How to Create New PDM Windows Users (SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Only)
You control access to a SOLIDWORKS PDM vault by creating user accounts. Each vault maintains its own list of users, which can be unique to that vault or shared with other vaults on the same archive server.
PDM Professional supports Windows Login, allowing users to authenticate with their existing Windows accounts.
Note: For a PDM user to create new users, they must have the “Can Administrate Users” administrative permission assigned to them or log in as the ‘admin’ (system administrator) user.
Understanding Login Types
The method used to add user accounts depends on the Archive Server’s login type, which is defined during archive server installation and PDM license type. The PDM login type can be changed.
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Logins
- Windows Logins (PDM Professional)
*This guide will cover Windows logins only.
Configuring Archive Server for Windows Login
- Open the Archive Server Configuration Tool by selecting Windows Start > All > SOLIDWORKS PDM folder > Archive Server Configuration.
Note, if the Archive Server Configuration tool has already been launched once during the current Windows session, then you will need to access the icon from the Windows Task Tray near the clock as shown in the second image below.
- Open the vault’s properties to change the login type for an individual vault or all vaults.
- Change settings for individual vault: Expand This Computer > Archives > right-click the vault and select Properties then the Login tab.
- Change settings for ALL vaults: Tools > Default Settings… then the Login tab.
- Change the Login Type to Windows Login
- Select Automatic Login to allow the system to enter Windows credentials and log users into PDM vault views automatically.
- Select Allow SOLIDWORKS PDM login to allow both PDM login and Windows login.
- Clicking the Settings… button will open the Windows settings for Active Directory users and groups.
- Clicking the Settings… button will open the Windows User and Groups settings dialog to add existing Active Directory users and groups. Click Apply to accept the users and OK to close the dialog.
- Configure vault access security by selecting Tools > Default Settings…
On the Security Tab, add users to the appropriate access.
- Administration access: Grants access to log in, create, and remove vaults. All users should NOT have this capability.
- Attach access: Grants access to log in only and create or remove local vault views. Most users should be added here.
Add the appropriate Windows users/groups to each section and then click Apply and then close the Archive Configuration tool.
Creating a New Windows User
- Open the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration Tool
a. The tool can be found in Windows Start > SOLIDWORKS PDM folder > Administration.
b. Log in as Admin or a user with Can Administrate Users permission.
c. Navigate to User and Group Management and expand the node. Right-click Users and select New User…
- Add new Windows users.
Note: If you are adding users from a large domain, the List Users button may take a long time to complete, sometimes blocking other users from working in the vault.
Instead, click New User. In the New User dialog box, enter the name of a user that is specified in the Windows login settings on the archive server. If you are specifying a domain user, you might need to provide the full domain name as well, for example, SOLIDWORKS\jsmith. Click OK. If the user account is found, it’s added to the user list.
- In the user account list, under Login Name, select the user account to add to the vault.
- Add User Details
a. Fill in the user’s basic information. Only enter an email address if you are using SMTP email type notifications (PDM Professional only).
b. To copy permissions and group memberships from an existing user, select that user from the Copy Permissions and settings from User dropdown. This ensures the new user inherits identical settings.
c. Click Next to continue.
- Set User Permissions or verify they are set correctly if copied from an existing user.
- Click OK to finish creating the user. You should now see the new user listed under the Users node.
- If the user is working on a computer that already has a PDM Local Vault View, then they can log in and start accessing files. Otherwise, create a new PDM Local Vault View.
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