InFlow Technology

QuickTips: EnterprisePDM Notifications

The ePDM notification system is a key component to keeping your processes flowing. So what can you do to get the floodgates open when pipe gets plugged? Follow this QuickTip to get back in business.  

Restart the Service. The notification system relies on the PDM database to manage who gets what, when. When these databases are moved, freshly installed, or inundated with messages (500+ at one time) the e-mails can stop sending and cause a backlog of to-be-sent messages. Essentially, the messages missed the starting gun and need to be restarted. The service in question is the "SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Database Server" service.

This is accessed from the services console on the network database server. If this makes sense, go for it. If not, let your network IT professional know that the service needs restarting. Users will not be able to add data to the database during the restart. This normally only takes seconds to preform. The emails should send immidiatly after the service is back online.

If this does not get those emails out, please call the support hotline for immediate service, 800-875-3009. Mention solution S-055425 to your support tech so they can get you up and running, quick.

Sometimes when e-mail stops flowing, it can seem like a blessing. But when those messages are your notifications from your ePDM system, you could miss critical information on your most important projects. Try this QuickTip first and keep the INformation FLOWing.

~Inflow Support Team

InFlow Technology releases new EPDM Implementation Packages

I normally don't send sales type information out through the blog, but there have been some changes at InFlow that I thought I would share.  For 2012 we are introducing standard implementation offerings for Enterprise PDM.  There are 3 options:

InFlow INITIATE

• This is for companies who just need enough get started
• Get up and going in just a few days
• Includes an InFlow standard vault template and user training

InFlow INTEGRATE

• For companies who want to start relatively small but intend to grow the system
• Includes onsite administration training and custom user material
• Includes an InFlow standard vault template

InFlow INNOVATE

• For companies who want a completely custom EPDM environment
• InFlow best practices applied to a completely custom vault
• Includes all the administration training you need plus custom user material

Also for our customers under annual support, we are introducing InFlow INVOLVE.  This free service includes periodic onsite visits to address questions and review your needs with respect to EPDM.  I will also send out some information related to our new migration packages, for companies that are migrating files to EPDM from AutoDesk Vault, SmarTeam, or other systems.  Stay tuned for that and check out information on www.inflow-tech.com.

 

EPDM and ITAR Compliance

For many companies, ITAR Compliance has become a major concern.  ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) generally deals with the export of sensitive information to foreign governments or persons.  For engineering departments, ITAR Compliance relates to the export of technical data, specifically data deemed inappropriate for export.  Examples would include drawings or 3D models developed for defense contractors.

The regulations mention the export of technical data.  But, companies must also control access to data based on the user citizenship.

To properly control the data, a company must be able to accomplish the following:

• The ITAR restricted documents have to be flagged in some way
• Once labelled, there has to be some kind of system set up to control security based on the ITAR flag

The bad news...penalties can be severe for non-Compliance.  The good news...EPDM can be set up to accomplish ITAR Compliance.  Here are a couple things you need to do:

1. Set up an ITAR Restricted flag on the EPDM data card for the documents.  This can be set by default so all documents get the flag set.
2. Add an additional ITAR Restricted workflow.  The ITAR Restricted documents are automatically added to the ITAR workflow.
3. Set up an ITAR restricted group so that documents in the ITAR workflow are hidden from the group.

It should be very easy to set up.  Any questions, send them along, or request info at www.inflow-tech.com.

 

Running EPDM Searches from the command line

Here is a helpful tip for EPDM Administrators...courtesy of one of our best EPDM customers.

As a user, have you ever wanted to bypass the explorer part of EPDM and go right to the search screen? Have you ever wanted to automatically launch a search when you boot up your computer...say a report of your checked out files? This can easily be done with a search batch file. This batch file can be built to automatically launch a search card, a search favorite, and also hide some of the top and side bars to simplify the interface for some users. Plug the search batch file into your startup, and it will launch you right into your search when you boot your computer. You can build the batch with the following switches:

/V: = Start in file vault

/S:= Activate search form

/F: = Activate search favorite

/HF = Hide the search form

/HT = Hide the tree pane

/HP = Hide the preview

/P: = Folder path

So you would build a batch file that looks like: "C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Enterprise PDM\Search.exe" /V:EPDMVault "/F:My Checked Out Files"

Download My Checked Out Files

I have attached a batch file that you can download and change to meet your needs. Try the different options and make sure you put double quotes around any switch values that have spaces. Enjoy!

SolidWorks EPDM 2012

SolidWorks just recently released Enterprise PDM 2012. There are some improvements to the administration tool and some interface changes to standardized message windows and dialog boxes. The major change is in the Windows Explorer interface. Some of you may groan. After all, didn't SolidWorks just overhaul their windows explorer interface in the 2011 release. Well, this time, SolidWorks made all the menus configurable. So now administrators can change the menus under the Modify dropdown, Action drop, etc. Also you can control which menus appear at the right mouse button click. The menus can also change per user or per group. So if you want to remove choices to simply the training, go for it. If you don't want some groups to access file history, it is easy. So, it may be another change to the interface. But you can use this power to improve the productivity of your users based on your use cases. Definitely a great enhancement.

Solidworks EPDM Upgrade

It is the time of year when new versions of SolidWorks products get released. All of us want to upgrade to the latest versions to take advantage of the new features and performance benefits. With the release of SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Version 2012, we have seen increased volume of support issues related to the upgrade. Please review the following to ensure the upgrade process does not cause delays, problems and lost man hours.

1. Test Environment – Setup a test environment and run through a standard scenario. Create new files, workflows, revision bump etc. Even though resources and time will be needed to set up a test environment, the transition to the new version will be less painful. Remember, once you upgrade the systems, there is no going back. If any issues pop up during the test, you have the time to work through the problem. When the systems go live and you encounter an issue that could have been discovered in test, productivity will suffer.

2. Documentation – Please refer to the Enterprise DVD for excellent documentation related to the upgrade process. Installation Guide.pdf can be accessed from \Support\Guides\GB folder. This PDF has a section called “Upgrading Enterprise PDM” that explains the upgrade process in detail.

3. Server Backup – Ensure you have a complete backup of the Enterprise PDM system before starting the upgrade process. Backup should include the File vault Database, Enterprise PDM Master Database, Archive server settings etc. Please refer to the “Backing Up and Restoring File Vault” section in Installation guide.pdf for more details.

4. Client backup – If a user had Enterprise PDM checked-out to his/her local view, these files need to be checked back in before the upgrade. The upgrade process may affect the existing local view so any data checked out could be lost.

5. Client upgrades - Do not upgrade SolidWorks clients to version 2012 first – Enterprise PDM server and clients have to match versions and service packs.  So, the server will have to be upgraded first and then the clients.

7.License – New license keys are required for version (not service pack) upgrades. The license keys can be accessed from the SolidWorks web site under customer assets section.  Please make sure to allow for at least one business day when accessing new codes. This can take some time. In some cases, the codes need to be generated by SolidWorks.

To contact us with questions or for other information, visit www.inflow-tech.com

Who has the PDME licenses checked out ?

When all PDME licenses are in use and the administrator wants a report of who has the licenses checked out :

1. Open the report generator in the Enterprise administration module (Tools, Report Generator)

2. Import the attached report (File, Import Query)

3. Run the report - it should list all the licenses in use.

 

 

Download ShowUsedPDMWELogins

SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Client Processes

As most of you know, Enterprise PDM is fully integrated into Windows Explorer.  So when you are running Enterprise PDM, you are actually using the windows explorer process, otherwise known as explorer.exe.  But, there are other processes on your PC that play a key role.  When looking at task manager, you will also see 2 other processes: EdmServer.exe and ViewServer.exe.

You may have seen these in your task manager, but always wanted to know what they do.  Well, here you go:

ViewServer.exe - every 30 seconds or so, this process listens to the archive server for “broadcasted” changes/updates/deletes made by other clients (i.e. if they check out a file) and updates your client explorer session.  It has nothing to do with viewing.  It is only used to refresh your windows explorer interface.

EdmServer.exe - this process connects to the database server to manage login information and messages coming from the database server.  So any login timeouts are controlled by this service.  Also, it refreshes your EPDM Message inbox.

So now you know.  These processes, along with explorer.exe are critical to keep the Enterprise PDM client running and communicating with the server.  To learn more about InFlow, visit www.inflow-tech.com.

Automatically updating folder properties in SolidWorks Enterprise PDM

Using EPDM workflow, files are moved along routes and their statuses are updated according to the workflow stage.  So if you move a project file down its stage gate process, its status can show on its card.  The following image shows an example:

Some people would like to also display the project status on the folder card as well so they can run reports on the folders as well as the files.  This is very easily done using the EPDM macro tool called Dispatch.  Just use Dispatch to copy the properties from the project file to the project folder upon state change.  Watch the attached video.

 

To contact us with questions or for other information, visit www.inflow-tech.com.

Who's logged into the vault?

There is a simple search that comes with every default EPDM vault setup that will let any user see who is currently logged into their Enterprise PDM vault. The search name is "Show Users", below shows how you can use it.

1. Tools -> EPDM Searchs -> Show Users...

2. Uncheck "Show non-logged in users" but leave "Show logged in users" checked, then run the search.

Remember to visit Inflow at www.inflow-tech.com.