SolidWorks:HEARD! - Episode 411 - WN2013 - Workgroup & Enterprise PDM

WN2013 - Workgroup & Enterprise PDM:

This podcast dissects the What's New PDF, outlining all the new functionality in SolidWorks 2013 with tips, tricks and insights in the new major release.  Topics covered in this show:​

Chapter 12: SolidWorks Enterprise PDM:​
- Administration Tool
- File Explorer and SolidWorks Add-in

Chapter 24: SolidWorks Workgroup PDM:
- Limiting Export to Files in the Current Revision Scheme
- Vault Service Management

​SolidWorks Workgroup and Enterprise PDM covering chapters 12 and 24 of the What's New PDF,  outline changes/enhancements to the SolidWorks product line since the previous release.  If you have not done so, please download this PDF and walk through the areas that are most important to you.

The goal of this series is to provide a portable, audio version of the 2013 What's New, providing a quick way to evaluate new features that have been changed/added/removed in the SolidWorks product line.  We all fall victim to the "ruts" of using SolidWorks from release to release and knowing what's to come brings awareness early.

I will be releasing an additional show a week as well as the usual monthly Tech News shows (up to 3 a week) in order to cover the entire What's New PDF before FCS (First Customer Ship). Between the podcast, blog and other posts around the web, there will be no shortage of SolidWorks 2013 content to come!

Check out the SolidWorks:Heard! Blog and follow us on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!

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SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 397 - Workgroup to Enterprise

Workgroup to Enterprise:

This podcast discuses the challenges and preparation when considering the move from SolidWorks Workgroup PDM to Enterprise PDM.  Although this transition is common, not every transition is the same.  Topics covered:

- When to consider migrating

- How the major differences in the two PDM products factor in

- What is involved in migrating data

- How to prep the move to EPDM

- Types of migration to consider

- Post migration activities

The dynamics of design are changing.  Remote teams, larger data sets, complex change processes, ERP/MRP systems, etc and with that the task of tracking data during design grows in importance.  PDM (Project Data Management) tools have often been looked at as a final resting place (therefore the nickname VAULT).  But as teams work together and data is constantly changing, tracking of file versions and revision schemes during design has become more "In-Process" management.

In the SolidWorks family of products, Workgroup and Enterprise PDM are two products that are used and the question of when to move from WPDM to EPDM is considered when the design process outgrows or strains the workgroup mentality.  Although migration from WPDM to EPDM is a common activity, the process and result are vastly different depending on a number of factors.

Since I am performing a major migration this weekend, I thought it was worth discussing this process and what I see when I work with companies that take this journey.  Migration is not a perfect process but there are a number of things that one can do to ease the stress and allow for a smooth rollout.  ~Lou

Check out the SolidWorks:Heard! Blog and follow us on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!

SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 356 - SW2012 What's New - Document Management

SW2012 What's New - Document Management:

This podcast dissects the What's New PDF, outlining all the new features in SolidWorks 2012 along with other tips, tricks and tidbits in the new software. Topics covered in this show:

Chapter 11: SolidWorks Enterprise PDM

- Administration Tool:

- Menu customization and administration

- Full user name options

- Replication enhancements

- File Explorer & SW Add-in:

- "Browse to" changes

- BOM export enhancements

- Search extended into more dialogs (Open, Save-As)

- Version toggle for "Where Used"

- New and modified toolbars

- Product support changes (CAD, Microsoft products, 64 bit supported area)

- Performance updates (Templates and CopyTree)

- Web client for Editor licenses

Chapter 24: SolidWorks Workgroup PDM

- Metadata rebuilding

- The return of the vault browser in Windows Explorer (Vista/Win7)

- Pack and Go updates (progress bar and Cancel button access)

Document Management, covering chapters 11 and 24 of the What's New PDF, outlines changes/enhancements to the SolidWorks product line since the previous release.  If you have not done so, please download this PDF and walk through the areas that are most important to you.

The goal of this series is to provide a portable, audio version of the 2012 What's New, providing a quick way to evaluate new features that have been changed/added/removed in the SolidWorks product line.  We all fall victim to the "ruts" of using SolidWorks from release to release and knowing what's to come brings awareness early.

I will be releasing an additional show a week as well as the usual monthly Tech News shows (up to 3 a week) in order to cover the entire What's New PDF before FCS (First Customer Ship). Between the podcast, blog and other posts around the web, there will be no shortage of SolidWorks 2012 content to come!

Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!

SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 330 - Workgroup to Enterprise Migration

Workgroup to Enterprise Migration:

This podcast covers the options and migration questions that typically come up for those looking to move from SolidWorks Workgroup PDM to Enterprise PDM.  There are tools available to assist with migration from Workgroup which can ease the pain of a platform update.  Topics covered:

- Quick overview of the major reasons many decide to migrate

- SolidWorks Workgroup migration tool

- Other migration options available when moving to EPDM

- Migration aftermath - steps to take

- How EPDM's add-in framework can come to the rescue

- History versus "day-forward" approach

Although I use all the SolidWorks products, since 2001 I have been using Conisio, which is today known as SolidWorks Enterprise PDM.  In 2006 when SW purchased Conisio and made it a major branch of their product line, I have spent a lot of time talking with companies about processes and document management options.

Workgroup PDM, included in 2 of the 3 SolidWorks bundles, is not extensively used among SolidWorks customers but there are enough out there that are looking to increase the involvement of their PDM tool in product design.  Although many will move from Windows file management techniques to EPDM, those that adopted WPDM as a local tool are faced with a few questions when considering the move to Enterprise.

SolidWorks offers a few tools to assist in the migration of data that resides in another PDM product, however many times these tools will get you there if you decide to use EPDM in the same exact manor.  I encourage companies to first setup EPDM in the most ideal configuration and then plan the migration path to meet those goals.  Garbage in, garbage out so why not draw a line in the sand and take the opprotunity to do it right and build migration paths to get to the "ideal" PDM environment. ~Lou

Remember to check out SolidWorks:Heard! Blog and to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and THE HEARD!

SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 324 - SolidWorks & IE9

SolidWorks & IE9:

This podcast covers the current status of the SolidWorks product line and the newly launched Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.  With IE being so tightly integrated in the Windows operating system, it is not surprising when certain aspects of other products stop working as intended! Topics covered:

- SolidWorks' statement on SolidWorks & IE9 in the Forums

SolidWorks & IE9 in the Knowledge base:

- Interaction issues with IE9 and 3D Content Central (workarounds)

- SolidWorks Search script errors after IE9 Installed

- SolidWorks customer portal issues with downlods (workarounds)

PDM & PDF issues:

- WPDM & EPDM PDF viewing problems

- EPDM Web Client and IE9 needing compatibility mode

This past week Microsoft released their 9th build of Internet Explorer and since IE has always been tightly integrated with Windows, it was not surprising that some technologies ran into compatibility issue after installation.  

Unfortunately, many of these issues are just annoyances but have surfaced right after SolidWorks releases service pack 3 for SolidWorks 2011.  This means that some of the problems that SolidWorks is facing, although minor, will probably not be addressed till SP4.  Most of the issues that are correctable by SolidWorks themselves and currently have a workaround article posted in the knowledge base in the customer portal.  There are, however, a few related to the PDF previewing in Workgroup PDM and in the 64bit version of Enterprise PDM that are due to compatibility with IE9 and Adobe (and Foxit for those running 64bit EPDM).

IE9 is argueably the best browser that Microsoft has shipped, finally competiing on the front of web standards and speed along side the heavy competition of Mozilla's Firefox and Google's Chrome.  Unfortunately due to IE's tight integration into Windows, many product are forced to rely on IE for certain aspects of their own offering and an upgrade of this magnitude is bound to cause an error or two! ~Lou

Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!