Configurations

SolidWorks Workgroup PDM handles all SolidWorks configurations. The configuration information in Workgroup PDM is equivalent to a Bill of Materials. You can view configurations in:

The Preview Window displays the selected configuration. For documents from SolidWorks 2003 and previous releases, you might need to save the document with each configuration active to enable previews of the configurations.

Workgroup PDM supports evaluation of custom properties linked to dimensions and other property values starting at SolidWorks 2005. To enter correct configuration-specific properties linked to values into the vault, open and save the model with each configuration in SolidWorks 2005 or later.

To create configuration-specific custom properties:

  1. In SolidWorks, choose a configuration on the ConfigurationManager tab, then click File, Properties.

  2. In the Summary Information dialog box, select the Configuration Specific tab.

  3. Add custom properties and values for the current configuration.

  4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for each configuration.

To enable custom properties in Workgroup PDM:

In the VaultAdmin:

  • Add the properties to the vault on the Properties tab.

  • Select Allow change document properties from the Vault Settings tab.

To open a document to a specified configuration:

In the local view, right-click the document, select Open To Configuration, and select from the list of configurations.

To view configurations in Document Information:

  1.   In the vault view, right-click the assembly document and select Document Information.

On the Properties tab, note the custom properties listed under Property.

  1. Select the References tab, then under Document information for selected revision, choose each configuration in turn from the Config list.

Note the reference document names, numbers, configuration names, and quantities (equivalent to a Bill of Materials).

  1. Under Document, double-click a part, then select the Properties tab.

If the part has configuration-specific custom properties, you can see the names and values of those properties. In Config, select other configurations and view their properties.

  1. To return to the assembly, select the Where Used tab and double-click the assembly.

To view configurations in Reporting:

  1. In the vault view, right-click the assembly document and select Reporting.

  2. Under Output window options, select a revision from Revision.

  1. Select each configuration in turn from Config.

In the Output window, note the columns of information, including custom properties, Configuration (the configuration in use), Configs (all configurations), and Quantity.

To view configurations in the SolidWorks client or the SolidWorks Explorer client:

  1. In SolidWorks, click Tools, SolidWorks Explorer.

- or -

In Windows, click Start, All Programs, SolidWorks <version>, SolidWorks Explorer <version>.

  1. Select each configuration in turn from Config.

Note the information on the tabs, including Properties, References, and Configurations.

Configurations