PDMWorks behaving badly. How do I beat it into submission?

[KirbyWan]

Howdy all,

So I've installed SolidWorks PDMWorks to play around with it and learn it's capabilities and there is one thing that really annoys me. If I check something out of the vault, do whatever updating I need and then check it back into the vault it says files need to be saved before checking them into the vault. Click O.K. and it saves them to what ever the current working directory is in SolidWorks which is usually a different project that I have not included in the vault. Shouldn't it save it to some directory under where the vault is located and not in the directories of non-vault projects? Are these files that it has saved now the files it will go to when I check the document back out again? It's like SW and PDMW are crapping my files all over my directory structure and I don't know how to whip it in line.

I'm new to PDMW and the help files are not particularly helpful. Is there a document out there that explains effective ways to set up and use PDMW, with best practices and perhaps a tutorial?

Thanks for everyones help and suggestions.

-Kirby

Kirby Wilkerson

Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.

 

[fcsuper]

For new files, they will be placed where every you tell Workgroup to place them. This can be done automatically by initiating the check-in via the vault by RMB clicking on the specific project. If you don't do it there, you can do set the project on the check-in window in the Project column.

However, if a file is already in the vault, the workflow is completely different. You'll have to go to that file within the vault, RMB click on it to take ownership. Then RMB click on it again to change the project. Then find the file in the new project and RMB click on it again to release ownership.

Also, I recommend only using one folder on your local harddrive, such as C:\PDMfiles as your working folder. The vault maintains the projects, so you no longer need to do that on your harddrive.

Matt Lorono, CSWP
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
Follow me on Twitter

 

[EEnd]

Right click in the background of the vault area and select:
SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Options...

Go to the folders tab, select the radio button and enter a value in the Use folder field.

Eric

 

[KirbyWan]

I'm not change files between projects. I just open a project file, make changes and check it back in to the same project.

-Kirby

Kirby Wilkerson

Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.

 

[KirbyWan]

EEnd,

O.K. I did that, and I created a 'temp vault files' directory. but are these files the copies it is using? Do I need to set this directory for each project or is it the same for all projects?

I will continue to fiddle with it to learn it.

-Kirby

Kirby Wilkerson

Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.

 

[fcsuper]

A temp vault file folder isn't a working folder. The working folder is in the Use folder field in the upper portion of that same window.

Matt Lorono, CSWP
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
Follow me on Twitter

 

[ctopher]

Some info:

http://help.solidworks.com/2011/Eng...rkgroup/client/hidd_client_options_dialog.htm

http://help.solidworks.com/2011/Eng...orks_Workgroup/VaultAdmin/HIDD_PP_PROJECT.htm

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion