Learning PDM

[VTmechie]

Has anyone used this PDM book?
HANDBOOK FOR SOLIDWORKS PDM STANDARD by Alar Jõgi
https://www.amazon.com/HANDBOOK-SOLIDWORKS-STANDARD-Alar-Jõgi/dp/1675710295/ref=monarch_sidesheet
ISBN-13
978-1675710296

Or does anyone have any other ideas for learning PDM? I am trying to avoid paying for the expensive training with the reseller.

if someone has a recent training book and wants to sell it, please let me know.

[VTmechie]

There is a thread here on this question. The OP took the reseller course but still needs more resources. And the Jogi books didn’t get great reviews.
https://forum.solidworks.com/thread/240404

Matt L. - are you looking to update your pdm bible any time soon? It has changed a lot since 2009.

I am feeling frustrated there isn’t a lot of resources on this topic.

Here are some things I want to do:
– Go from Rev numbers (prototype) to Rev Letters (released)
– Create PDFs of drawings when released. (I got this to work some but not great)
– Make small changes without changing Rev and re-publish PDF
– Automatically add stamps where needed “FOR REFERENCE ONLY” etc.

[matt]

Matt L. - are you looking to update your pdm bible any time soon? It has changed a lot since 2009.

I am feeling frustrated there isn’t a lot of resources on this topic.

Here are some things I want to do:
– Go from Rev numbers (prototype) to Rev Letters (released)
– Create PDFs of drawings when released. (I got this to work some but not great)
– Make small changes without changing Rev and re-publish PDF
– Automatically add stamps where needed “FOR REFERENCE ONLY” etc.

This is the thing I should start working on. I get a lot of questions about this. Thanks for the shove!

[jcapriotti]

matt You wrote a PDM bible? How did I not know this…and had thought about it myself but figured there wouldn’t be much market for it.

[bnemec]

I am feeling frustrated there isn’t a lot of resources on this topic.

Here are some things I want to do:
– Go from Rev numbers (prototype) to Rev Letters (released)
– Create PDFs of drawings when released. (I got this to work some but not great)
– Make small changes without changing Rev and re-publish PDF
– Automatically add stamps where needed “FOR REFERENCE ONLY” etc.

You mentioned PDM Standard in first post, I think your list is mostly EPDM/PDM Pro stuff. Which do you have?

[bnemec]

I am feeling frustrated there isn’t a lot of resources on this topic.

Here are some things I want to do:
– Go from Rev numbers (prototype) to Rev Letters (released)
– Create PDFs of drawings when released. (I got this to work some but not great)
– Make small changes without changing Rev and re-publish PDF
– Automatically add stamps where needed “FOR REFERENCE ONLY” etc.

You mentioned PDM Standard in first post, I think the topics you mention in the list are all PDM Pro things. Which are you using?

[matt]

@matt You wrote a PDM bible? How did I not know this…and had thought about it myself but figured there wouldn’t be much market for it.

In 2009 I wrote an Admin bible. It was pretty thorough about PDMWorks. I think the few people who read it remember it mostly for what I said about PDMW (and Toolbox).

[jcapriotti]

Here are some things I want to do:
– Go from Rev numbers (prototype) to Rev Letters (released)

How do you want this work? You can switch schemas in the workflow. For example, on release we use A, B, C, etc. During an ECO we use A.01, A.02, A.03, etc. For a certain type of document we even created a 3 tier revision scheme.

– Create PDFs of drawings when released. (I got this to work some but not great)

What is the issue?

– Make small changes without changing Rev and re-publish PDF

We have a separate workflow for “File corrections” that set the revision to the same level (increment by 0 when it goes back to release. It’s only allowed for making minor model edits that don’t affect the drawing visually.
image.png

– Automatically add stamps where needed “FOR REFERENCE ONLY” etc.

You could handle this with a custom property linked to a PDM variable. Then a note in your sheet format linked to the custom property.

[jcapriotti]

In 2009 I wrote an Admin bible. It was pretty thorough about PDMWorks. I think the few people who read it remember it mostly for what I said about PDMW (and Toolbox).

Ah…now you get the joy of learning PDM Standard/Pro…give me a call…lol

[matt]

Ah…now you get the joy of learning PDM Standard/Pro…give me a call…lol

I did learn Conisio a while back, does that count?

[jcapriotti]

I did learn Conisio a while back, does that count?

Conisio, what’s that?

They have all but hidden that name…except in a few places.
image.png

[Diaval]

I would be willing to help contribute to a PDM “bible”. I noticed that there is a SolidWorks FAQ area here. Maybe it would be good to start a SWPDM FAQ section?

I started to compile a comparison list of differences between Pro and Standard. And I’m sure that many of us PDM admins have learned a few tips and tricks that help with administration of a PDM system that we could share with others.

[bnemec]

@Tom_G

Conisio, what’s that?

They have all but hidden that name…except in a few places.

image.png

I kinda wish I had the opportunity to work with Conisio before SW bought and integrated it.

[Diaval]

I kinda wish I had the opportunity to work with Conisio before SW bought and integrated it.

SW has made some good improvements with the original Conisio product. But it was a good product to begin with so it made it easier to improve. I’ve been working with it since it was first released as PDMWorks Enterprise. Some releases have been better than others over the years.

[jcapriotti]

In general I haven’t had any issues with any particular release. My biggest beef is that it needs more functionality and the “What’s new” is rather “thin” for what we pay for each year. I guess moot now that we are going to Windchill.

[Diaval]

In general I haven’t had any issues with any particular release. My biggest beef is that it needs more functionality and the “What’s new” is rather “thin” for what we pay for each year. I guess moot now that we are going to Windchill.

I can definitely understand the frustration about how long it takes to get much needed functionality. If you weren’t moving to Windchill, what would be your top 3 most needed features?

[VTmechie]

@zwei

We have a separate workflow for “File corrections” that set the revision to the same level (increment by 0 when it goes back to release. It’s only allowed for making minor model edits that don’t affect the drawing visually.

image.png
image.png

Jason,
Thank you for your help with PDM. I am working on the “file correction” workflow issue with revs. Currently the rev increment works with the regular work flow but not the file correction workflow. I understand what you mean by inc. by 0. But currently the rev is incremented in the state and not the transition. I am guessing I need to change this so it increments in the transition?
Thank you,
Jennifer

[jcapriotti]

Jason,
Thank you for your help with PDM. I am working on the “file correction” workflow issue with revs. Currently the rev increment works with the regular work flow but not the file correction workflow. I understand what you mean by inc. by 0. But currently the rev is incremented in the state and not the transition. I am guessing I need to change this so it increments in the transition?
Thank you,
Jennifer

Yes, Inc rev is on the transition, along with the increment by 0
image.png
image.png

[VTmechie]

Hi Jason,
How do I make a separate loop that makes number Revs for design? Then when I am ready to release, switch to Letter Revs?
Thanks,
Jennifer

[jcapriotti]

Hi Jason,
How do I make a separate loop that makes number Revs for design? Then when I am ready to release, switch to Letter Revs?
Thanks,
Jennifer

Something like?

Release: A,B,C
In progress: A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2, etc.

Or just 1,2,3,4 during concept but switch to A,B,C on moving to production?