In need of a new PDM system supporting SolidWorks

[saf12]

My company does not want to upgrade to EPDM; but they want to create a vaulting system which will index all files.
I have been researching programs such as DBWorks, Conisio…
I’m looking for comparable programs, or any extra info would be appreciated.
Statement below is info from my VAR about SolidWorks Explorer and our 64 bit’s

~As is mentioned in many Microsoft forums, this is a Microsoft Windows limitation. Mapped, network locations cannot be indexed by Windows Search on Windows Vista x64 or Windows 7 x64, therefore they cannot be added to SolidWorks Explorer's search paths list. To workaround this limitation, you can make the files stored in the mapped, network location available offline. Files that are made available offline can be indexed by Windows Search and can therefore be added to the search files list since they will be stored locally. Search the Windows Help for "sync offline files" for more information on how to setup offline files.
476452 - Cannot enable Indexing service search for Workgroup PDM on Windows Server 2008 64-bit, Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit, Vista 64-bit and Windows 7 64-bit operating systems – open - Until this is achieved we cannot consider Workgroup as being fully supported on Windows Server 2008. Please see KB S-054407 for manual methods to enable Indexing for the Operating systems in question.
For SPR 476452 there will not be a Service Pack or future version delivered solution available for this limitation. However, SolidWorks Development and Technical Support have developed the attached instructions for a workaround which will configure these operating systems to enable the Indexing Service to work in concert with SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Search. These instructions do require changes to be made in the Window registry which should be done with caution and only by individuals comfortable with making registry edits~

Thank you,
SAF

 

[AnnaWood]

Conisio was purchased by SolidWorks in 2006. It is now known as EPDM.

http://www.solidworks.com/sw/news/243_article2004_63_ENU_HTML.htm

FWIW,

Anna Wood
SW2011 SP5, Windows 7 x64

http://www.renderbay.com

http://www.solidmuse.com

http://www.phxswug.com

 

[sldwkmin]

What is the concern with upgrading to EPDM? DBWorks is a very similar program to this and of very similar cost what would make this acceptable but EPDM unacceptable?

Cole M
CSWP, CSWST, CSWI, CPDM
Certified DriveWorks AE

 

[saf12]

I found that our VAR is a seller of DBworks and they told me the same thing... our company is not ready to upgrade all users or implement Solidworks EPDM. So, we have been in search of a program (PDM) that would work with Solidworks. Our issue is indexing with the server program that we currently have.

 

[tristram]

Have you looked into Aras?
I find it integrates into existing systems well and you pay for support and integration help rather that huge licensing fees.

-Joe
SolidWorks 2011 x64 SP 4 on Windows XP x64
8 GB RAM - Nvidia Quadro FX1700

 

[SBaugh]

Look at Product Center. its another option.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Berry Plastics
Cad Admin\Design Engineer
GEASWUG Greater Evansville Area SWUG Leader

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[saf12]

Thank you... All of you have given good info.

 

[sldwkmin]

For what it is worth I worked for a company that had product center. I still have several friends there and they made the investment to switch 50+ seats to EPDM because they determined it was a much better and much more user friendly tool.

Cole M
CSWP, CSWST, CSWI, CPDM
Certified DriveWorks AE

 

[saf12]

~sldwkmin
I have talked to my supervisors about many possibilities, and I have listened. Understanding, that it's not my money that is being spent.
I have suggested that we have our VAR do a presentation. The overall idea is that they (VAR) won’t understand how our company works and that they will pressure us into a dramatic change. Still, it's a business decision and thru my research they have had to make some hard choices. Thus far, they have made small changes…
We are currently a small company. So, cost plays a large part in the decision making.
P.S.~ Thanks to my VAR I have been able to have back up when it comes to pushing back in a disagreement which has helped to start the change… (Cole, I believe I still owe you and some of the other guys a Beer!.. LOL)

 

[fcsuper]

Since I'm an employee of SolidWorks, you can take this with a grain of salt: I'm not sure that having Indexing provides significant improvement since with EPDM you are already on a SQL database which parses data pretty darn fast. Before I was hired by SolidWorks, I was the CAD Admin at my last job. I looked at every PDM in the mark that supported SolidWorks. I found that some claimed to support it, but really just didn't or had to use tricks. Others are good at it, but aren't getting any traction or had very slow updates. In the end, my recommendation was EPDM.



Matt Lorono, CSWP
Product Definition Specialist, DS SolidWorks Corp
Personal sites:
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion

 

[TheTick]

I did an implementation of Meridian (Cyco) about 10 years ago. Seemed to work well with SW.

 

[SonicFlow]

Have you looked into Aras?
I find it integrates into existing systems well and you pay for support and integration help rather that huge licensing fees.

Joe - Please tell us more! Are you using Aras as a PDM system? I've heard it is lacking as a PDM unless you pay for CAD connectors.