Virtual Documents in SOLIDWORKS PDM

What are Virtual Documents? 

Virtual Documents in SOLIDWORKS PDM are a way to incorporate external data into PDM using the vault’s rules. Scanned files can be used such as markups, certificates, or any other source of external files. Non modeled items like glue, paint, or anything else that does not have a physical file but you still want it included in the BOM (Bill of Materials). 

This can be done within the Local View of the vault by right-clicking the vault view and selecting New > Virtual document. In this example, we will use a PDF, but any other file extension can be used such as .jpg, .doc, or .gif as long as it matches the external file. 

Once the Virtual Document is created, the user can replace it with an actual document. The replacement file is copied to the location where the Virtual Document existed and inherits the name and metadata of the Virtual Document.  

Automation in SOLIDWORKS PDM 

This process can be combined with a PDM Template to use Serial Numbers and data card rules to automate this process. To set this up below is what is needed: 

• Virtual Document inside the vault’s templates folder 
• PDM template that copies the Virtual Document with a serial number 

Continuing our example with using a PDF, when the Template is used a Virtual PDF is created named with a serial number: 

Now the Virtual PDF Document can be replaced by an actual PDF from the local computer. 

Using Virtual Documents in SOLIDWORKS PDM can help add in external files such as scanned documents and non modeled items into the vault while adhering to the document rules setup within PDM.

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