How to use an Object Type Condition in SOLIDWORKS PDM Workflows and Categories

SOLIDWORKS PDM Conditions are powerful tools for controlling document flow, through a Workflow Transition. In a previous article titled, SOLIDWORKS PDM Transition Conditions, I looked at the general use of Conditions. Most of the available Conditions, such as Category, File Path, Revision and Variables are self explanatory, but a SOLIDWORKS PDM Object Type condition can be a little confusing.

Condition Variables

With Object Type, PDM is filtering data passing through a Transition, by type of Object it is. The Object can be one of three entities:

• File: With this filter, only physical files are allowed to pass through a transition. The File Object Type should not be confused with Filepath. Filepath filters by file name, extension, or path.
• BOM: Named BOM’s are saved from a Computed BOM’s. These BOM’s can be checked in and out, as well as being “revisioned”. This Filter will only allow named BOM’s to pass through a Transition.
• Item: An Item consists entirely of metadata, that can be used to collect the entire “product definition” of a project. This can include CAD data, documentation and other supporting documents. Items don’t themselves contain files, but they can be linked to files. With this filter, only items pass through a Transition.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Object Type Condition