SOLIDWORKS PDM Menus

To access SOLIDWORKS PDM functions, use the SOLIDWORKS PDM menus located above the right pane. Only commands that are applicable to selected files and folders are accessible in the menus.

All default menu options are described in this topic. Your user interface may vary:

  • Only options that you have permission to use are shown.
  • If your administrator has customized menus, you may see options on different menus, or in different order.
Only SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional supports Items menus.

Actions Menu

Edit Opens the file in the appropriate editor.
Check out Checks out the file for editing.
Check in Checks in the file so that others can edit it.
Get Latest Version Copies the latest version of the file from the archive server to your local vault.
Get Version Displays a numbered list of previous versions of the file that you can select.
Undo Check out Cancels a checkout without saving changes.
Tasks (SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional only) Invokes tasks set up by your administrator. Tasks can include:
  • Convert Files. Converts files to specified format.
  • Design Checker. Validates selected SOLIDWORKS documents in the vault using standards created in the SOLIDWORKS Design Checker add-in.
  • Print Files. Prints files according to options you specify.
Tasks are only displayed if Tasks are enabled for the vault and your administrator has given you permission to run specific tasks.

If Item Explorer is installed, the menu includes the following Items commands:

Generate Item Creates an item containing the selected file.
Browse to Item  

Modify Menu

Cut Lets you move the selected files or folders. Opens Item Explorer to the item associated with the selected file.
Copy Copies the selected files or folders.
Paste as reference Pastes copied files or folders into the current folder and creates references between the selected file and the copied files.
The file must be checked out to paste references.
Opens Item Explorer to thePaste shared (SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional only) Pastes copied files or folders into the current folder to create shared instances.

Changes to a shared copy affect all other instances.
Paste Pastes copied files or folders into the current folder.

The copied files are checked out to you and are not available to other users until you check them in.
Set Revision Specfies the file revision according to the defined revision scheme.
Change State Lets you select a state transition to apply to the selected file.

State transitions are defined in the current workflow layout.

Examples of transitions in the Default Workflow are Submit for Approval or No Approval Required.
Change Category Admin login can change a category of a checked in file.
Update Updates file details:
  • Values in Files

    If values have been changed in a folder data card, updates the values in the selected file.

  • File Attributes from Database

    Extracts existing variable values from the database so that locally created data does not overwrite the values.

Label (SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional only) Assigns label to file or folder.

Display Menu

Show Files Displays files in the current folder in the right pane.
Show Bills of Materials Displays named BOMs and activated computed BOMs in the right pane.
Show Search Results Displays the most recently used search card in the right pane.
History Opens the History dialog box, which shows the version history of a file or folder.
View File Displays file using the SOLIDWORKS PDM File Viewer.
File Preview Enables the display of files in the Preview tab using the viewer associated with the file type.
Card Preview Enables the display of the file's data card in the Preview tab.

You can turn off the Card Preview to view the file preview in the entire preview area.
Split Preview Tab Divides the Preview tab Horizontally or Vertically.

You can split the Preview tab only if the Card Preview is turned on.

Preview Placement Places the SOLIDWORKS PDM File Explorer tabs To the Right or At the Bottom of the file list.
Options Lets you turn options on or off:

Excluded File Types

Displays the Excluded File Types dialog box, where you can specify the extensions of files to exclude on the SOLIDWORKS PDM Preview tab.

Hide the @ configuration

In the Preview tab, hides the Data Card properties of the default configuration.

Set focus to active configuration

Specifies the active (last-saved) configuration as the active tab on the Data Card.

Show bitmap for SOLIDWORKS files

In the Preview tab, displays a bitmap image of the SOLIDWORKS files.

Show full UI in SOLIDWORKS preview

In the Preview tab, displays the eDrawings toolbar for the eDrawings file type.

Include SOLIDWORKS Simulation results in Check-In

Includes a Simulation results file (*.cwr) as a reference when you check in SOLIDWORKS files to the vault.

Extract hidden BOM from SOLIDWORKS files on Check-In

In the Bill of Materials tab, extracts and displays BOMs that are marked as hidden in a SOLIDWORKS file.

Show Bitmap for DWG-files

In the Preview tab, displays a bitmap image of DWG files.
Datacard Configuration Display Lets you select the display of configurations in data cards.

Show all configurations

Displays all configurations in a data card.

Show @ configuration only

Displays only the @ configuration in a data card.

Hide @ configuration

Displays all configurations in a data card except the @ configuration.
Properties Displays SOLIDWORKS PDM properties of selected file or folder.

Tools Menu

Favorite Searches (SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional only) Opens the favorite search that you select in the SOLIDWORKS PDM Search tool.
Search Cards (SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional only) Lets you open a search based on a search form in the SOLIDWORKS PDM Search tool.

The search forms that are provided by SOLIDWORKS are:

  • Complete Search. Displays tabs where you select attributes to search for files.
  • Item Complete Search. Displays tabs where you select attributes to search for items.
  • Item Property Search. Searches by item data card properties.
  • Item Quick Search. Filters the search using common item fields.
  • Show Users. Searches for Users. Specify users who are logged in or not.
You can also access file- or folder-based searches from within Windows File Explorer. These include the Complete Search or other file- or folder-based search created by your administrator. Click Open Search SOLIDWORKS PDM menu.
The item-based searches are available only if Item Explorer is installed and items are enabled for the vault. Item-based searches are only available from the search tool.
Notify Directs notifications to:
  • A Colleague. Immediately sends a message you write to the specified colleague.
  • User who has checked out file. Immediately sends a message you write to the user who checked out the file.
  • Me when checked out. Triggers a message to you when the selected file is checked out.
  • Me when checked in. Triggers a message to you when the selected file is checked in.
  • Me when state enters. Triggers a message to you when the selected file enters the specified state.
  • Me when state leaves. Triggers a message to you when the selected file leaves the specified state.
  • Me when. Opens the File or Folder Notification dialog box, so that you can specify a notification for the selected file or folder.
  • My Notifications. Brings up the Notification Editor so that you can manage file and folder notifications.
Inbox Opens the Inbox, from which you can view notifications.
Administrate Actions (SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional only) Lets administrators automate SOLIDWORKS PDM tasks and processes by configuring SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Dispatch commands. Administrate Actions appears if Dispatch is installed and you are logged in as the Admin user created by the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional installation. See SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration Tool Help: Dispatch.
Copy Tree Starts the Copy Tree function.

Copy Tree lets you copy selected files, including all references, to create a second instance that is unrelated to the original.
Clear Local Cache Removes cached files from the local vault view.
Work Off-line Lets you work on files in your local cache off-line when you are not connected to a file vault.
Report Generator (SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional only) Lets you create, save, and print detailed reports from file information.
Administration Lets you manage all administrative tasks for SOLIDWORKS PDM vaults.
Update References Lets you fix broken references in designs.
If Item Explorer is installed and Items are enabled for the vault, the menu includes the Items command. Use this command to open the Item Explorer window, where you can work with items that are associated with files in the vault.