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Web viewer

Question asked by Jason Capriotti on Mar 2, 2009
Latest reply on May 27, 2010 by Jeff Sweeney

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SolidWorks does not seem to offer a web viewer for accessing documents in the vault. There is the web client but considering the number of peope we have scattered across the US (200+), that option is bit pricey (The viewer is half the cost).

This large group of people only need to view PDFs of our engineering drawings. They need no write access. Is there another solution (3rd party) that allows access over the web to files int eh vault. Can we write our own client perhaps? They only need a simple drawing number search, then launch the pdf.

I know I can push out the viewer client but the web client is much easier from an installation and upgrade standpoint.

Just curious is any other companies run into this situation.

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18 Replies

Gene Mercer Mar 25, 2009 4:50 PM
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I thought about this for a minute and even started typing one reply, but how many users do you expect to be retrieving files over the net at once? It's been a long time since I asked, but I think the licenses are used as data is being served, not per day, login, or hour or whatever???
For example: We have maybe 50+ users log in to EPDM every morning (and who knows overseas) via AD but only 29 in use right now. As people use the program they dynamically get logged in and out... we haven't hit a bump yet except when we accidently installed everyone as editors.. LOL
Our licenses are: 10 editor, 12 Contrib, 25 viewers.

For example of those 200+ people you may only need 30 Viewer seats because that's all that may be hitting it at once? Check back w/SW or your VAR...
If you DO require 200 seats then let me know, I do have other ideas...

Gene Mercer
EPDM 09SP2
SW 09SP2.1
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- Jason Capriotti @ Gene Mercer on Mar 25, 2009 5:40 PM
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  I like the web client because it requires no install. So updates to the server means no update to the people using the web client. But since a large number of our people need "view-only" access, there's the problem. There is no View only web client. You have to use the thick client.
  
  If I give them the web client, then they use the more expensive contributor license that they don't need.
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  - Mike Sveda @ Jason Capriotti on Mar 25, 2009 6:23 PM
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    Can you use a VPN and the the cheaper View clients?
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    - Jason Capriotti @ Mike Sveda on Mar 25, 2009 9:17 PM
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      Too many users for VPN I believe.
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      - Jeff Hallgren @ Jason Capriotti on Mar 26, 2009 2:17 PM
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        Jason,
        
        This is possible. We currently have a web app that gives the users access to the PDF files without using any other client. Let me know if you want more info.
        
        Jeff
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        Jason Capriotti @ Jeff Hallgren on Mar 27, 2009 9:13 PM
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        Sure Jeff....my emails in my sig.
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David Diehl Mar 28, 2009 6:57 PM
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I agree with Jason... We are migrating from Workgroups PDM to Enterprise PDM. In Workgroups, we have the PDMWeb portal which doesn't require a license, does not require any client install other than the one time eDrawing plug-in that the user installs, and allows people such as management or marketing that would like to have a simple to use, shaded view of the model or assembly that they can rotate, etc... In Workgroup Web, they can also search the vault, look at the history, look at the custom properties... I think it is very nice.

I can do this with Workgroups PDM Web, I don't see this in Enterprise PDM Web which was disappointing. As present, I don't see us making much use of the Enterprise PDM Web given the lack of an embedded viewer and that it also requires a license.

(I should say the Workgroup Web server was an additional license purchase, but there are no client licenses required to access the Workgroup Web).

Dave
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Alessandro Frattini Mar 29, 2009 5:20 PM
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Jason Capriotti wrote:

SolidWorks does not seem to offer a web viewer for accessing documents in the vault. There is the web client but considering the number of peope we have scattered across the US (200+), that option is bit pricey (The viewer is half the cost).

This large group of people only need to view PDFs of our engineering drawings. They need no write access. Is there another solution (3rd party) that allows access over the web to files int eh vault. Can we write our own client perhaps? They only need a simple drawing number search, then launch the pdf.

I know I can push out the viewer client but the web client is much easier from an installation and upgrade standpoint.

Just curious is any other companies run into this situation.

Why don't you consider DBWorks ?
www.mechworks.com
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- Jason Capriotti @ Alessandro Frattini on Mar 30, 2009 5:28 PM
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  I have but had ruled it out due to it only being a file manager. Of course, Enterprise was only a file manager until recently.
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  - Raymond Pearson @ Jason Capriotti on May 24, 2010 12:53 PM
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    I realize this post is old but, what do you mean by DbWorks only being a file manager?
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David Genske Jun 16, 2009 7:14 PM
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Jeff or Jason, I'm currently faced with the exact same situation. I'd prefer not to take files out of the vault (as a reference copy) and web contributor licenses are cost prohibitive. Read-only client isn't very attractive either. We're a current PDM/Ent. user and if you have any suggestions I would very much like to hear how you've approached the problem. It's interesting to hear that Workgroup had a solution for this.

A web-based client with assignable permissions to access data in the vault directly would be ideal.
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Raymond Pearson May 24, 2010 12:55 PM
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Is this still an issue? Does 2010 Web Contributor have an empedded viewer?
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- Jeff Sweeney @ Raymond Pearson on May 24, 2010 1:56 PM
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  Still no embedded viewer in the 2010 web.
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  - Raymond Pearson @ Jeff Sweeney on May 24, 2010 3:02 PM
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    Thanks Jeff,
    
    How does a web client view the files then? Do they have to download copies?
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    - Jeff Sweeney @ Raymond Pearson on May 26, 2010 9:55 PM
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      They double click on the file and it will open in the associated application.
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      - Raymond Pearson @ Jeff Sweeney on May 27, 2010 8:31 AM
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        Jeff,
        
        So you have to open the file to know if you have the right file? Is there no preview or thumbnail that allows you to browse before opening.?
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        Richie Yosten @ Raymond Pearson on May 27, 2010 10:03 AM
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        ...from the data card maybe...
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        Jeff Sweeney @ Raymond Pearson on May 27, 2010 4:50 PM
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        There is not previewer with the web application. I suppose you could get the files in your local cache with Internet Explorer, then jump over to Windows Explorer and use the thumbnails there.
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