How to Color Code SOLIDWORKS PDM Warnings

SOLIDWORKS PDM can help users quickly understand the status of files using warning icons. In the PDM add-in, these icons appear right next to the file name, each providing different information. In Figure 1, notice that part 10000506 has a yellow exclamation point and a red clock. This is PDM indicating that the assembly is referencing a version of 10000506 that's older than the latest version stored in the vault.

Thanks to these SOLIDWORKS PDM warning icons, I now know that a 'get latest' must be performed on the part prior to working on this assembly. These icons are great, but how can we make them stand out more? The answer is to color-code the SOLIDWORKS PDM warning icons with background colors.

Figure 1: PDM Warning Icons

Color Code PDM Warning Icons with Background Colors

Here, we can see the same assembly at version 5/7 with the colors indicated. Not only are there warning icons, but we can see that while most of the files are green (green is good), the 10000506 file is yellow, and the assembly is red. Now I don’t even need to look at the warning icons if I know what the colors mean.

Figure 2: PDM Background Colors

How to Set It Up for Yourself

To view these settings, click Tools > SOLIDWORKS PDM > Options from inside your SOLIDWORKS session.

Figure 3: SOLIDWORKS PDM Options

Next, click on the View Setting tab at the top. Under Display Status, click the check box to show background colors. In the box at the bottom is a list of possible statuses, along with their icons and default colors. 

Figure 4: Display State Options

You can also customize the colors for each status by clicking the drop-down arrow. These display settings are client-specific, so users can customize them to meet their needs.

I hope you found this article explaining how to color-code SOLIDWORKS PDM warnings helpful. Learn more about SOLIDWORKS PDM below. Additionally, join our GoEngineer Community to participate in discussions, create forum posts, and answer questions from other SOLIDWORKS users. 

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