Controlling Toolbox & Libraries with PDMWorks Workgroup

Question:
Now that I have PDMWorks Workgroup installed can I leverage toolbox and custom libraries inside my PDMWorks to view required items and easily export BOM reports?

Solution:
PDMWorks Workgroup offers the ability to leverage toolbox and any standard or custom library directly within the standard PDM setup and requires no “special” customization.

Utilizing the PDMWorks Vault Admin console and the “Standard Libraries” tab you can add locations for SolidWorks Toolbox and standard or custom libraries. By adding a UNC path (recommended) or by browsing to a local or network share you create a “folder view” inside PDMWorks that users can see, reference, search and browse.

Once you have assigned a location to manage as a standard library inside PDMWorks you have options on how to control the items in those libraries. Options include “Disable Check in of Documents” and “Allow Check in of documents”. The decision on which option to utilize will depend on your company’s standards and requirements.

Utilizing “Disable Check in of Documents” will allow you to “reference” the original toolbox or library location while showing the reference within your assemblies (like normal references) and also in the “folder view” created for that specific library components parent location.

Utilizing “Allow Check in of documents” will allow you to check in and revision manage toolbox or library items if used in conjunction with the “create part” toolbox option. When items are checked in they can be checked into any project similar to a standard part, assembly or drawing. If you want to manage all toolbox and library parts in one “folder view” you will need to select the proper project upon check in.

Once you select the desired setup make sure to allow access to the machine hosting the files and permit access on the machine that hosts the PDMWorks Server software.

After setup is complete and you start utilizing PDMWorks in conjunction with toolbox and standard libraries you will have all reporting and searching functionality that PDMWorks offers. You will also have the export options from the reports and searches as always.