GoEngineer Blog

SOLIDWORKS PDM administrators can configure user and group accounts in such a way as to control which users have access to the full history of versions, just the latest version or only versions that have been released as revisions. This article explains the settings involved and how to create the access a user or group should have.

So, you’re set up with SOLIDWORKS PDM, and you’d like to start the pass-through of data from your CAD files’ custom properties into the PDM data card (or vice versa). You can create a link between the PDM data card and your SOLIDWORKS files’ custom properties using variable mappings. In this guide, we’ll cover the process of creating that link. With SOLIDWORKS PDM variable mapping properly set up, you can take advantage of many automation features in your PDM workflow.

When you upgrade a SOLIDWORKS PDM vault to a new service pack or version, existing add-ins do not automatically update to the latest version. This needs to be done manually and is important because if you do not update the add-in, fixes done to the task add-in may not apply to the upgraded vault. In this article, learn how to update the convert task add-in (SWTaskAddIn) in a vault when upgrading to a new version or service pack.

SOLIDWORKS PDM is a client-server software that requires various network connections to function properly. There are numerous ways to check on those connections to ensure everything is working as it should – or to identify the problem when it’s not.

This article will go over how to resolve the Application Exception: Invalid Class error that can occur when trying to launch eDrawings. You may also see it occur in PDM when clicking on a file to view the preview. The PDM preview uses eDrawings, which is why it can be seen in PDM. This error can appear simple, stating “Application Exception: Invalid Class” or lengthy with a string of other lines.

This article explains how to quickly switch the SOLIDWORKS PDM license types on a per-client basis. This method works for both SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional and SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard.

The ability to link model information to your PDM data cards is one of the many benefits of a PDM vault integration. For most, linking Summary and Custom properties to a PDM data card is sufficient. (Figure 1) However, there is a growing user base using configurations for their models to save time and money. (Watch our SOLIDWORKS Configurations - Quick Tip video to learn more.) This article covers how to link configuration-specific information to the SOLIDWORKS PDM data card.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional is a powerful document management tool. Collaboration, version control, revision control, change history, and access control are just some of the many features of PDM. Some of these features can be automated by Dispatch, an add-in provided with PDM. Automation can also be achieved by API written in C++, C#, or Visual Basic. However, Dispatch and in-house API can have their challenges. If the out of the box options can be so problematic, then there has to be a better solution. Enter GoExpress.

File vault backups should be part of the daily management of SOLIDWORKS PDM – for both Professional and Standard environments. Without regular and complete backups, you could be left with major data loss in the event of a failure or security breach. The entire purpose of PDM is to house your intellectual property, and for many of our customers, their IP is a foundational component of their entire business. Losing that could be disastrous, and we’re hoping to help you avoid that outcome by making sure your environment is set up properly before anything comes up.