Electrical Projects and the PDM

SOLIDWORKS Electrical allows you to connect to your document management system, also known as a PDM. Two management modes are available, depending on your environment (your company-specific PDM, or SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional).

The Electrical project management displays specific to let you update data in the PDM. PDM file updates are based on configuration parameters (For more information, see Configuring the Link to PDM. An option dialog box opens asking you if you want to update the report and terminal strip drawings (according to the electrical project configuration settings.).
  • Update drawings: The report, design rule, and terminal strip drawings are updated before running the command.
  • Continue action without updating: The report, design rule, and terminal strip drawings are not updated and the command runs.
  • Cancel: The command stops and drawings are not updated.

Specific PDM

Click Electrical project management > Update files for PDM .

Select this command, and files are copied into the base directory managed by the PDM, according to configuration parameters. Integrating files into the PDM remains the user's responsibility.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional

Click Electrical project management > SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional

The SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional group of icons in the Electrical project management is visible when a SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional client is installed on the workstation and you select the Check In/Check Out option in the PDM settings. Two commands are available to transfer an electrical project from the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional vault to SOLIDWORKS Electrical and back. The PDM status column in the list of electrical projects displays the status of the electrical project according to SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional. An empty column means that the electrical project is not in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional. Checked Out means that the electrical project is managed in the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional.

Check In

Save an electrical project in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional. SOLIDWORKS Electrical creates an archive file and stores it in the directory managed by SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional (vault). Several electrical projects can be saved simultaneously. After saving, a dialog box opens to let you define electrical project removal options.
  • Project is in progress: The electrical project is saved in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional, but is not removed from the Electrical project management.
  • Project is complete: The electrical project is saved in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional and removed from the Electrical project management. Use the Check Out command to access it later.

Check Out

Import an electrical project stored in the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional vault. The electrical project is unarchived and added to the list of electrical projects. Checked Out is displayed in the PDM Status column for the electrical project.