another PDM question

[tmalinski]

I have several sub-projects under a job project one is named "Master Part" and contains 1 assembly with 3 parts. The other sub-projects are named "tool 1", "tool 2", ect.. All of the tool sub-projects have assembly models that reference one of the Master Part models. Here is my problem. I noticed that in my "Master Part" project one of the part Icons have what appears to be a small shortcut arrow on it. The same part is found in one of the tool projects, but no shortcut arrow. Should this be reversed, the tool project assemblies should reference the Master Part project models. Or do I not understand what the arrow on the icon represents. If this is backwards, is there a way to exchange the master and reference

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

 

[ctopher]

Right-click on the part and "change project", if you have ownership.

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

 

[jdg268]

Tom,
The icon without the shortcut arrow represents the first instance of this part--that is, where you first checked it in. All other instances have the linked icon. It really doesn't matter which one is the original. To "exchange" the master for reference or vice versa, you can take ownership of the original part, then change folders to the master folder.
I hope that helps.

John Graham CSWP

Mechanical Design Engineer

 

[tmalinski]

Thanks Chris, this was too easy. PDMW is cool

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

 

[fcsuper]

Tom,

First, I'd like to recommend looking through PDMWorks help or your training course material.

PDMWorks only has one instance of a file for any item you stick in the vault, and that file is only in one project. Any assemblies in the same project will show the file as directly linked. Any assemblies outside of that project using that file will show it as a shortcut.

This goes hand-in-hand with the fact that no two files with the same name can be placed in the vault as different items.

Are you a PDMWorks Administrator, or did your PDMWorks Admin give you privileges that allows you to change a file's project?

 

[tmalinski]

I am the PDM administrator and only SW user in the dept of 10 design engineers still on AutoCad. I am self teaching my way through this. So far I think I'm doing pretty good. Right now I'm in the process of organizing old SolidWorks files into projects and sub-projects and renaming everything. Prior to PDM I used Folders to keep things organized but used common names from job to job. I appreciate all the help I have gotton on this forum.

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

 

[fcsuper]

Ok, Admin work does require some knowledge of PDMWorks, so if you get a chance, I really recommend getting some training from your VAR.

Here's some general guidelines to keep in mind and to make sure anyone using PDMWorks is aware of (most of this is from the beginning of the training manual):

File Names – No two files may have the same file name.

Project Names – Established by PDMWorks administrator to organize the vault. Project names and descriptions must also be unique.

File Storage – Only one copy of each document is stored in the vault, no matter how many other files refer to it.

Revision Numbers – PDMWorks revision scheme is established by the PDMWorks admin. (I used a dumb scheme that only shows checkin iterations [separate from our revision control], but you may wish to incorporate your scheme with your revision control.)

Ownership – When you have ownership of a file, you have the authority to change that document and check it back into the vault. Only one person may have ownership of a file at any time.

Locking – A file is locked whenever someone has ownership of that file. No one else can check it out, but everyone with access can pull the last check-in of the file.

SolidWorks References – The vault maintains the references established by SolidWorks.

Attachments – User established links from non-SolidWorks files to other files within the vault.

Logging on – You must log on to PDMWorks with your user name and password for to access PDMWorks functions and vault.

Work from one folder on your computer! Set up PDMWorks to use this folder for opening and checking out SolidWorks files.
This ensures only one copy of a file is on your hard drive, which eliminates incorrect or outdated versions from being accidentally used.
Also, improves system performance
Of course, make sure this folder is backed up often. Do not use a folder on a network drive since this will several degrade system performance while SolidWorks is running.
Look up this specific methods to implement this within the PDMWorks help and ask your VAR.

 

[tmalinski]

fcsuper, Thanks for the tips. So far I am doing everything you suggest, except when I have multiple sub-projects and check out the files I've been creating multiple folders using the same names as my sub-projects. I know this is not necessary, but I like the organization and it keeps the hundreds of files that would be in one folder more visually manageable for me. Since PDM works keeps track of the links when I check in these documents I am assuming there will be no issues with multiple folders on my PC, as long as I don't create a duplicate name.

I have a file naming scheme that pretty much prevents duplicate names. My files and folder names contain the sub-project name so this makes them unique and identifies where they belong.
A typical file name for me is "303 Tool_1 - DT101". Where 303 is the Main PDM Project and PC Job folder, Tool_1 is the sub-Project and sub Folder, and DT01 is the actual detail number or part name.

this may sound complicated, but its really simple for me and it all make visual sense especially to others that may view my job folders

Any comments? or critiques on this are very welcome
tom..

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

 

[ctopher]

IMO, no need to add the folder name in the file name. After opening PDMW, you will see which folder it is in.

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

 

[pgp001]

Does anyone know how to rename a project in PDMW ?
If a user makes an error like a spelling mistake in the project name, I as administrator would like to be able to correct it easily, I cannot seem to do this without creating a new project and moving all the files over, then deleting the original project. Trouble is if the project has sub projects it is not as simple as that.
Surely there must be an easier way.

Phil

 

[ctopher]

I don't know of a way to rename. You can create a new one, right-click on old one, move to new one. Only file you own will move.
Good enhancement request.

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

 

[PDMAdmin]

Yep... good enhancement request indeed. That's a major pain; I have to agree. Had the same problem in Pro/INTRALINK...

 

[EEnd]

I have noticed that what you see most in the vault is the description of the project, not its name. The description can be changed with the VaultAdmin tool.

Now if you still really want to rename a project, and are willing to muck around in the files defining your vault, I believe the following steps will allow you to rename a project. I am writing it as if the vault is stored at C:\VaultData. It may be at a different location in your setup. These instructions are for PDMWorks 2006.

WARNING: I am sure this activity is not recommended / supported by SolidWorks, and they will likely not help you if you break something. This is why step #2 is “back up the vault”.

1) Stop the PDMWorks Server service on the vault computer.
2) Make a backup copy of the vault directory.
3) Open C:\VaultData\pdmrc\projects.pdmw in notepad. After the first couple of lines, the file should consist of 3 columns. The first is a number indicating the depth of the project within the overall tree. The second is the name of the project, and the third is the description of the project.
4) Change the name of the project in question (column 2).
5) Save and close projects.pdmw.
6) Go to C:\VaultData\projects and rename the directory having the projects old name to the projects new name.
7) Restart PDMWorks Server

Eric

 

[ctopher]

I suggest we all turn in ER's.
Changing per Eric's suggestion can work, but a lot of users could very easly mess things up.

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