What do you mean by interface? Do you mean data exchange?
Try this:
- In SW create properties (in a part or assembly) for all data you want to exchange
- create an excel file with cells linked to fields of the external database of SAP(via ODBC)
- in this excel file create a macro to perform data exchange between SW properties and SAP database
No I don't mean data exchange. The Gedas interface uses a RFC API interface between SW and SAP. Once installed, you get a SAP interface menu item when you are in the SW application. The interface enables you to login to SAP from SW, then you can exchange drawings, parts, assemblies, BOMs, etc across the interface. The Gedas i/f is endorsed by SAP and SAP provides the tech. support. Unfortunately it is taking 2 weeks to resolve each complex problem with the interface. I was hoping that there are users out there interfacing SW to SAP so that we can share experiences and resolve issues quickly. Hope this clarifies the reason for my post. Thanks.
We are using the gedas integration for SolidWorks to SAP. Started the initial configuration and testing back in Feb, 03. We went live in production with our first group of 15 users in July of 03. Currently we are using the integration with CAD Desktop 1.1.24.
We have some issues to resolve, mostly they are process oriented and we have to decide on how to proceed.
Overall, so far we are satisfied with the integration. We are a company that is big on SAP and SolidWorks is our standard for solid modeling. This was a nice fit for us.
I was the team lead on the project from the MIS integration side. Sharing experiences on this with other users would certainly be a benefit.
Akakad,
when you use the OSS way via SAP you have to pass first, secound and third level support. Why don't you use SAP-SOLIDWORKS-SUPPORT@gedas.de ? We normally anwer customers questions within 2 days if they are not always consulting questions only. For those customers we recommend to buy some consulting.
best regards, and hope to hear of you via sap-solidworks-support@gedas.de, your gedas support team.
The latest issue of the seemingly sporadic SolidWorks Express has some comments and/or information on GEDAS/SAP. I have not read it completely yet. Maybe it was in connection with using eDrawings as a viewer?
yes, you can use edrawings for direct viewing the models and drawings in SAP's contentserver (KPRO), you don't need create third party file formats. On SAP's servicemarketplace (service.sap.com/plm) you can find some avi's regarding this. Or just write an email to sap-solidworks-support@gedas.de, we will send you an avi.
I know this thread is a bit old in the tooth, but I was browsing..... I am somewhat interested in this SAP interface myself. We use SmarTeam and do not have a single enterprise wide solution at our location. However the parent company used SAP for EVERYTHING. Boy do they ever! Yes Victoria there is such a thing as a paperless system. So one day we will eventually have to go that way. One thing about poor ecconomic times is that you can't be spending large amounts cash on that kind of conversion.... pheeew!
John Richards Sr. Mech. Engr.
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics
A hobbit's lifestyle sounds rather pleasant...... it's the hairy feet that turn me off.
There is a company called AimaSoft that has a neat little program called "Entralink", whcih is basically an Enterprise Explorer. It allows you to easily link your ERP data (SAP in this case), with your CAD models.
The program shows the ERP data on the right side of the screen, and you can have a SW assembly on the left. When you Open the SW assembly, it shows you the feature tree of parts, like SW would. You get a visual idea immediately if there is a part or assembly in your CAD file, that does not exist in the ERP system. If you want it added, it is a click away.
You can take the ERP data (you specify which fields) and send it to the SW model also. If there are multiple configs in the model, it will ask which config you want the data stuffed into.
The program will assign a JPG or eDrawing to the part in the ERP. You can also assign Word, Excel docs or even PDF's if you want, to have quick access to ECN's, ECO's or whatever. Oh, you can also embed websites to a part for such things as Vendor or Manufacturer. Makes it simple for anybody to find any relevant doc about the part.
You can save the work or assembly to WIP (Work In Progress), or release it to any PLM or ERP system. It also has 3 levels of access, so you can limit some folks to just viewing the data if you want.
this is for dtello, or any other members that since then have been using Gedas and SAP's PDM. I am really interested in their experiences. We are leaning very heavily in favor of Gedas, as I read on one of this forums. it seems to be the only one that has a real interface between the 2 programs, all others we've seen are more like a "parallel" program duplicating operations and functions.
How much has your work time has changed if you can put a percentage? Can you tell top management "we are "x%" more efficient since the integration?
Any other input is appreciated.
Thanks
