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PDM/Dispatch: Simultaneous PDF Check In/Out with SLDDRW file.

Question asked by Dusty Klinect on Apr 23, 2019
Latest reply on Apr 24, 2019 by Dusty Klinect

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Hello,

We recently implemented PDM and I'm rolling with the changes. In summary, I am hoping to use the Dispatch add-in to help with our process. I would like dispatch to check out the PDF associated with a SLDDRW file when the SLDDRW file is checked out. We'd make any changes, save the PDF and then check the SLDDRW back in and I would like Dispatch to then check the PDF back in as well.

This would save a ton of time navigating windows explorer to find the file and check it in and out.

Is it possible to include the PDF in the "check in/out" prompt that opens when opening solidworks files for editing. I'm not sure if I have a broken reference, or if PDM was never designed to include PDF files as referenced files since they aren't native to solidworks.

Please advise.

Thanks!

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Paul Wyndham Apr 23, 2019 3:18 PM

I am pretty sure the PDF should show the drawing on the Contains tab.

The drawing should show the PDFs on the Where Used tab.

Automatic check out of the PDFs would be applied according to the user/group setting.

Without the setting applied:

the checkout box is empty.

With it applied:

The files are selected for check out.

The downside is that all the reference files are then checked out.

I think a dispatch would act the same way and checkout/in all the related files.

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Prasad Bhonsule Apr 24, 2019 3:05 AM

Hi, as Paul suggests, if you are using the Tasks feature in PDM to automatically create PDFs when sending drawings through the workflow, then there is an option in the task to create a reference between the source file (the drawing) and the destination file (the PDF)

With this turned on, the PDF will be shown when clicking on the drawing and clicking on the Where USed tab, and conversely the drawing will be shown when clicking on the PDF and clicking the Contains tab.

When checking the drawing out, you can then use the options suggested by Paul to check out all referenced files.

Kind regards

Prasad

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Dusty Klinect Apr 24, 2019 7:15 AM

Paul Wyndham: Prasad Bhonsule

Thanks for the screen grabs. I ticked that box for automatically grabbing all referenced files on a check out and it does work well.

Our PDF prints are not linked in contains or where-used even though they share a part number. I can force a reference with a copy>paste reference and that works fine, but I would need to do that to every part we have. Also, this function should be completed during the AutoPDF function of task like Prasad said, but when I release something for major approval it moves the SLDDRW and SLDPRT to Major Release (after approval) and automatically generates a PDF through Task. The PDF gets dropped at our Initial Check-In phase and bumped to Legacy automatically, but is not linked as a reference even though I have ticked the setting for to make it reference in the AutoPDF settings. I'm fairly certain it's a workflow issue, and obviously we don't want approved drawings going to legacy state automatically.

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Paul Wyndham Apr 23, 2019 3:18 PM
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I am pretty sure the PDF should show the drawing on the Contains tab.

The drawing should show the PDFs on the Where Used tab.

Automatic check out of the PDFs would be applied according to the user/group setting.
Without the setting applied:

the checkout box is empty.

With it applied:

The files are selected for check out.

The downside is that all the reference files are then checked out.
I think a dispatch would act the same way and checkout/in all the related files.
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Prasad Bhonsule Apr 24, 2019 3:05 AM
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Correct Answer
Hi, as Paul suggests, if you are using the Tasks feature in PDM to automatically create PDFs when sending drawings through the workflow, then there is an option in the task to create a reference between the source file (the drawing) and the destination file (the PDF)

With this turned on, the PDF will be shown when clicking on the drawing and clicking on the Where USed tab, and conversely the drawing will be shown when clicking on the PDF and clicking the Contains tab.

When checking the drawing out, you can then use the options suggested by Paul to check out all referenced files.

Kind regards

Prasad
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Dusty Klinect Apr 24, 2019 7:15 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Paul Wyndham: Prasad Bhonsule
Thanks for the screen grabs. I ticked that box for automatically grabbing all referenced files on a check out and it does work well.

Our PDF prints are not linked in contains or where-used even though they share a part number. I can force a reference with a copy>paste reference and that works fine, but I would need to do that to every part we have. Also, this function should be completed during the AutoPDF function of task like Prasad said, but when I release something for major approval it moves the SLDDRW and SLDPRT to Major Release (after approval) and automatically generates a PDF through Task. The PDF gets dropped at our Initial Check-In phase and bumped to Legacy automatically, but is not linked as a reference even though I have ticked the setting for to make it reference in the AutoPDF settings. I'm fairly certain it's a workflow issue, and obviously we don't want approved drawings going to legacy state automatically.
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PDM/Dispatch: Simultaneous PDF Check In/Out with SLDDRW file.

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