How to create a shortcut to your favorite SOLIDWORKS PDM Search

Article by Justin Williams created/updated May 16, 2016

Did you know that you can create a SOLIDWORKS PDM Search shortcut directly on your desktop?

Being the responsible PDM user that you are, it’s safe to assume that you’re checking in your documents at least once a day? A search shortcut can be a speedy way to round up all the files you currently have checked out minutes before the end of your day and check them in.

You can create a shortcut to any search, but for this example I’m going to show you how to create a shortcut to one of my search favorites – checked out files.

Via Windows Explorer navigate to the SOLIDWORKS PDM installation folder. Default location – C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM

SOLIDWORKS PDM installation folder

Find the file Search.exe then right-click and select Copy

Copy Search.exe

Navigate to where you’d like to create the shortcut for this example I’ll use my desktop then right-click and select Paste Shortcut

Paste Shortcut

Right-click on the new shortcut and select Properties

Properties of the shortcut

Add the following information to the Target field:

“C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Enterprise PDM\Search.exe” “/V:[Vault Name]” “/F:[Search Favorite Name]”

My Vault Name is JavVault, and my favorite search I’d like to point to is called Checked Out Files – Justin W. My target section will look like this:

“C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM\Search.exe” “/V:JavVault” “/F:Checked Out Files – Justin.W“

Shortcut Properties

Now every time I double click this shortcut I have a list of all the files I currently have checked out, which I can easily check-in before the end of my work day.