Javelin / TriMech Author
Joe Medeiros, CSWE
SOLIDWORKS PDM Look for Variable in Configuration Options
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on August 30, 2018
When defining a BOM in SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration. There are a number of options for choosing which Configurations to grab the Variable Value from. In this article, we will review the following SOLIDWORKS PDM Look for Variable options: Look for variable in all configurations –…
SOLIDWORKS PDM Display Types in the Windows Explorer Local Vault
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on July 30, 2018
There are three SOLIDWORKS PDM Display Types available in the Windows Explorer Local Vault: Show Files Show Bills of Materials Show Search Results They can be found under the Display menu as shown below: Show Files Show Files, is the default and most commonly used. This…
How to determine which SOLIDWORKS PDM Variable is connected to a Data Card Control
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on June 14, 2018
A quick way of determining which SOLIDWORKS PDM Variable is connected to a Data Card Control, is from within the Local Vault View. With the Data Card Tab selected: Click on the Help Icon, in the top-right of the lower panel. A question mark will…
Update File Attributes from SOLIDWORKS PDM Database
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on May 8, 2018
To update a file’s Custom Properties with the corresponding variable values in the SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault Database, select one or more files from within the PDM Local Vault View, then from the Modify pull-down select Modify > Update > File Attributes from Database.
How to update Values in Files located in your SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on May 8, 2018
The SOLIDWORKS PDM Local Vault View tool: Modify > Update > Values in Files, is a great tool for copying variable values, from a Folder Data Card, to Files. This tool will copy specified Variable values in a folder, to corresponding variables of selected files….
Converting a SOLIDWORKS Drawing to a PDF in SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on May 3, 2018
New in SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard 2018, is the ability to run Convert to PDF on SOLIDWORKS Drawings. This is enabled through PDM Tasks. Tasks are used to automate procedures, that are performed regularly. The Convert Task in SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard, automates the process of creating…
SOLIDWORKS PDM Labels are used to add a note to a version of a file. Once added, Labels can be used in searches, as well as adding information to a file’s History. Labels in many ways perform the same functions as Version Comments, but unlike…
Undo in the Data Card Editor is new for SOLIDWORKS PDM 2018
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on December 26, 2017
For all of you who create or edit SOLIDWORKS PDM Data Cards, this may be one of your favorite enhancements, in SOLIDWORKS PDM 2018. Yes, you can now UNDO any unintended changes. Undo is not available from the right-mouse menu, but CTRL-Z works and Undo…
Merging Branched Files in SOLIDWORKS PDM
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on December 21, 2017
In my previous article, we looked at Creating Branches from a Source file, so that we could test different concepts, on these Branches. In this article, we will look at how to combine these changes into a Source File by Merging Branched files with their…
How to Branch SOLIDWORKS PDM Files for design conceptualization
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on December 21, 2017
This is a continuation of our SOLIDWORKS PDM Branching and Merging series. In this article, we will look at the steps to Branch SOLIDWORKS files. Branching creates copies of a source file, which can be modified in order to test new concepts. Branching is available…
SOLIDWORKS PDM Design Branching & Merging Overview
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on December 20, 2017
SOLIDWORKS PDM Branching and Merging, aids in the design process, by allowing the designer to Branch concepts from source file, and combine the successful concepts with the source file. Branching The first part of this process, is Branching. Branching creates copies of a source, in…
How to update SOLIDWORKS PDM Drawings linked to the $PRPSHEET Attribute
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on December 17, 2017
In a previous article I discussed the use of $PRPSHEET to create a link between Part or Assembly Properties and a Drawing. The article described how to create the link, purely through SOLIDWORKS, and how to use SOLIDWORKS PDM to update the link. While there are…
Best Practices for using $PRPSHEET in SOLIDWORKS PDM
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on December 16, 2017
The use of $PRPSHEET can be confusing, since it can be used in more then one way and can interact with SOLIDWORKS PDM or be independent of PDM. $PRPSHEET is intended to get information from one document, such as a part or assembly, into another…
Moving SOLIDWORKS PDM Files does not regenerate Data Card Values?
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on November 15, 2017
When moving SOLIDWORKS PDM files between folders, with the option ‘Folder data card variable’ checked the result may not be what you are expecting. The expectation would be that any Data Card Control, with ‘Folder data card variable’, would pull the Variable Value from…
How are SOLIDWORKS PDM drawing properties updated?
By Joe Medeiros, CSWE on November 14, 2017
In previous Javelin blogs, it was explained how to use $PRPSHEET “Write Drawing Card With Part Card Variables“. While this is a good tool for reducing workload, and ensuring consistency of data entry by reducing the number of data cards where information has to be…