Does teamcenter allow you to work locally?

[DMiller01]

When checking out parts in Teamcenter are parts copied to your local hard drive for modification and then saved back to the server at check-in? Or ... are you still working over the network?

It has been suggested to me that many pdm packages copy files to the local hard drive and as a result the CAD software runs faster. We are running in native mode and if performance would be enhanced by Teamcenter that would be a powerful incentive to implement it.


I am using 7.5.2.5 NATIVE on Dell with windows XP OS

 

[SiW979]

When you work with TC, you will be working on a server/network based system. Checking a part out does not copy it to your C drice, it simply locks it as ready only to anyone other than yourself. CAD models will always open faster of your local drive like when you are using native CAD compared to a server based set up. We have individual site servers to make it as fast as possible for each division regardless of which country they are in to open their assemblies and parts, and then one central server called the HUB where all released parts are copied to only when they are released, this allows our different divisions in different countries to search the central HUB via a classification system to prevent part proliferation.

In short, TC is 100% server based, does not copy anything to your C drive (unless you do it manually).

Best regards

Simon NX4.0.4.2 MP10 - TCEng 9.1.3.6.c - (NX7.5 native)

http://www.jcb.com

Life shouldn't be measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of times when it's taken away...

 

[looslib]

I think you will find Simon that the local workspace of TC is actually on your local hard disk and you are 'working' locally. When you open, save and checkin parts, that is all done with copies of local files. When you delete a workspace or remove files from a workspace, then the local files are deleted from your local drive. The local files are buried deep in hidden folders that only the software usually knows the location.

I know Windchill works this way with PDMLink, Intralink and Pro/E. I am pretty sure from what I have seen of TC that it also works this way.



"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[MarckyMON]

When you open, save and checkin parts, that is all done with copies of local files.

The local files are buried deep in hidden folders that only the software usually knows the location.

This is somewhat correct.
The true files are in fact stored in a database (in a so-called "volume". These are database dependent). When a user beings to manipulate CAD files, the files in question are stored temporarily in a cache to prevent constant access to the files on the database. Once the user decides to save the file, the file saved on cache is re-sent to the server (the most basic explanation).
Depending on how the CAD administrator set up TC(E), the cache is cleared once the user has exited the program.

As a further note, it is possible to save files outside TC(E) by means of the NX manager.

I hope this helps!

Marc
NX Software Developer

 

[DMiller01]

Marc,

We currently have about 5 users. We do not run Team Center but we do store all our part files and configuration files on the company server. We are small enough that we usually don't step on each other's toes.

Does your responce effectively mean that I should see a large increase in speed if we implement Team Center, as compared to what we are doing currently?

Thanks,

I am using 7.5.2.5 NATIVE on Dell with windows XP OS

 

[cowski]

I currently run NX native and work on files both locally and over the network. When everything is working as it should, I cannot tell much difference. Unless you have very old networking equipment and/or frequent network problems, I don't think you will see a "large increase in speed".

If you are working in native mode, there's nothing stopping you from checking this yourself: copy some files to your local machine and do some tests.

 

[looslib]

"see a large increase in speed if we implement Team Center"

You will see a decrease in productivity because the users have more interaction with the PLM system that takes some of their time. There is overhead in doing file check-out, check-in and submitting jobs for the release cycle.

Once files have been checked-out of TC for you to use, you won't see any difference in opening or saving the files.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli