Barcodes are used in SOLIDWORKS PDM data cards as a way to scan and input vaulted file data like Part Numbers without being exposed to errors common with manual entry. Simply point, scan, and easily reference accurate information in another ERP system. Many possibilities with this include inventory management, batch tracking, accounting, cooperation across teams, quality assurance, etc.
Have you ever seen that the preview tab in SOLIDWORKS PDM doesn't match the model you just had open in SOLIDWORKS? Most of the time when you see the mismatch, you'll see a warning that the file needs to be rebuilt, even though you were just editing the file. It all comes down to how PDM recognizes when you update a file and when the preview updates. If you make sure to follow the proper workflow and rebuild all parent files, you should be able to avoid this confusing warning message.
Occasionally, PDM users will experience errors in PDM’s logs or the Event Viewer logs regarding being unable to connect to the PDM server. This error indicates that the SOLIDWORKS PDM Database Server service is failing to connect to the correct SQL server Hostname/Instance the PDM vault is running on.
The Tasks feature, available in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional, allows users to automate frequently performed file tasks in the vault. Found in the PDM Administration tool, the Tasks option enables convert, design checker, and print tasks for use with SOLIDWORKS files as well as an API to write add-ins for customized tasks. If you ever find yourself with a Failed Task, it could be the Task script is out of date and needs to be reset.
When setting up a PDM on a client, the SOLIDWORKS PDM icon, colloquially known as the PDM Blueberry icon, is automatically placed as a hidden icon in the Windows taskbar notification area. Moving the SOLIDWORKS PDM Blueberry icon to the Windows taskbar notification area, will allow you quicker access to the SOLIDWORKS PDM help menu, notification inbox, and more.
In this SOLIDWORKS PDM tutorial, we look at the difference between Rollback and checking in a previous version of a file. Both processes allow you to use an older version of a file as the latest version, but they have unique limitations and uses. Let’s look at both features, their differences, and how they should be used.
SOLIDWORKS PDM utilizes SQL as its database engine where one database file (.mdf) and at least one transaction log file (.ldf) is created. The database file stores the physical data added to the database, and the transaction log keeps records of database modifications. By default, the recovery method of a SQL database is set to ‘Full’. With Full recovery model set, a transaction log can grow until it is out of disk space which can make your Microsoft SQL Server database unusable. The following document will walk you through step by step on how to change your database recovery mode from ‘Full’ to ‘Simple’.
Occasionally, tasks being run in SOLIDWORKS PDM can get stuck and fail to progress. In this tutorial, we walk through how to cancel these stuck tasks from the Task List. To do so, we'll need access to the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration tool and the SQL database server.
When it comes to metadata, it can be very important for business systems to stay in sync. Updating this data can be a long, grueling process, sometimes involving long weekends and late nights. Using SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional’s XML import function can reduce the need for manual input when updating metadata to match ERP/MRP.