How to enable Content Search in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional (Part 1)

In this article, we are going to look at how to enable the content search in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional using the Windows Search Service.

This features requires:

• SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional version 2016 SP0 or newer
• The archive server service must be able to access the archive folders via locally attached or SAN storage. Network shares are not supported.

NOTE: In this example, the Archive Server and SQL Server are on the same system.  If they are on separate systems, please see part 2 of this article

Step 1 – Install Windows Search

• Server Manager > Manage > Add Roles and Features

Add Roles and Features

• Features > Select Windows Search Service > Next
  • Then click Install

Windows Search Service

• Confirm via services that the Windows Search Service is running, if not start it;

Confirm and Start Service

Step 2 – Configure Windows Search to index the vault archives folder

• Control Panel > Indexing Options

Indexing Options

• Modify > Add the archive folder location including all of its subfolders > Ok

Add the archive folder location including all of its subfolders

Step 3 – Configure the vault to use Windows Search for indexing

• Administration Tool > Indexing
  • Check Index File Vault Archives
  • Ensure Windows Search is selected for the Indexing Method
  • Select the Archive Path > Edit

Configure the vault to use Windows Search for indexing

• Browse and add the archive path for the SQL Server > Hit Ok and close both dialogs

Add the archive path for the SQL Server

Step 4 – Complete

• We should now be able to search the content of files within the vault via:
  • Complete Search Card > Content Tab
    • Search in Content

Search in Content

Wrap up…

By default the Windows Search Service supports indexing the following files types;

• Microsoft Office files
• HTML files
• MIME messages
• plain-text files

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NOTE: In this example, the Archive Server and SQL Server are on the same system.  If they are on separate systems, please see part 2 of this article