GoEngineer Blog

The SQL backbone is a highly organized structure that allows SOLIDWORKS PDM to operate quickly and efficiently. Over time, this indexed structure can get itself out of order and reduce its efficiency. SQL Standard provides maintenance plans to help combat this. However, SQL Express does not have these automation or maintenance options. To perform this maintenance the rebuild and reorganizations must be done manually per table. With a little creative scripting, we can still automate this as well.

Moving SOLIDWORKS PDM Server components from one server to another (either as part of an upgrade or in itself) can be a daunting task. We recommend reaching out to our services team, as they will be able to efficiently and promptly perform this task for you. 

This article is an introduction to some of the SQL tables more commonly used in queries. Many of these tables fall into two categories. The first identifies a list and gives them ID’s. The second lists the use of those attributes by file. A good example of this is the Transitions table identifies each of the transitions in the workflows, and the TransitionHistory Table lists all the transitions that any file has gone through. In this case, the Transitions table is used to give meaning to the TransitionNr listed in the Transitionhistory table. 

The SOLIDWORKS PDM Task List provides an overview of tasks inside the vault where an Administrator can do the following: The Task List is within the Tasks node. Within the Task List window, the Pending tasks will show tasks that are in the process of being executed or waiting to be executed.

New in SOLIDWORKS PDM 2020, users can reorder search result columns. The results column order will be automatically saved so that the columns will be in the desired order the next time you complete a search. Below is an example of searching for CAD files that have steel as their Material. 

 

There can be issues with SOLIDWORKS PDM databases hosted on an SQL Server named instance, where the client machines are unable to log into a local view or administration client. This is likely because the ODBC connection failed due to the client machine being unable to determine the correct dynamic TCP port used to connect the named instance of SQL. 

 

I often receive questions from people trying to set up their workflow and confused about the settings for Revisions, especially the similarities and differences between the state and transition Revision Numbers tabs. Let's straighten out the differences.

As we all know, filling out SOLIDWORKS PDM Data Card fields is important for many reasons. It can be frustrating when you are reviewing a design and notice that some fields on the data card are missing. In fact, this metadata can contain important information such as the part number or other data that populates the drawing title blocks which can affect the review process.

This guide is designed to assist you through the process of inspecting and validating the migrated data in your SOLIDWORKS PDM vault. By now, you should have already been able to inspect the implementation work done to your vault (e.g., workflow(s) and revision schema, data cards, groups and users creation, and any other items as stipulated during the Business Process Workshop (if there was any)).