# Testing PDM software **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [August 27, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410 "2026-08-27T21:14:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Hairball](https://forum.cadmunity.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/97f17d/32.png) [@Uncle\_Hairball](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/Uncle_Hairball)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/1 "2026-08-27T21:14:16Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/jcapriotti/32/24_2.png) [@jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/jcapriotti)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/2 "2026-08-27T21:53:00Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Hairball](https://forum.cadmunity.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/97f17d/32.png) [@Uncle\_Hairball](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/Uncle_Hairball)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/3 "2026-08-27T22:25:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/jcapriotti/32/24_2.png) [@jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/jcapriotti)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/4 "2026-08-28T00:33:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Dwight](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/dwight/32/61_2.png) [@Dwight](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/Dwight)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/5 "2026-08-28T13:10:20Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/jcapriotti/32/24_2.png) [@jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/jcapriotti)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:59pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/6 "2026-08-28T13:59:09Z")
Which three did you have to work with? ---
**Author:** ![bnemec](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/bnemec/32/5180_2.png) [@bnemec](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/bnemec)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 2:28pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/7 "2026-08-31T14:28:03Z")
> [@jcapriotti](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Frederick\_Law](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/frederick_law/32/8_2.png) [@Frederick\_Law](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/Frederick_Law)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/8 "2026-08-31T15:00:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/jcapriotti/32/24_2.png) [@jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/jcapriotti)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/9 "2026-08-31T16:40:24Z")
Could use Oraclebox and create a VM for each. It’s free and you can install a trial version of Windows Server on it. ---
**Author:** ![KennyG](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/kennyg/32/5121_2.png) [@KennyG](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/KennyG)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/10 "2026-08-31T19:41:45Z")
I think you can do the same with Microsoft HyperV as long as you have a vPRO processor on your workstation. ---
**Author:** ![jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/jcapriotti/32/24_2.png) [@jcapriotti](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/jcapriotti)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 11:33am UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/11 "2026-09-01T11:33:59Z")
Was gonna try but apparently Windows 11 Home edition doesn’t include it, you have to upgrade to Windows Pro. ---
**Author:** ![christian\_chu](https://forum.cadmunity.com/user_avatar/forum.cadmunity.com/christian_chu/32/80_2.png) [@christian\_chu](https://forum.cadmunity.com/u/christian_chu)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.cadmunity.com/t/testing-pdm-software/6410/12 "2026-09-03T16:00:20Z")
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.