Using SOLIDWORKS PDM Branch and Merge Tools

SOLIDWORKS PDM  Branch and Merge tools help the design process by allowing users to branch out design ideas from the source and then merge the ideal design back with the source.

User Interface for Branch

The first part of the process is  Branch . Branch behaves the same way as Copy Tree but also includes the history of the branched files. With the history of the file, the branches and be then be merged to their source. The Branch tool is found in the Tools toolbar within the Local View.

The user interface for the Branch tool behaves the same way as the Copy Tree. 

After a file has been Branched it is independent of its source file and any changes will not affect other branches made or the source. You can see the Branch within the History of the file.

User Interface for Merge

After a file has been Branched, it can be  Merged  back to its source. Modifications that have been done to the Branched file are done to the source file as well. The Merge tool is found in the Tools toolbar within the Local View.

The user interface for the Merge tool behaves the same as the Branch and Copy Tree.

In the History of the Merged file, we can see how when it was Branched and then Merged. 

Using the Branch and Merge tool in SOLIDWORKS PDM allows you to test out different design ideas easily within the PDM interface by allowing users to branch out design ideas from the source and then merge the ideal design back with the source.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Branch and Merge Tutorial

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