SOLIDWORKS PDM Menu

You can use the integrated SOLIDWORKS PDM menu to access vault tools and view file information for files you open in SOLIDWORKS Visualize.

You must have SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional installed.

Most tools on the menu are available only if you open a project from the PDM vault.

Exceptions:

  • Search is always available.
  • Select in Windows Explorer is available if you open a project, whether from the PDM vault or another location.

To access these tools:

  • On the menu bar, click SOLIDWORKS PDM.
Change State Changes the workflow state. Workflow states represent where the file is in the design and approval process, such as Under Editing, Waiting for Approval, or Approved.
Check In Checks in files after editing to make them available to users with appropriate rights. Until you check in a file, changes are saved in your local version only.
Check Out Checks out a file to give you the exclusive right to edit it until you check it back in. Other users can open the file for viewing and copying but cannot change it.
Undo Check Out Cancels a checkout without saving changes.
Get Latest Version Changes the version of a file in your local cache to the latest available version.
Get Version Changes the version of a file in your local cache to another version you select.
Search (Always available, even if no files are open in SOLIDWORKS Visualize.) Searches for files and folders and for other data such as users and items.
Select in Windows Explorer (Available if you open a project, whether from the PDM vault or another location.) Opens Windows Explorer to the folder that contains the file and selects the file.
Show Card Opens the SOLIDWORKS PDM data card for the document you are viewing.
Local Version Displays version information for the document in the local cache.
Local Revision Displays revision information for the document in the local cache.
Checked Out By Displays the name of the user who has checked out the file.
Checked Out In Displays the location (system name and path) where the user checked out the file.
Workflow State Displays the current state of the document as defined in the SOLIDWORKS PDM workflow.