So I am evaluating adding Enterprise PDM to our tools. We currently use a system of folders and manually control everything. We are small enough that this is possible, but it is a little clunky and definitely not secure.
Can anyone give me feedback on their experience implementing ePDM? Especially if you migrated from a folder type of management like we have.
Of course the sales guys say it is easy. What are the pitfalls and issues they don’t tell you about?
Thanks,
Eric
I have a project that has disappeared from WPDM. The project folder is there, but there are no documents contained in it.
- A search for some of the documents brings up nothing.
- My vault gets validated every night after it is backed up.
- I can see the data folders when navigating to the vault data on the server.
- Searched the server log file to see if it was deleted…nothing
- Server SP and client SP are at same major SP (SP4)
I’ve submitted the issue to my VAR, just wondering if anyone here has some insight.
could be something fluky with permissions. Have you tried logging in as admin?
Yes, tried many different users.
Also unchecked “Hide projects with no access” to no avail.
The files necessary to create the tree for that project are missing and/or blank (tree.pdmw & treeinfo.pdmw)
Checked backups and nothing is showing up.
Now to find out how they went missing.
Having issues with PDM not being able to retrieve files “error retrieving ‘file name’.sldprt Do you wish to continue.
I have noted previous remarks regarding this issue, and have tried to access SPR 467559 but SW does not to seem to have such a number. Any help would great, thanks.
Searching the Knowledge Base in the Customer Portal for “467559″ will show the SPR.
You can also contact your VAR and ask to be added to the SPR so you will be notified of any activity.
quick question – are you on 2009 SP1.0??
make sure the PDMServer is on the same service pack as your sw explorer is. You can do this by going to Help > About Workgroup PDM or About SW Explorer (in Explorer). There is a bug in SP0 and SP1 that the 2 have to be the same service pack. They dont normally have to be the same.
if you update your server, you can then update your SW Explorer from the server rather than having to update it manually. However, it sounds like your SW Explorer is at SP1 and your server is still at SP0.
Notice if you use PDMW and are upgrading to Solidworks 2009.
* PDM Workgroup fails to recognize revision or checkout attachments during checkout of files with attachments.
Solidworks did reproduce the problem as a regression from 2008 to 2009. They’ve also given us an SPR number for this particular problem:
This seems to be a regression for 2008 to 2009. It is not always repeatable on a second attempt. Clearing the working directory, closing SolidWorks, restarting the pdmworks service and retesting will repeat the error.
The SPR is: 467559 “ SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Check-Out does not recognize attachment revision when using “Get latest” resulting in error/ failed check out.”
Thanks! I’ll make sure to put my name on that list.
Known Issue with 2009 PDM WorkGroup.
If planning to run any process using SW task scheduler. you must first turn off your PDMW addin in Solidworks or process will fail due to vault login permissions problem.
SW Task Schedule for vault must run as pdmwadmin and your addin login might be only user level. See open SPR list below.
| SPR 453697: PDM Workgroup Task Scheduler fails to login when both SolidWorks 2008 and 2009 are installed |
| SPR 466710: 2009 Task Scheduler fails to remove PDM Workgroup add-in when running tasks |
Thanks for the warning. Is there a SR# we can all go to and hassle SW to fix this?
Thanks, is there an SPR or SR#?
hah, echooo echooo…
Fun, Fun…
So you’re saying that I need to disable the addin even if I’m running a process on the Vault?
Yes, until SolidWorks fixes what they broke.
Is there anyway to add a header to the Where Used in PDMWW? I see you can right click on the header and unhide a column, however it is blank. I would like to add fields like Customer, etc.
In the vault tree, if you RMB on a name and select options, you can choose to show 1 custom property to display (in the labels tab). I’m not sure, though, if it’ll show up in the where used.
I tried that, unfortunately it doesn’t work.
We are in the process of making the switch to Solidworks. What PDM software have you had good results with? What ones should I avoid?
First a few questions:
How many SolidWorks seats/users will there be?
Is your dept. stretched across multiple locations?
Is there much customization that would be needed in the PDM system?
What system are you switching from?
SolidWorks Professional and up has a PDM system, PDMWorks Workgroup, included in the software. There is also a more advanced system available, PDMWorks Enterprise.
http://blogs.solidworks.com/solidworksblog/2007... is a good place to start it is one of the blogs I follow. You can see this and many more blogs brought to one place on the net at http://solidmentor.com/modules/xhld0/
We currently have 4 seats of Solidworks. We do not have a current PDM program. We only have one location.
There are lots of choices out there but if all of the users are comfortable with the SolidWorks interface, SolidWorks Workgroup PDM is a great option. It is included with SolidWorks Professional or Premium. If you are looking for rev control and read/write control, I haven't seen an easier to use product out there. The general scope of Workgroup PDM is no more than 6 users and a single site.
I'd recommend Workgroup as well. It's simple, but you can get into some more advanced PDM eatures through lifecycles and triggers.
Can PDMWorks Workgroup manage revisions for Autocad drawings like it does for SolidWorks documents?
I’m migrating our electrical schematic drawings (all done in acad) to our PDM vault and am hoping it does.
Yes, PDMWW can manage non-SolidWorks files like Office files or AutoCAD data. You can even have the attributes from a dwg file map over to PDMWorks properties.
Thanks Kevin.
I knew about the attributes which is handy, just unsure of how it handled revisions with non SW files.
I also realized I should have had “Allow latest revision overwrite” unchecked this whole time if I want to open previous revisions.
My 2009 PDMW is hosed after upgrade from 2008. I find attachments no longer check out with the parent document. ie my .dxf files dont check out with my .sldprt Solidworks is working on my vault data now to try to resolve? anyone else see this?
Have you noticed if any settings changed after the upgrade? Might want to look at the Check Out/Open options, http://screencast.com/t/GdYeMgdp, in PDMWorks settings.
The screenshot is from 08, I haven’t moved up to 09 just yet so it may differ.
No settings changed, SW Corp can’t figure out why yet? for now I must maually get any files that should be attachments.
I’ll be making the switch soon, I’ll report if I see anything similar.
Solidworks did reproduce the problem as a regression from 2008 to 2009. They’ve also given us an SPR number for this particular problem:
This seems to be a regression for 2008 to 2009. It is not always repeatable on a second attempt. Clearing the working directory, closing SolidWorks, restarting the pdmworks service and retesting will repeat the error. The SPR is: 467559 “ SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Check-Out does not recognize attachment revision when using “Get latest” resulting in error/ failed check out.”
PDM cant retrieve some files says. Error Retrieving “File Name”.sldprt Do i Wish to continue.
Is this PDMWorks Workgroup or Enterprise?
If Workgroup, is it greyed out in the vault? I’ve had a case where a file has been deleted but still stuck around in the vault view. After a restart of the server service it went away.
Workgroup. It isnt greyed out in the vault. I restarted the vault and it did not correct the issue. I really appreciate your help. Oh, this is with about the files so far. It always happens when i need the file. too.
Is it referenced to any other assembly? Try opening that assembly and see if it comes across that way.
Also, see if another user is having the same issue with that file.
Go into the Vault Admin tool and check the options to rebuild and validate the tree before you restart the vault process on the server. This is one thing I always do before looking at the actual files. In 2009 it is called “Validate Vault” and you can pick next startup.
Within Workgroup PDM 2009, I have seen this pop up recently where a client (SW Explorer) is at SP1 but the PDM Server application is at SP0. Make sure that your PDM Server is up to SP1 as well by going to Help, About SolidWorks Workgroup PDM within the SolidWorks GUI. You can obtain the updated PDM Server program through the Customer Portal.
I have this issue as an open SR 1-1056086811 with SolidWorks. I have sent them my vault to try to resolve this issue. No attachment files will checkout properly and I get this error, even though the file attachment exists. I can then check out the file in question by itself no problem.
The following SPR (SolidWorks Performance Report) status has changed to Implemented.
SR# (Service Request): 1-1062746997
SPR#: 464755
Description: ‘Error retrieving ” from the server’ when attempting to do an Update/Reload from Vault operation.
For more information, visit the SolidWorks Customer Portal and select My SPRs.
Best Regards,
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. Technical Support
Chris Serran, 
Kevin, 
SCEngineer and one other person are discussing. 
afee451 11:37 am on February 19, 2010 Permalink
We’re in the middle of this process right now, and overall things have been pretty painless. Migrating existing data isn’t all that problematic; its mainly about filling out the custom properties tabs in all the files. The only place things get hairy, is once you are under PDM works control, you will inevitably want to start tracking data you hadn’t been previously. This means either accepting incomplete meta-data on all your legacy drawings, or an incredibly tedious importing process as you have to add the new data manually. Also, get all the training that is offered. Our reseller ran a 3 day class on admin and use as part of the install that was invaluable. Hope this helps.
Scott 3:25 pm on February 25, 2010 Permalink
The company I work for is also in the process of going to EPDM. Our reseller is currently testing the migration of our legacy documents and it sounds like everything is going well. We will see in about 3 weeks when they do it on site and not in a test envirement.
Just and FYI we are going from the free PDM that comes with SolidWorks.