Rumour about SW buying Conisio. 3

[GoWithTheFlo]

Today at my job I heard a rumour about SolidWorks buying Conisio. (For those of you that don't know, Conisio is a program that lets you organize files and projects like PDM).

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone knew for sure or could confirm the rumour.

It could be a good thing as I have heard that Conisio is more powerful than PDM and also a lot more user-friendly. I have not tried it though. Are there any happy (or unhappy) Conisio users out there?

Salutations.

 

[ctopher]

Hey, I heard from my coworker's brother's sister-in-law's, cousin's nephew's freind's dad's boss, that next SW release will have free subscription!


Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks Pro 06/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[smcadman]

Dezignstuff, that's better than the rumor I said about an Easter Egg in SP4.1. Autodesk usually has easter eggs in it's programs, but I never heard of one in SW. I thought this we turning into a 20+ post about a rumor originally.

Flores
SW06 SP4.1

 

[GoWithTheFlo]

Well, turns out that the rumour is true. (Thank you pdybeck).

I wonder if they are going to use its technology to make PDM a lot easier to use.
I searched a little bit about Conisio, and it turns out to be a great program according to most comments I've read (although it does have its flaws).

 

[engAlright]

We recently started using Conisio, and have found it an excellent way to manage large amounts of data across multiple sites. PDMW is a great product, but is only useful for a small-ish amount of data and single sites. Smartteam is very powerful, but too complex and too much $$$ for most mid-level companies. Conisio fits in to a nice niche between those two.

Conisio also does a really nice job of managing metadata through SW custom property information...

 

[J-C]

Somethings got to give though. There's no way they are going to offer both PDM/Works and Conisio, they are too similar yet not. Too much overlap.

My guess is they will salvage it for code or replace PDM/Works (but maybe keep the name). Conisio looks a little more window friendly with it integrating inside Windows Explorer. Might be easier for the casual user to get around in. It also has capabilities that PDM/Works doesn't have like replication for multi-site and workflow with email notification. And it runs off a database which makes linking it other databases easier and makes for better/faster searching.

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2006 SP4.0 on WinXP SP2

 

[ctopher]

maybe ... ConWorks ?

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks Pro 06/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[rockguy]

Not that I really know but I bet it will work like this. PDMWorks and SW Explorer become the same product and is included with SW. This will compete with AutoDesk Vault which I believe is included (in some format)with the core Inventor product. If you want to upgrade to the "next level" you have to additionally purchase Conisio (or whatever they call it) or an upper level SW package (maybe SW Premium). Kind of like but not the same as Cosmos Express and Cosmos or e-drawings and e-drawings pro. My 2 cents.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
President: Northern
Vermont SolidWorks User Group

http://www.robrodriguez.com

(updated 5/01/06)
SW 2006 SP 4.0

 

[ctopher]

There is also some rumor of Autodesk dumping Vault. Autodesk will not tell us the future of Vault, or garantee its future.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks Pro 06/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[pdybeck]

Funny ctpoher!! I vote for ConWorks

 

[37LMR]

SolidWorks acquires Conisio PDM software
CONCORD, Mass., May 4, 2006 — SolidWorks Corporation today announced it has acquired GCS Scandinavia AB of Sweden, a SolidWorks® Certified Gold Partner and developer of Conisio® enterprise product data management software.
“SolidWorks recognizes the importance of integrated data management solutions in the product design process,” said Jeff Ray, chief operating officer for SolidWorks Corporation. “The Conisio product line has a proven track record within the SolidWorks customer base and within the SolidWorks reseller community. The acquisition brings us valuable data management technology to meet the needs of customers working to design world-class products.”

 

[J-C]

Yeah, but CosmosExpress is Cosmos code....lite. PDM/Works and Conisio don't work the same. I can't see them offering both with different interfaces. I mean, that really confises your userbase when you upgrade.

I'm thinking that maybe they consolidate the two and mostly migrate the PDM/Works side to the Conisio interface. It operates inside windows explorer which is easier for the casual user to digest.

Conisio has a built in viewer that opens over 200 file formats, wonder what becomes of eDrawings?

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2006 SP4.0 on WinXP SP2

 

[pdybeck]

I would tend to agree with Jason, although we've yet to hear anything definitive from SolidWorks. I imagine in the coming week(s) we'll be given more info on what the general plan is and how that would affect the current PDMWorks users. I would think they woud eventually have a plan in place to migrate data from the PDMWorks vault into the Conisio vault, if PDMWorks does for more or less get absorbed by Conisio. What they eventually call the end result, nobobdy knows (I still like ConWorks though). I can't see them making another level of PDM and thats why I agree with Jason that it seems they would be assimiliated, with PDMWorks getting a SQL database. We'll see. Overall I think its great news. Multi-site capability would be very welcomed I am sure by many current PDMWorks customers, as well as other functionality.

Pete

 

[dezignstuff]

I don't think the products will be merged. There are too many differences, starting with PDMW's use of flat text files and Conisio's use of a real database. I don't think PDMW is going to go away. It's a good product with an existing user base.

One of the big limitations of PDMW is multi-site implementation. Conisio can do that. I think we have a Good-Better-Best thing going on here. Conisio will be the Better product offering. Midrange PDM for midrange CAD.

 

[pdybeck]

Matt,

Wouldn't it be possible though to migrate a PDMWorks vault to a Conisio vault, or is that asking way too much trouble for Solidworks?

Pete

 

[dezignstuff]

It is possible to go from a PDMW vault to a database - based vault if you have an application written to do it, but a database - based system is a completely different animal when it comes to cost, installation, maintenance, admin, etc. People who sign up for PDMW usually do it because among other reasons, they like the fact that there is no database administration. You don't need a Crystal Reports expert, someone who knows sql, extra costs for db license management, etc.

I just doubt you will see PDMWorks with an implanted database. I also doubt it will go away. I think it will remain as is. If people need multi-site functionality or have a bug up their butt about a "real database", then the sales guys push them up to Conisio.

I'm sure they will write a migration application because a customer moving from PDMW to Conisio would mean increased revenue. To see what's going to happen from here, I think you'll get a good idea if you just follow the money. You don't see an application widely available to migrate to SmarTeam because there are only a handful of consultants who benefit from that. I've seen twice as many people move from SmarTeam to PDMWorks as from PDMW to ST. Mainly because of the bs and cost and technical issues with ST.

Anyway, I just think you will see two separate products, doing what they are best at, entry-level and mid-range file management / PLM. Conisio will fill the role for SW that ST was originally hoped to fill.

 

[J-C]

Isn't there a free sql database version? Also, PDM/works users don't really realize that it doesn't have a true database as it acts as if it does. I'm sure they can add a lite or free database and do something like DBWorks does. It runs on Access but can upgrade to Oracle or SQL as needed. The interface doesn't change. In order to prevent confusion, same thing has to occur for PDM/Works to Conisio, a seamless interface. So this means making PDM/Works work inside Windows Explorer.

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2006 SP4.0 on WinXP SP2

 

[josephv]

Very interesting post.

Thank you for the "tip", please keep the rumour mill going.

Cheers,

Joseph

 

[pdybeck]

Enterprise Edition??

http://www.javelin-tech.com/main/products/solidworks_product_map.htm

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Thats very interesting!!

Enterprise Edition is offering Conisio AND PDMWorks but not the COSMOS "freebies" or the Routing module.

Premium only offers PDMWorks but includes the COSMOS modules & Routing.

Anyone know how the pricings vary?


Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091

 

[pdybeck]

We don't know if the information at Javelin's site is legit yet... Still waiting to hear from SolidWorks on this one. I have a message in with my reseller to see what they know. Seems confusing at the moment...