SOLIDWORKS PDM Creating a Workflow Condition for a Specific File Type

Article by GoEngineer on Jun 20, 2017

SOLIDWORKS PDM Administrators often need to create a workflow based on a specific file type such as a Microsoft Word Document or PDF. In this example, a workflow will be created to manage Microsoft Word Documents.

In the Administration Tool, right-click on Workflows and create a new Workflow or edit an existing Workflow. The Workflow Properties dialog box will pop up.

How to Create a Workflow Condition in SOLIDWORKS PDM

Next, add a condition to the workflow. Workflow conditions control which files can and cannot enter the workflow.

To add the condition, select New, under Type, select Filepath.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Workflow Properties

Next, an argument will be added to the condition. First, an argument operator needs to be selected. The operators used by SOLIDWORKS PDM are listed in the image below.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Workflow Condition Operator

http://help.solidworks.com/2016/English/EnterprisePDM/Admin/r_workflow_condition_operators.htm

Since this workflow will manage all Microsoft Word files, the “=” symbol will be the operator. To include all file names and to search anywhere within the vault, the wildcard symbol “%” will be placed before and after the file type. This tells SOLIDWORKS PDM that we want all .doc file types with any name, from any location, to be added to the workflow. Place =%.doc% as the argument.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Word Document Control

Now that you have set your condition, test the condition to ensure it is working as desired. 

To test the condition, create a new file, check the file into SOLIDWORKS PDM. If the state is in the desired workflow, the condition is working.

I hope you found this SOLIDWORKS PDM tutorial helpful. More PDM tutorials are listed below. 

Learn More About SOLIDWORKS PDM 

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VIEW ALL SOLIDWORKS PDM TUTORIALS

 

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