Testing PDM software

General
1

Many thanks for your suggestions in my earlier post regarding PDM software. There are a few packages that I’d like to test but I’m not sure how to approach this without wasting a bunch of work. I don’t see how to test the software without working on real models. We’re too small of a company to spend time making dummy designs. If I do the work and go with different software, I still want to be able to use it when I’m done, without having to deal with broken links and lost edits.

How would you guys go about testing PDM software?

2

So you want to design something new in CAD, but work in one of the PDM software you’re interested in. Then if you go with another software, you want to move the files over to that one?

3

Yeah. In the past, the main problem has been making sure I end up with the latest version of the file, not a past revision, and the assemblies don’t end up broken.

4

Most PDMs should have the option to always open latest version. SolidWorks PDM has a setting to do that, which we have checked for each user. “Always work with latest version”. This setting has some downsides though in that it removes the ability in the main UI to get previous revisions. You can do it inside the SolidWorks task pane PDM tab though.

5

It not only needs a real model, it needs a lot of time spent doing actual work. With the three new PDM systems I’ve had to adapt to, significant issues didn’t surface for a long time, usually at some stage in the project.

6

Which three did you have to work with?

7

2 things we’ve noticed with this:

  1. if the file is already cached locally, at any version, SW will open it happily and blow up the assemblies if needed. PDM add-in side bar MUST be open.

  2. in there are files from another CAD system in PDM, make sure it has a PDM Add-in and make sure to test the functionality of the SW PDM Add-In before updating the other CAD system.

8

Most PDM require setting up a server. Some could install on same computer as the CAD. Don’t know if different PDM could install on same computer/server.

Most like you’ll need to test one by one. Install one, test, uninstall, repeat.

Or install on different computers to test at the same time.

9

Could use Oraclebox and create a VM for each. It’s free and you can install a trial version of Windows Server on it.

10

I think you can do the same with Microsoft HyperV as long as you have a vPRO processor on your workstation.

11

Was gonna try but apparently Windows 11 Home edition doesn’t include it, you have to upgrade to Windows Pro.

12

Are you talking about SolidWorks PDM? If so, I believe it’s the Standard version, since it’s included with the SolidWorks Standard/Premium package, while PDM Professional is a paid package.

I was the one who tested and installed PDM Standard for my company. I initially installed it on a local computer so I could test it and learn all the features more easily. Once I understood the PDM features and was happy with the workflow, I asked IT to install it on the server.