and the version 3 is preserved.

The post How to retrieve an old version from within the PDM vault and save it as a new version appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

New in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional 2019 we now have the ability to use mixed login types between Windows Login (Active Directory) and SOLIDWORKS PDM login (Archive server managed).  Previously for a vault; when Windows Login was selected all users (outside of the default ‘admin’ account) had to be pulled from Active Directory.

Choose default login type

Now the vault administrator has the ability to add users that are not a part of active directory but require access to the vault.

How to enable SOLIDWORKS PDM Mixed Login

• Start > Programs > SOLIDWORKS PDM > Archive Server Configuration
  • Tools > Default Settings
    • Windows Login > Check ‘Allow SOLIDWORKS PDM Login’

Allow SOLIDWORKS PDM Login

This will allow users to be added via Windows login or SOLIDWORKS PDM login

New Add User Options

Why is a SOLIDWORKS PDM Mixed Login useful?

In some environments, it makes sense for vault administrators to have multiple logins; one used for administration and the other that’s a regular user.  This is a good idea as it prevents users from accidentally making a change that should only be limited to vault administrators (for example; checking out a released file etc.).

I generally recommend against sharing the ‘admin’ account, as it makes it difficult to track who made which change via the Administration Tool history when there are multiple users using the same account.

With this new functionality; we have the ability for multiple accounts to be available for users, without creating additional accounts within the Windows Domain.  The regular user accounts can be obtained from active directory via the Windows login type and the administrator accounts can be created via SOLIDWORKS PDM login (Archive server managed).

In a replicated environment; the replicated archive server isn’t always connected to the same domain as the primary archive server.  This makes the replicated archive server unable to obtain users from active directory (AD).  With this new functionality; user accounts for the replicated office can be created via SOLIDWORKS PDM Login without the archive server needing to obtain the accounts from AD.

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Mixed Login Types appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

SOLIDWORKS PDM User Default Value is new in SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019, whereby we can automatically define the logged in user as the default value within a Search Card.

How to define the logged in user as the default value for the search card variable Checked Out by User

• Administration Tool > Cards > Search Cards > [Card Name]

For this example, we’re going to use the Complete Search Card

Complete Search Card

Within the Complete Search Card

• Card Properties > Default Values

Card Properties Default Values

Within the Default Values dialog;

• Select the variable ‘Checked Out by User’
  • Set the value to; %User%

Select the variable ‘Checked Out by User’

• Save and close the search card.

Now; the logged in user will be the default value for the variable Checked Out by User, within the Complete Search Card;

SOLIDWORKS PDM User Default Value

This option is available for other search card variables, such as; Label – by User, Version Created by User, Workflow- Transitions by User and Author.

How does this help improve our vault?

SOLIDWORKS PDM Search is a powerful tool.  Incorporating this new SOLIDWORKS PDM User Default Value functionality removes the amount of input required for users, making the search tool easier to use and ultimately saves time by increasing users efficiency and promotes using the search tool more.

Previously, this option was only available via search favorites which is a feature exclusive to PDM Professional.  With this enhancement, PDM Standard users can incorporate the automatic definition into the vault.

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Logged in as User Default Value in Search Cards appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

New in SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 with the enhanced user comment permissions; we have the ability to make version comments mandatory for a check in at specific states or at specific transitions of a state change.  Previously; this permission was an ‘all or nothing approach’ via the administrative permissions for transitions and version comments which applied to all states and transitions.

SOLIDWORKS PDM user comment permissions

How to make state change comments mandatory for a transition

• Administration Tool > Workflows > [Workflow Name]
  • Select the transition you would like to apply this requirement to
    • Permissions > Select the User/Group
      • Check ‘Must enter state change comments’

Must enter state change comments

This will result in a state change comment being required for the Management group when transitioning through ‘Change Approved’;

Change Approved

How to make a state change comments mandatory for a check-in

• Administration Tool > Workflows > [Workflow Name]
  • Select the State you would like to apply this requirement to
    • Permissions > Select the User/Group
      • Check ‘Must enter state change comments’

Must enter state change comments

This will result in a version comments being required for the Engineering group when checking in to the ‘Approved’ State;

Version comments are required

How can SOLIDWORKS PDM User Comment Permissions help improve our vault?

In my experience; making all comments important results in them all being unimportant…Previously, during a time when I was a vault administrator; I enabled the option that all state change comments were required.  I found this made the comments meaningless as it was just a requirement and users would put in the minimum information.  I worked around this using an overly complicated system of transition conditions, which allowed me to make comments required for specific transitions and it resulted in; a better file history with more meaningful comments.  With this new functionality, we have a simple solution, to apply importance to certain workflow actions which will result in a more complete and reliable document history.

Another use of this functionality; when paired with the new revision table functionality added in SOLIDWORKS PDM 2018, we can ensure revision comments are added which can directly update the revision table within the drawing accordingly.

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Enhanced User Comment Permissions appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

New in SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 we have the ability to; send notifications on a conditional basis, depending on data card variables.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Conditional Notifications

How can this help improve our vault?

Previously, notifications were attached to an entire transition…therefore; every file that transitioned through it generated a notification to a group or user, which often resulted in needless notifications being sent for parts that didn’t necessarily need it.  With this new functionality; we can limit notifications so that they are restricted to files that require it.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Conditional Notifications Example

We can use this new feature to build a notification that ONLY generates a notification for a part or assembly that is deemed high priority as it is sent for review.  The recipients will be limited to the management group so that they will only be notified when something high priority is waiting for approval.  The goal being; time-sensitive parts will be reviewed quicker, speeding up the overall process to complete a change on a high priority project.

How to create a Conditional Notification for High Priority Parts

For this example; I already have a data card variable, that determines the priority of the part;

SOLIDWORKS PDM Card Editor

• Administration Tool > Workflows > [Workflow Name]
  • [Transition Name] > Properties

Submit Change for Approval Properties

• Notifications > Add Conditional Notification

Add Conditional Notification

• Recipients
  • Add Users/Groups
    • Management

Add Users/Groups – Management

• Notification Conditions
  • Variable = Priority
  • Comparison = Text Equal To
  • Value = High

Notification Conditions

• Save and close the workflow

This should result in any ‘High Priority’ part generating a notification to the management group;

‘High Priority’ parts generate a notification to the management group

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Conditional Notifications appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Inspection Integration

New in SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019, we now have additional integration with SOLIDWORKS Inspection.  This integration includes:

• SOLIDWORKS PDM Ribbon
  • We can now access PDM features, directly within Inspection such as;
    • Check-Out
    • Check-In
    • Change State
    • Get Version,
    • Get Latest
    • Search
• File Reference Handling
  • SOLIDWORKS PDM will automatically create the references for inspection files and update the Contains tab with the appropriate parent files and output files as child references
• Variable Mapping
  • We can map properties for the following block attributes;
    • SWIPrjProperty
    • SWICustomProperty
    • Part Name
    • Part Number
    • Part Revision
    • Document Name
    • Document Number
    • Document Revision

How does SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Inspection Integration improve our vault?

With the updated integration, it’s possible to edit SOLIDWORKS Inspection properties directly from the vault, making it unnecessary to open the inspection program each time, thus cutting down on lost time; making users more efficient.

With all this added to the vault; it helps to make the SOLIDWORKS PDM a ‘One Stop Shop’ for all our engineering files, centralizing all documents in one location and adding the many benefits of PDM…such as permissions, version control, and revision management to inspection files.

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Inspection Integration appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

New in SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019, we have the option: Do not select references that are defined as drawing nodes during state change.  Previously we only had the option: Do not mark referenced files when changing state and couldn’t specify to only exclude drawings.

Do not select references that are defined as drawing nodes during state change

By default this setting is disabled, to enable it;

• Administration Tool > Users/Groups > Username/Group Name
  • Right Click > Settings

SOLIDWORKS PDM User Settings

• Settings > Reference Dialog
  • Check > Do not select references that are defined as drawing nodes during state change

Do not select references that are defined as drawing nodes during state change

• Click OK and save the setting.

How can this SOLIDWORKS PDM Drawing Nodes setting help improve our vault?

We’ve all done it….accidentally transitioned something we didn’t mean to.  Having this setting available helps users to customize the vault further to their preferred setup, resulting in less erroneous transitions thus increasing efficiency.

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Drawing Selection Option During State Change appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 has undergone a complete redesign for SOLIDWORKS 2019, creating an enhanced more responsive system, with a focus on improved user experience resulting in the most powerful version of the tool yet.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 2019 vs 2018

Some of my favorite new enhancements are:

Navigation Bar

The navigation bar allows users to quickly access different folders using breadcrumbs;

New PDM Web2 navigation bar

Action Bar

The Change State, Check Out/Undo Check Out, Download and Delete, commands are all easily accessible via the action bar;

New SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 Action Bar

Upload and Check In

Via explorer; drag and drop files to upload and check in:

Drag and drop files to Check In

Search Bar

Take control of your searches by specifying the location between Current folder, Current & Subfolders and All Folders;

New SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 Search

Additional enhancements include:

• Enhanced file list
  • The file list is a continuous scrolling list that lets users browse the vault directory content.  Previously, the file list was paginated so users had to navigate through multiple pages.
• Choose column
  • Select or clear the columns to appear in the file list. When you add a column, its width adjusts automatically.
• Resize and sort column
  • Resize the columns on pages with a column view including the Where Used and Contains tabs.
• User Interface Improvements
  • Web2 is now more adaptive with responsiveness to various device sizes and browser window sizes for the:
    • Log In Screen
    • File List
    • File Preview
• Upload and Check-in File Structure and Download with References

Wrap Up…

All these enhancements provide more functionality to external users not connected to the network, allowing them to continue their work while offsite or on the road.

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 Redesigned in SOLIDWORKS 2019 appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

In SOLIDWORKS PDM, when you ‘Copy’ and ‘Paste’ a file to another folder, the two files are independent of each other even though the copy would have the same name and physical content. There is no link between the source file and its copy. The files will each have a unique record in the database (Document ID) and have a separate file history.

If you ‘Copy’ and then select ‘Paste Shared’ to a new folder instead, the copied file be ‘Shared’ to the new folder.

Paste Shared Option

A shared file is shown with a plus-sign next to the file icon. A shared file will have same record in the database (Document ID) but share version history with the other instances of the shared copy.

Denotes a shared file

To see which folders a file is shared between, right-click the file, select Properties and view the Links tab:

Show the folders sharing the file

Benefits of a Shared File

• You can cache individual versions of a shared file to the different folders it is shared between, but the Workflow state will be the same for all shared instances of the file.
• If you check out a shared file, the physical local copy in the folder where you checked the file out will be writable and all other shared instances of the file will be marked as checked out to the same user and workstation.
• Shared file instances may use different data cards depending on what card is active in the folder where the instance is shared, however the variable values would be the same across all instances of the shared file.

NOTE: Shared files should primarily be used for non-CAD files or files having no reference structures. Read more about this in the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base S-066219.

Need SOLIDWORKS PDM Training?

Learn more about our SOLIDWORKS PDM training courses for users and administrators.

The post What is the difference between ‘Paste’ and ‘Paste shared’ in SOLIDWORKS PDM? appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

A common question that we are asked during SOLIDWORKS PDM implementations is what the correct transitions in the workflow are to increment the revision number of CAD files; should the SOLIDWORKS PDM revision number be created before or after the modification is done?

SOLIDWORKS PDM Default Workflow

As an example, let’s examine the Default Workflow that comes with the Default predefined configuration. This workflow will increment the revision number whenever a file is sent to the Approved state, through one of the highlighted transitions. This means the revision number is generated after the modification has been made and reviewed.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Default Workflow

The example below is the history of a part that followed this workflow. Notice that the revision A is set to version 3 (three). Before this version, neither the history nor the data card showed a revision number. Likewise, revision B is only set to version 5 (five). This means that while the part was being changed in version 4 (four), the revision shown was still the old one, revision A.

History of a file with two revisions

This is how SOLIDWORKS PDM is intended to handle revision numbers. Several built-in functionalities are meant to work with revision numbers in this way, as we will see later.

A different SOLIDWORKS PDM revision number workflow approach

Some engineering departments prefer to work in a different way. Those in favor of the alternative that follows argue that, if a designer starts changing a part that has been previously released as revision A, he or she is already working on a revision B, so the revision entry (on the data card, drawing title block and history) should reflect this since the beginning, that is, when the change is requested or started.

The SOLIDWORKS PDM revision number workflow below is an example of this possible setup. Note that an extra state is required here. We are also using an automatic transition – a functionality that is only available in the Professional edition. This way, files will get a revision number as soon as they are checked in for the first time.

A modified SOLIDWORKS PDM revision number workflow

The history of a file going through this workflow will look like this:

History of a file – now with revision numbers generated prior to the approval

In the end, the data card looks like this – exactly the same as the first example.

Data card of a file on revision B

While the result – when looking to the data card or to the drawing’s title block – may look correct, from the history point of view this is inconsistent, and we can verify this in several parts of the client and the Administration tool.

Why this technique could be a problem

1. The Get Version menu is now misleading

Get Version menu

2. The permission Show working versions of files will not work as expected. This permission is typically not granted to any non-designer groups (e.g. Manufacturing, Procurement) so those users can only see approved versions, and not any work in progress. In this example, they would see version 5 (five) of the part, created prior to the actual change, and not the approved version, 7 (seven).

“Show working versions of files” permission

3. The option Never move versions with revisions to cold storage, that can be set to any new or existing cold storage schemas, will also consider the wrong version as the released one.

Cold storage schema

In this case, we recommend that this entire functionality is not used at all, because there is no way to avoid that released revisions be moved or permanently deleted (if using the option Delete archive files). This could lead to data loss and compliance issues – for instance, if your ISO systems requires all revisions of items to be kept.

The answer…

As we have seen, the answer to the question that opened this article is yes, you can increment the SOLIDWORKS PDM revision number of your files at any point of your workflow. However, you must consider all unintended consequences of an unorthodox setup if that is your case.

The post Can I get a new revision number for a file in SOLIDWORKS PDM prior to making my changes? appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

New in SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Professional we have the ability to convert sheet metal flat patterns. The Convert Task in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional converts sheet metal flat patterns to the DWG/DXF file format.

NOTE: The following SOLIDWORKS PDM Convert Sheet Metal Flat Patterns steps are for SOLIDWORKS 2018 or later

Here are the steps to create the convert task to produce the sheet mental flat pattern drawings.

1. Right-click on the Convert Task and select “Copy”

   Copy Task

2. Double-Click the new copy of the task that is created to begin editing it. Start by renaming the task.

   Rename Task

3. On the “Execution Method” screen, make sure that the task host is set up to run only on systems that have SOLIDWORKS 2018 or later installed.

   Execution Method

4.  On the “Menu Command“screen, adjust the task’s label in the Right-Click menu.

   Right-Click Menu Command

5. On the “Conversion Settings” screen, select DWG Format or DXF Format in Output file format: dialog box.
6. Click on Conversion Options.

   Conversion Settings

7. The following options are applied when converting DWG/DXF format files:

   Advanced Conversion Options

8. The details for each option:

   Options Detail

9. Set up the Output File Details and other options as you do for other convert tasks.
10. Once the SOLIDWORKS PDM Convert Sheet Metal Flat Patterns task is set up, you can now either launch the task from a right-click menu, or you can trigger it automatically from a Workflow Transition Action.

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM 2019 Convert Sheet Metal Flat Patterns to DWG/DXF appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

Some ERP systems limit the description of a part to maximum of 30 characters. This can be controlled for SOLIDWORKS parts when using SOLIDWORKS PDM. In SOLIDWORKS PDM, you can set the character limit of the Description field.

By default this setting is disabled, to enable it;

1. In the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration Tool, open the SOLIDWORKS Part Card

Open the SOLIDWORKS Part Card

2. Select the Description Edit-box control, under the Edit- box properties > Validation (Text length), Check > Max: (enter the maximum number of characters)

Set the Description character limit

3. Press Save to apply the changes.

NOTE: Any new files added to the vault will be effected by this change. The existing files in the vault are not effected unless there is an update in the file card.

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM Set Description Character Limit appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

When checking in files that contain configurations, a SOLIDWORKS PDM user may receive a message

‘The file format of file is not recognized. Do you want to check it in anyway?’

This may result from the configuration name exceeding 255 characters, which is the maximum allowed in a SOLIDWORKS PDM database.

SOLIDWORKS Data Card

The file can be checked in, but without the configurations. In the data card, there will be no tab for the configurations

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM Warning: ‘The file format of file is not recognized’ appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

Sometimes you may need to completely uninstall SOLIDWORKS PDM Client, including all Program Files and Registry Keys. This process is helpful when troubleshooting a problematic SOLIDWORKS PDM Client machine.

These steps will allow you to perform a clean SOLIDWORKS PDM Client uninstall and remove any installation files left behind and also remove registry entries.

Perform these steps only on the client machine where no server components are installed. If these steps are used on the machine where server components are installed, the PDM vault may stop functioning.

Before performing these steps, make sure all files are checked in to the PDM vault on the workstation:

1. The antivirus has been disabled
2. The Windows User Account Controls have been disabled
3. Check in all files, if unable able to login to the SOLIDWORKS PDM vault view, go to step 4.
4. Right click on the local vault view, select Delete File Vault View

   Delete File Vault View

5. If unable to login and check in all files during the step 3, select “Leave the local contents of the file vault view as normal files and folders“. This will leave the files in the local folder, all the changes made after the files were checked out are not lost.

   Delete View

6. Rename the local folder to “PDM Vault_OLD“
7. If you were able to check in files during the step 3, select “Delete the cached file vault files and folders from the local hard disk“
8. Uninstall SOLIDWORKS PDM Client from Programs and Features in Control Panel
9. Restart the machine to clear any DLLs or program files still active
10. Launch the Windows Registry Editor, (In Windows 7, or Windows 10 go to Start menu and type: regedit)
11. In the Registry Editor expand and delete the registry folder (PDMWorks Enterprise) located under following locations:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\Applications\PDMWorks Enterprise
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\SolidWorks\Applications\PDMWorks Enterprise
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SolidWorks\Applications\PDMWorks Enterprise
12. In the Start menu, type %localappdata% press Enter to open the local folder, open the SolidWorks folder and delete “SOLIDWORKS PDM” subfolder
13. Delete any installation folders left behind located in the following places:
    C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS PDM
    C:\Program Files (x86)\SOLIDWORKS PDM
14. Reinstall SOLIDWORKS PDM Client
15. Create the vault view again

The post Clean Uninstall of a SOLIDWORKS PDM Client appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

If SOLIDWORKS Toolbox is managed by SOLIDWORKS PDM then the swbrowser.sldedb Toolbox file must be cached locally and users must be able to access it.

Here are some questions and answers to help you troubleshoot a SOLIDWORKS PDM Standards Database Error:

Could not find the Standards database ‘C:\\\lang\english\swbrowser.sldedb’

Are Toolbox Files Cached Locally?

First ensure that this file is cached locally. If it is not, then perform a ‘Get Latest’ on that file. To ensure ALL Toolbox Files are cached locally, perform a Get latest on the Toolbox Folder.

Get Latest Version

Do users have Sufficient Permission to access Toolbox files?

Next, make sure that user has sufficient permissions to see this file. A good way of testing that this, is from the user’s computer, log in as the PDM Admin and see if the error occurs. If not, check the Users Permissions. If the user is part of a Group, check the Group Permissions.

To avoid having to ensure the Users/Groups, have sufficient permissions, in PDM Admin double-click on Toolbox, in the SOLIDWORKS node. For the option ‘When accessing Toolbox, use permissions from:’, select ‘Admin (System Administrator). This will elevate the users permissions, when they access Toolbox components.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Admin Permissions

Is the Toolbox File Path correctly specified?

Also, check the SOLIDWORKS System Options, Hole Wizard/Toolbox, that the path is correct.

SOLIDWORKS Toolbox File Path

The post SOLIDWORKS PDM could not find the Standards Database? appeared first on The Javelin Blog.