PDMWorks is the first PDM solution with intuitive visual cues that are tightly integrated with SolidWorks 3D mechanical design software.

Control revisions and manage CAD projects more easily and effectively

The more you refine product designs and collaborate with others, the more CAD file revisions and associated data you have to manage. While Microsoft ®Explorer may be an effective tool for locating and storing many types of files, a well-managed product development effort requires more comprehensive controls to help your design team avoid the possibility of overwriting files or making other errors that could add time and cost to your schedule.

Although enterprise product data management (PDM) solutions can help you improve workflow across multiple sites and departments, such systems can require considerable planning effort to implement effectively. PDMWorks is different. Easy to set up and use, PDMWorks captures file revision histories automatically and allows you and other members of your product design team to instantly access desired files, determine who has worked on them, and see exactly when changes were made. Well proven in production, PDMWorks gives your design team instant access to all the design files and data they need, accelerating time-to-market by minimizing errors and duplicated efforts.

Protect project files with simple and complete security

PDMWorks provides an effective approach to securing files through vaulting ­ a simple, yet highly reliable and safe system for storing shared project files. Vaulting allows members of your design team to share files systematically, checking them in and out of the vault one at a time to avoid the possibility of a team member accidentally overwritinga file or spending time working on the wrong file revision. PDMWorks provides an additional level of security beyond a standard networked environment where files are shared by means of common network folders. With PDMWorks, access to vaulted information is only possible through the user interface by means of the administrative controls that you establish for your workgroup. Unlike common network or local folders, the PDMWorks vault protects your design information from unauthorized access as well as accidental overwrites and deletions.

Accelerate return on investment with easy setup

While enterprise PDM solutions require time to plan and implement effectively, PDMWorks allows rapid setup. Your product design team can become immediately more productive with minimal technical support and virtually no customization effort. Installing and configuring the software typically takes less than two hours. With PDMWorks you can start realizing the benefits of PDM quickly, so you can achieve a rapid return on your investment.

Additional PDMWorks software products

PDMWorks Standalone Version: provides non-SolidWorks users with cost-effective access to all the capabilities of PDMWorks, allowing them to participate in the design process.

PDMWorks Advanced Server: provides web-based viewing into the PDMWorks vault as well as an API that enables automatic communication of PDMWorks information to people or business systems using standard programming languages such as Perl, Visual Basic ®, and Visual C++®.

System requirements

Client:

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 recommended
• Intel Pentium®- or AMD Athlon™- class processor
• 128 MB RAM or greater (512 MB to 1 GB or greater recommended for assemblies exceeding 1000 parts)
• Pointing device
• CD-ROM drive
• Microsoft Office XP or Microsoft Office 2000
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or later recommended

Vault:

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows Server 2003® recommended
• Intel Pentium- or AMD Athlon™- class processor
• 512 MB RAM or greater
• 50 GB hard drive (requirements vary based on number of files, size of files, and number of revisions)
• TCP/IP

PDMWorks Advanced Server:

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows Server 2003®
  • API Triggers
• Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ)
• Microsoft Message Queuing Triggers
  • Web Portal
• Internet Explorer 5.5 or later
• Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.1 or later

Spend less time organizing and tracking all types of design data

PDMWorks allows your design team to manage all types of design information more efficiently ­ both documents and data ­ including properties such as description, status, number, and costs. You can make changes simply by selecting items and keying in updated values, automatically updating all associated bills of materials and reports. Examples of documents and types of data that PDMWorks helps you manage more efficiently include:

• SolidWorks part, drawing, assembly, and eDrawings™ files
• Design properties and specifications
• COSMOS™ analysis files and standard parts from the SolidWorks Toolbox library
• Microsoft Office files
• Legacy DWG, DXF™, and IGES files sent to and received from vendors
• Graphics, animations, and pdf documents

With the help of PDMWorks, your team members can focus their energy on critical design issues and spend less time organizing and tracking files and data.

Improve productivity through reuse of product design data

By making all of your product design files and data available in a manageable and secure environment with fast search capabilities, PDMWorks allows your design team to access content easily and reuse previously developed design work more efficiently. PDMWorks is also well integrated with the SolidWorks Toolbox standard parts library. Effective reuse of design data saves hours of design time by reducing duplicated efforts.

Enhance teamwork and ease collaboration

The ability to share files and data more easily and effectively can improve the work environment for your product design team, encouraging greater continuity and cooperation. For example, PDMWorks provides the ability to define document status to fit your corporate process. In addition, a standalone version of PDMWorks is available that allows non-CAD users such as manufacturing and purchasing staff to access and add documents to the vault. Controlled access to project files benefits all members of your organization and simplifies collaborative efforts.

Capture file revision histories automatically.

Enable collaboration with non-CAD users by implementing PDMWorks Standalone Version.