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PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
I've been selected to be the PDMWorks vault admin.  My only previous experience is that I was a user at my last company. So I have had to tackle one problem after another on my own trying to get this up and running.  I finally figured out a solution for toolbox parts. Whew! They seem to be doing what they should be doing when I'm checking in an assembly.  (Thank you to everyone who gave me feedback.) But NOW the problem is that when I open up my assembly, the assembly shows up as read-only.  I can't do saves and I can't check it back into the vault.  I've gone over my settings in vault-admin over and over again.  All my settings in the projects, life-cycle, and users tabs are set to read-write access.  I also have left all the settings very  liberal in the vault settings tab (for now).  And I've even gone as far as taking ownership of the assembly.  So why is this assembly read-only to me??? Is there a simple solution that I am unaware of? Something that I don't realize needs to be checked off somewhere?     

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

You need to have ownership of the assembly to save it and or check it back in.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

One thing to check is under Tools, Options, System Options, and External References. The top check box on the right, “Open referenced documents with read-only access” is it unchecked? Because you have ownership, it is not referenced. There could be many others; we will start with this one.

Bradley

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
Thanks Bradley.  But I check external references and the box for "open referenced documents with read-only access" is not checked.  It doesn't matter if I have or don't have ownership.   Next suggestion?  (By the way, I really appreciate your help.)

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

Do you have revs setup in admin? If not, it doesn't know what to check it in as.

Quote (chrissyd):

But NOW the problem is that when I open up my assembly, the assembly shows up as read-only.  I can't do saves and I can't check it back into the vault.
You can't open it in SW, or you can't open FROM PDMW??
So, you were able to check it in before no problem, but not now?

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
Yes, revs is already set-up in admin.  I can open it in SW.  The problem is that it is a read-only file.  I can't do anything with it and do a save.  I could check it in the first time, but now I want to make changes to the part, save, and check it back in again but it won't let me.  Is this a SW issue or a PDM issue?  I think somehow checking it into the vault made it read-only?  I just can't figure what else it could be.  This is only a test assembly.  I'm trying to work out all the kinks before I put the real stuff into the vault.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

When you checked it in the first time, did you release ownership?  If you released ownership and have,in VaultAdmin, set the option to "Bind Ownership to SWX read/write access" this may be the cause of your problem.

Hope this helps.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

In the PDMworks options within SolidWorks is the retain ownership check box check under check in?

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

We have "Bind Ownership to SolidWorks read/write access" like dgowans says, checked and we are force to take ownership. Once ownership is taken we have write access.

Can you put a word file where you are putting your SolidWorks files and then make a change to the Word doc and save it?

Bradley

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
Initially, the "Bind Ownership to SolidWorks read/write access" box was checked in Vault-admin, but I don't recall being forced to take ownership.  It doesn't seem to matter if the retain ownership box is checked in PDM since the assembly is already read-only.  I would assume you can't "retain" ownership of something you don't already own? Oh, I just looked at the PDM "Vault" when I'm in SW...when I right click on the assembly, it shows that I have ownership.  So why is it read-only?  How can I have owmership and it be read-only at the same time?

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

chrissyd,
I can have ownership and PDM will also say that it is read only, same as you are explaining. Let me explain: I have two PDM log-in accounts one as “Adminbrad” and another one as “Bradley”. I have many times been logged in PDM as “Adminbrad” and tried to modify a model that is owned by Bradley. I do this so that I do not use my admin writes while using my designers account.

Bradley

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

The only time you should be logged in as Admin, is when you are doing admin stuff. You may have some type of circular ref going on.
Also,
Login as Admin, go to Vault Settings, uncheck box "Set filesystem read-only attribute if not owner", until problem fixed.
If you have a lot of users using PDMW, I suggest checking box and leave it.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

In VaultAdmin, do you have the upper right check box: "Administrators have RW access to all projects.  Don't show Administrators below." unchecked?

And I agree with ctopher and Bradley.  You should not use an administrator for designing, only Admin'ing.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

BTW, that checkbox is on the Projects tab.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
Actually, I only log-in as me for user and never admin.  Admin is only when I'm setting up the vault.  That's why it's all such a mystery.  Right now I am even the only user.  I've listed the other users in the vault, but no one else has logged onto PDM yet. I want to make sure I have everything right, first.  Well, at this point I think I'm just going to blow out my test assemblies from the vault and try again.  Maybe I just intially did something wrong and it's not very forgiving.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

chrissyd,
Before you delete everything try this:
In VaultAdmin tool under Projects tab, in Project information, then Project click on the folder that your project is in. Look at Project permissions; do you see your user id with a RW or rw beside your name?
Please excuse the grammar; I wanted to write this before you deleted everything.

Bradley

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
It's an RW. Chrissyd

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

chrissyd,
It is time to call your VAR.

Bradley

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
My what?  I tried calling the compamy we purchased SolidWorks and PDM from (I won't mention any names) but they have not been very helpful at all since we didn't purchase the service contract.  I call tech support to ask questions and they say, "You got the service contract quote, didn't you?"  We're a start up company that purchased 5 seats plus 5 floating licenses and we don't want to invest another 4K for service just by prinipal alone.  Me personally...I could really use the help setting it up, but it's not my call. Thanks for trying to help.  I'll let you know what I figure out.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

... purchased 5 seats plus 5 floating licenses ...??
You mean one floating license for 5 seats?

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
No. 5 of us have our own license on our local drive.  There are five licenses on the shared drive for other people to use.

Chrissyd

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

OK

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

Here's a crazy stab... Where is your "My PDMWorks Documents" set to?  (PDMWorks, Options, 2nd to last setting")

Maybe you have it set to a drive that is RO for you.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
It's set to "Use most recently used Solidworks or PDMWorks folder"...What does that mean and what does it have to do with my problem?  

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

That is the folder where you pull files from the Vault to be your working files.  It has to be to a folder that you have RW priveleges.  Also, for performance, it's best to set it to a folder on your local computer.

So, I recommend selecting "Use folder" and setting it to a folder on your computer....

I use a folder in My Documents, named PDMWorks.

HTH

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

chrissyd,
I hope you are not getting tired of all our questions?

Where is your vault located? Is it on a server someway?

Bradley

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
Oh, thank you.  One of my many tasks with setting this up is figuring out how to set up everyone's working directory.  Unfortunately SolidWorks was up an running a year ago without the PDMWorks implemented.  Everyone has been saving all of their work all over different folders in the shared drive.  It's a mess.  At my last company they set up working directoies.  I was wondering how they did it.

Chrissyd

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

Yep, that's what I'm dealing with at my company.  If you're using the original folder where it was located then it's likely that there's either a tilde file (~assy.sldasm) in that folder that's making it read-only either because someone crashed with it open or someone has it open currently.  That's one of the other reasons I like using a folder on my computer for my working files.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
Bradley,

No, actually I don't mind the questions at all.  And I appreciate the help.  If I don't answer back it is because I've either stepped away from my desk, or called it quits for the day.  We have a seperate server for the vault but I am told that we will be moving our Solidworks data files to it soon.  That is one of the reason I had problems with all those fasteners.  Apparently, those of us that have SW on our local drive can't share the same SW fasteners from each others toolboxes.  See, I really have been having one problem after another!  Once I figure out this read-only problem it will be something else I'll be asking you guys for.  Expect to see me around for awhile.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

chrissyd,
I’m thinking SoilentG has the answer here. Try open the file you have ownership in the PDM to a folder on your c: drive somewhere.

What version of SolidWorks and PDM are you using?

Bradley

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
Bradley,
I already blew the assembly out of the vault.  It's only a small assembly.  And I'll try a fresh start in the morning.  And see if SoilentG's suggesstion helps. (I just realized his handle. I thought it was SilentG and just caught that it's like the 70's movie.  How funny.)   We are using SW'05 with PDMWorks'06.  We have SW'06 but no wants to start using it.  Due to time constraints, not everyone wants to take the time to learn what's new. And we need everyone in the company to be on the same version.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

chrissyd,
I take Fridays off. If I live after the bicycle race Saturday, I will be back Monday.

Bradley

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
Okay, I'll let you know how it goes. I'm in tomorrow and Saturday.  What bicycle race is this?  Good luck!

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

chrissyd,

The vault version of PDMW needs to be the same version as your SW version. If they are not you are in for a lot of problems.

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

(OP)
I just called the company that sold us our SW and PDM.  They just told me that we shouldn't have any problems running SW'05 & PDM'06.  According to the person I spoke with, there are no documented problems.  If we were trying to run SW-06 with PDM'05, that would be a problem. Do you know of any specific problems from running SW'05 with PDM'06?

RE: PDMWorks Admin and read-only files

chrissyd,
Have you  tried opening the file you have ownership in the PDM to a folder on your c: drive somewhere?

Bradley

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