Installation
- SOLIDWORKS and SW PDM System Requirements
- Preparing for Installation
- How to Download SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager (.EXE)
- How to Request a Manual Download for SOLIDWORKS
- How To Order A SOLIDWORKS Media Kit
- Installing – A Complete Overview to Managing a CAD Environment
- SOLIDWORKS Individual Installation
- How to Modify Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- How to Repair Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- SOLIDWORKS Activation Wizard: How to Transfer SOLIDWORKS License
- Performing a Clean Uninstall
- How to Quickly Update SOLIDWORKS to a Newer Service Pack
- Install the 3DEXPERIENCE Add-in for SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Network Licensing
- How to Upgrade SolidNetWork License Manager
- Moving from SOLIDWORKS Standalone to Network Licenses
- Adding License to an Existing SolidNetwork License Manager
- Use Options File to Reserve Licenses for Specific Users
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Order Guide
- How to Reactivate SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses
- How to Move the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager to a New Server
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetwork License Manager Overview
- How to Install the SolidNetwork License Manager
SOLIDWORKS Portal
SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Hardware Guide – 2021 Update
- SOLIDWORKS Keyboard Shortcuts
- SOLIDWORKS Copy Settings Wizard
- Accessing Xpress Tools
- How To Tell Who Has a SOLIDWORKS File Open
- How to Use SOLIDWORKS Pack and Go
- SOLIDWORKS Administration Overview
- Rebuild Types and How They Work
- How to Store SOLIDWORKS Templates on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
- How to Adjust Annotation Formatting and Spacing
- Understanding SOLIDWORKS Settings and Templates
- How to create SOLIDWORKS Part, Assembly, and Drawing Templates
PDM
- PDM How to Work in Off-line Mode
- Enhancement Requests for PDM Users
- How to Use PDM Move Tree
- How to Use PDM Copy Tree
- PDM - What are Private State Files?
- PDM Search Operators
- How to Set PDM to Details View in Windows File Explorer
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Search Results – Which Configuration’s Variables are Displayed?
- PDM Automatic Login Options
- PDM Administrators: Roles and Responsibilities
- PDM License Type Matrix
- PDM Server Recommendations
- PDM Backup Procedures
- How to Reset Your SOLIDWORKS PDM Admin Password
- How to Control Get Version Commands
- Adding a PDM Vault View with a Windows Azure Active Directory Account
- PDM Major Minor Revisions
- How to Set Revision Manually in PDM
- How to Set Up Revision Tables
- PDM - What are Version Free Variables?
- PDM How to Rollback a File to a Previous Version
- PDM Setting Cache Options Automatically
- How to Change PDM Date Formatting
- How to Delete a PDM User Completely
- How to Reset Web2 Authentication in IIS
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Connectivity Test Tool
- How to Configure the SOLIDWORKS PDM Local HOSTS file to Resolve Server Name
- Show all articles ( 3 ) Collapse Articles
- Create Local Vault View
- How to Delete or Recreate a Local Vault View
- Create Local PDM Vault View Using .cvs File
- How to Change PDM Client License Type after Installation
- PDM File Version Upgrade Tool
- PDM Upgrade Checklist
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS PDM Add-ins
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM
- SOLIDWORKS PDM: Moving Server Components - Checklist
- How to Install SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
- SOLIDWORKS PDM / Manage Installation Guide (PDF)
- Install Microsoft SQL 2019 for PDM Professional
- How to Install PDM Client Software
Known Solutions
- Windows Firewall Exceptions for SOLIDWORKS Network Based Products
- Why Users Need Local Admin Rights to Install SOLIDWORKS
- How to Run SOLIDWORKS with Administrator Permissions
- Blank SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager - Resolution
- SOLIDWORKS RX - The Ultimate CAD Diagnostic Tool
- SOLIDWORKS Safe Modes
- How to Force SOLIDWORKS to Use Your Graphics Card
- How to Ensure that You are Running a SOLIDWORKS Certified Graphics Card Driver
- Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS Installation Issues
- Resolution to Common File Location Errors
- Non-Matching Internal ID
- Could not obtain a license for SOLIDWORKS CAM. Invalid (inconsistent) license key
- “The Source Folder Is Not Versioned Properly…” Error when Modifying Serial Number
- “A Newer Version of This Product is Already Installed” Error when Installing SOLIDWORKS
- "Error obtaining License (-85, 147, 0)"
- SOLIDWORKS Search Routine Order
- How to Restore Dismissed SOLIDWORKS Messages
- Viewing SOLIDWORKS Configurations in eDrawings
- How to Modify the Reference/Update Dialog Dismissal Time
- Show all articles ( 4 ) Collapse Articles
Simulation
- Simulation Meshing Guide
- How to Duplicate and Reuse Simulation Study Data
- Setting Up Default Options for SOLIDWORKS Simulation Studies
- Which Type of Elements Should I Use?
- Is SOLIDWORKS Simulation Accurate?
- Getting Started with Simulation
- The Basics of Setting Up a Study in Simulation
- Do I Need Non-linear Simulation?
PDM Create Local Vault View Using .cvs File
Once SOLIDWORKS PDM Client is installed on a machine, the next step is to create a Local Vault View which gives the users access to the PDM vault through Windows File Explorer.
If you only have a few client machines, then creating the Local Vault Views using the View Setup wizard should only take a few minutes for each machine. Organizations with many users can save time by automating the creation of Local Vault Views using the View Setup wizard with special triggers to create a File Vault View Setup File (.cvs). Once distributed to the client machine, users simply double-click the file, and the Local Vault View is created automatically.
Note, to create a Local Vault View manually using the View Setup wizard, follow this article starting with Step #3.
Benefits of using a .cvs file
- • Save time by configuring the .cvs file once and distributing it to multiple client machines.
- • Consistent Local Vault View creation and users do not need to know or enter detailed PDM server information required by the View Setup wizard.
- • Option to run silently (see end of this article).
How to Create a .cvs file
The first step to creating a .cvs file is to run the View Setup wizard with the trigger /a on a machine that DOES NOT already have a local vault view for the specific vault. If the machine already has a local vault view, delete the Local Vault View from that machine before continuing.
Right-click the Windows Start icon then select Run.
In the Run dialog, enter the text exactly as shown below, including the quotation marks. This text includes the path to the ViewSetup.exe. The example text below includes the path for the default installation. If your installation is not located in the default location, then replace the text accordingly.
“C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS PDM\ViewSetup.exe” /a

When the View Setup wizard is run using trigger /a, the Action column on the Review actions screen will display ‘Save to file’ instead of ‘Create local view’ as shown below.
Caution: The example vault used in these images is named ‘ACME’. Your PDM vault name will be displayed anywhere ACME is displayed.

Click Finish to launch the save dialog and then enter a name and location for the .cvs file to save it. You are then returned to the View Setup wizard and a Completed! Screen displays.

Open and Review the .cvs File
The .cvs file is ready to run, though it can be opened and edited in Notepad to modify the information to work for a different vault or change the Local Vault View location.
Right-click the .cvs file and select Open with > Notepad.

Location = Folder where you want the view to be created, normally C:\
ViewType = SharedView or PrivateView
[FileVault] = Update text inside the brackets with the file vault name (case sensitive). Example [ACME]
VaultID = Update with the file vault ID. You can find the vault ID in the PDM Administration tool, right-click a vault and select Properties (Exclude the { } brackets)
DbName = The vault database name (case sensitive)
DbServer = The SQL server name
ServerLoc = The archive server name
ServerPort = The archive server port (default is 3030)
Running the .cvs File
- 1. Copy the .cvs file to any location on the client machine.
- 2. Double-click the .cvs file.
- 3. The View Setup wizard will launch and display Action: Create local view and Status: Ready.

- 4. Click Finish to create the Local Vault View. The user will be prompted to log into PDM to complete the process.

The View Setup wizard now displays Status: Completed and the Local Vault View is ready to use.

Running the .cvs File Silently
You can run the .cvs file and View Setup wizard silently by including the path to the .cvs file followed by the trigger /q as shown in the text below.
- • Run using the path to the ViewSetup.exe followed by the path to the .cvs file and trigger /q
- • The View Setup wizard is not displayed and there is no confirmation screen.
- • Once the Local Vault View is created successfully, the user will be prompted to log in using their PDM credentials.
“C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS PDM\ViewSetup.exe” “C:\ACME.cvs” /q
