Data Management for SW

Fellow SW'ers

We are looking at putting in a PDM solution for our 15 SW seats in the
next 12 months, PDMWorks is obviously something that we are looking at
with our VAR. Anyone have any constructive feedback regarding
PDMWorks, or have any strong recommendations for any other DM software?

For background info, we do not indulge in many large scale, multi-site
projects, so we would just need a solution that gives us control over
our CAD data and potentially interfaces with our existing (bespoke)SQL
based drawing's database.

Many thanks

Wurz

 

You really should look at DBWorks, it is written and developed for
SolidWorks® so no adapters are needed. It comes with a free and open and
customizable API so you can either use it straight out of the box and/or
fully customize it to fit your present engineering practices.. Although
DBWorks is focused on SolidWorks®, DBWorks is also integrated with AutoCAD®,
Inventor®, ME10, along with the Microsoft® Office applications. DBWorks can
also manage other file formats like PDF, IGES, FEA, SAT, HTML, etc... Unlike
PDMworks, DBWorks is a databased based system and also unlike many others
(like vaulted and name mangling systems), DBWorks does not interfere with
standard SolidWorks® functionality. DBWorks has seamlessly blended their
products, and added strengths where needed, creating a very graphical, easy
to use interface. If you are looking at getting a PDM you really should take
a look at it. You can go to their web page www.mechworks.com.. They can
even give you a demo via Webex.

 

What is your current system for managing your data?

What kinds of data do you have to manage?

Does your drawings database manage SW drawings?

What kinds of legacy data do you have to incorporate?

Is you file server Windows or Linux?

What kind of network do you have in place?

 

P.

Current system - we just archive images (TIFFS) of drawings in an SQL
database. There is no formal control over the CAD data, only the
systems that the various depts have adopted.

The only 3D data to be managed is SW, although it would be *nice* to
dump some of the legacy ACAD data in there aswell.

Fileserver is definitely Windows (corporate IT, gotta love 'em)

Network - V good question, that I don't have the answer to!

 

PDM Works is OK and is pretty simple to get up to speed on . I kind of
like the looks of DBWorks also, but haven't tried it yet. It is well
documented and the people there will talk "engineer" and not "sales"
with you.

Before you start installing demos you really should sit down and think
through how you need to manage documents. If you can't figure out what
you need to do manually, you will probably have a harder time figuring
out what a PDM system will do for you.

 

Take a look at Conisio - we use it here. One of the main advantages is that
it handles all types of files - SW, ACAD, Word, Excel, etc.
http://www.conisio.com/en/index.html

WT

 

I would take a look at Activault..drag and drop ALL file types, sits on
SQL and has a low TOC and a fast ROI

 

Thx for the replies all.

Looks like we'll certainly be having a look at Conisio and DBWorks as
well as PDMWorks with our VAR.

I think TOP is on the money in that it is essential to have a good idea
up front about what you're trying to manage - fortunately we have had a
computer based DM system of one form or another for a number of years
to manage our 2D stuff. The challenge now is to start putting the 3D
CAD data under the same umbrella.

Thx again

 

The finer points are managing the relationships between and within
various SW files. You have derived parts, mirrored parts, in-context
relations, configuration specific parts to name a few. PDMWorks has
trouble with some of these. Some of the others don't. Another thing to
look at is how they store older versions. Each is different and each
has pluses and minuses. Remember that SW files will be much larger than
you 2D files so creating lots of versions will necessitate a lot of
storage or an efficient compression scheme. Also look at what it takes
to recover files from the db manually. I am not partial to any file
storage method that I can't somehow recover my files independent of the
PDM System.

 

Dear Wurz

I have been actively reviewing SolidWorks related PDM at Solid
Solutions for seven years now. Whilst many packages claim to offer
affordable and reliable PDM support we are only happy to supply either
PDMWorks or DBWorks to our customers. Whilst essentially very similar
packages, a few differences exist that with certain customer
requirements cause us to favouir one rather than the other.

As the differences are relatively subtle we would need to discuss your
requirements and the extent of the legacy data and any customisation
in order to say which would best suit your needs. Please feel free to
contact me directly at or call 07788
590419

Regards, Alan Sampson

 

Alan,

Have you found any that are ready or near ready for 64 bit?