A wise man once said: “The fastest way to open a document is to not have to open it in the first place.” When I said that, I meant I want my data fast, if I can skip the step of having to open an application first it’s all good.
I just learned today that you can copy text out of many documents right from SolidWorks Enterprise PDM’s preview window! 
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Jeff Sweeney Engineering Data Specialist 3DVision Technologies |
Great Aunt Eleanor can do many amazing things. She can name and describe all RAID configurations, she can rewire an HDMI connection so her old black and white movies will be black and white again (she curses Ted Turner the entire time) and apparently she is the lead elf in her WOW guild…but she can’t cook. The lady can [and has] burnt water. Thus apparently it would be logical for her to buy an Indian restaurant.
The nice thing about Indian dishes is that they are pretty easy. Every thing is brown, crazy spicy and all the food is cut up into simple hexahedrons. The only thing different about the hexahedrons is their length, width and height.
Great Aunt Eleanor has decided she wants to SolidWorks Enterprise PDM to be able to store her food cutting guides. She wants to be able to enter in a few dimensions in a search window and have EPDM return all the food pieces that meet the search criteria. This is her datacard:
Pretty nice, though since Great Aunt Eleanor is always playing with the sizes, she wants to link the dimensions of her SolidWorks models to the datacard. So if the food size changes, the datacard updates automatically.
Here is how I linked her dimensions to the datacard values.
I created the three custom file properties (height, width, length), then for value, I used this format: “Dimension Name@Sketch Name@File Name”. I usually find it easier to click in the “Value/Text Expression” column and then click on the dimension. SolidWorks build the required format for you. (Note: the dimension names were renamed by me, typically they will have a “D1″, “D2″ type format.)
Now your file properties update as the dimensions update, all that is left is to connect your EPDM variables to your file properties, and thus as your model dimension change, your EPDM database updates automatically!
Next Great Aunt Eleanor stored this file as a SolidWorks template, so when she comes up with a new food type, (perhaps something brown-ier?) she starts with the template and the settings already to go.
Another tip, make the controls in the datacard read-only, that way they only way they are updated is via changing the SolidWorks model.
Now Great Aunt Eleanor can quickly use EPDM to search for the exact size of food she needs.
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Jeff Sweeney |
You know the default EPDM Web interface? Kinda pretty eh? People all over the world are using it.
Yet I still hear complaints: “It’s ActiveX so my users can only use Internet Explorer”, “It’s kind of plain”, “My back hurts”, “I’m only four”
You wish it could do more? What’s stopping you?
You can call EPDM’s APIs through ASPX pages -and because of this, I have seen some glorious EPDM web sites – dashboard graphs, quick hyperlinks… Heck with ASP, if you can dream it you can do it.
I haven’t seen it run on a mobile device yet, but I am sure someone out there has done it. (Making your site not require ActiveX makes the possibilities endless.)
PDM on the go! Like ice cream on a stick.
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Jeff Sweeney |
What are you paying for off-site backup storage? You do have off-site storage don’t you? Hey a building is just a building, but you lose your data and it is g-o-n-e!
…and aren’t tapes a hassle? Trying to come up with a nice rotation schema, hoping the backups are complete before everyone comes in the next day?
Here is a solution to both of these issues most of you already own. Let SolidWorks Enterprise PDM do this work for you.
It costs nothing to add additional EPDM archive servers, so many of our customers have a simple archive server located off site. I know of at least one archive server sits in the owner’s basement in his home.
This machine doesn’t have to be much of a machine either, since it is never really touched by any users. As long as the machine is realiable (clean it out every once in a while) and has enough diskspace, you can set your system up to push files to this remote computer via EPDM replication as often as you like.
You still have to get your database off site but a SQL backup file could be pushed to that computer too.
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Jeff Sweeney |
Hey Windows 7 users, recognize this?
Yup, it is our new SolidWorks Enterprise PDM’s tool bar, Pretty ain’t she?
The other day I noticed something while looking at an XP machine:
That blueberry on the left looks like a button…so I hovered over it on my machine and:
Look a tool tip! It is a button! All this time I thought that blueberry was pretty little decoration, but turns out it is a quick link to the root of the vault.
It has been on my machine nearly a year now, and I just now noticed it. I’m going to use it every day from now on.
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Jeff Sweeney |
As SolidWorks Enterprise PDM’s tasks are being utilized more and more, I see companies dedicating a machine (or virtual machine) to act as a “task server”. This allows users to continue working while another machine does the task processes. (Typically batch printing, batch file conversions or design checking.)
The problem is, EPDM will not do any task work if the dedicated computer is not logged into the vault. How do you set your machine to automatically log into the vault?
First, on your task-server-to-be, in the administration tool, go to settings.
Set the Automatic login as the account you would want to automatically login to the vault as: [my vault's name is "Production']
(Please don’t use the same password I use. Everyone seems to use “**********” as their password.)
Now we’ve told EPDM what account to use when logging in. Next we need to make the system log in.
Simply opening an explorer window navigated to your vault view is all you need to do. To automate this: Go to your machine’s startup directory (something like: “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup” -though this varies from operating system to operating system.)
In this directory add a shortcut
For the location, enter “explorer” then a space, then in quotes type the full path to the root of the vault view.
You can then name the shortcut anything you wish.
Now the computer will login to EPDM as soon as you log in.
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Jeff Sweeney |
Pack and Go vs. EPDM’s Copy Tree – Who Wins?
When working with files outside of the vault, you have no choice -Pack and Go is the only tool you have, and it is a good tool -all the cool kids are using it.
However, for copying files within SolidWorks Enterprise PDM, both tools are an option, which one should you use?
Easy. Copy Tree. No question, no contest. I don’t want to hear your argument for Pack and Go…your argument is bad. Copy Tree gives you:
Speed - What happens when you click “Include Drawings” with Pack and Go? Pack and Go goes through all of your referenced paths looking at each and every drawing trying to decide if it is a parent of one of the chosen parts. That can take time. If you have lots of paths, that can take a loooong time. Click “Include Drawings” in EPDM, since there is a database – all drawings are found almost immediately.
Less Mistakes – See those two radio buttons “Use latest version of references” and “Use attached version of references”? Pack and Go doesn’t have those options. This means that Pack and Go is going to simply copy the version of the file that is in your local cache. Is it the right version? You better hope so! These two options in Copy Tree help ensure you are copying the version you want.
More Options:
Every tool has its place, ensure you are using the right one at the right time.
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Jeff Sweeney |
Two of our recent blog entries have caused quite a mail surge! We even recently expanded our mail room and hired two more part time mail clerks. Many of the letters are complaining about Scott’s recent abuse of photo editing software, others are asking for more information about EPDM’s tasks.
Here is a recent example:
Dear Engineering Specialist Man,
Your latest blog entry really caught me by surprise, you mention EPDM tasks, they looked rather interesting to me so I went through all of your old blog entries and have learned you have never mentioned them before! As you know, I am soon to be married and now have many new responsibilities –I need to find ways to work more efficiently. Can you share any more information about them?
K.M.
Thanks Miss M…or should I now say Mrs. W? You’re right! How did I miss this topic?!
You can get the details of what a task is from the SolidWorks help file, but here is the best way to think of tasks. Think of tasks as the ability to do batch type processes on your machine or anyone else’ that has EPDM installed.
Imagine wanting to print all the drawings of an assembly. This involves:
Tasks give you the ability to automate this, or even better automate it on another machine so you can continue working. You can quickly pick and choose machines to serve as a “task servers” so even if you don’t have the resources for a dedicated machine, you can always wait until Timmy takes another of his ten weeks of vacation, jump on his machine and set it as a server.
Out of the box, tasks also can convert files or run the design checker on them. They are very customizable and you can even write your own or modify an existing task to do what you want.
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Jeff Sweeney |
You may have noticed in your SolidWorks Enterprise PDM 2011 DVDs, Microsoft SQL 2008 Standard Edition R2 was in the box. If you originally installed EPDM 2010 or earlier, you likely have SQL 2008 Standard Edition installed. Should you use your new DVD to upgrade to 2008 R2?
SolidWorks says you do not have to. EPDM will run fine on SQL 2008, it even runs fine on SQL 2005.
The following capabilities are new to R2 Standard:
In your EPDM environment, the first bullet above is all you care about…a 60% smaller backup file is pretty impressive.
I had to upgrade because a customer sent me a backup of their database and as you can imagine my old SQL could not read this new backup format. The upgrade took about 20 minutes on my M6500 and was very easy. Drop the DVD in the drive and follow the prompts.
Though the smaller backups are nice, I wouldn’t recommend upgrading yet unless your backups are taking too long or you are running into storage issues.
Remember to backup before you upgrade.
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Jeff Sweeney |
Would you like to have your SolidWorks Enterprise PDM 2011 tasks be able to [batch] print your dwg files as well as your SolidWorks drawings?
It is pretty easy, you only need to make a few changes to your Print Task’s “Advanced Scripting Options”.
Click on the advanced scripting options button in the bottom of the “Files” section.
Now all you have to do is find the function “bIsSupportedExtension” and replace all of it with this code:
Function bIsSupportedExtension(oExtension) As Boolean
oExtension=lcase(oExtension)
If oExtension = "prt" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "asm" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "drw" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "dxf" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "dwg" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = True
ElseIf oExtension = "psd" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "ai" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "lfp" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "sldlfp" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "prtdot" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "asmdot" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "drwdot" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "x_t" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "x_b" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "xmt_txt" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "xmt_bin" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "igs" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "iges" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "step" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "stp" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "sat" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "vda" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "wrl" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "stl" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "cgr" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "wrl" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "xpr" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "xas" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "ipt" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "iam" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "par" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "psm" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "ckd" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "emn" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "brd" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "bdf" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "idb" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
ElseIf oExtension = "3dm" Then
bIsSupportedExtension = False
Else
bIsSupportedExtension = False
End If
End Function
Lastly, if you wish to have all the prints “Scaled to fit” (regardless of file type) -add this highlighted line in the location shown:
[Tested on EPDM 2011 SP 2.0.]
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Jeff Sweeney |
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