How to Use PDM Move Tree

How to Use PDM Move Tree

SOLIDWORKS PDM has a specific tool for moving partial or entire file and folder structures, including related drawings, to another folder or multiple folders within PDM.

Move Tree is available from the Tools dropdown list in the File Explorer of the Local Vault View

How to Use SOLIDWORKS PDM move tree

The top of the Move Tree dialog contains the following options:

  1. Default Destination is the location to move files. The destination must be set to a folder in PDM.
  2. Settings contain options to select which file version to copy, include simulation or drawings, name drawings after their models, preserve the relative file paths, and regenerate serial numbers.
  3. Transform Options contains options to add a prefix or suffix to the copied files or replace a specific text string within the file name. All three options can be used together.
move tree dialog box

The center of the dialog lists the files to be moved and the associated references. Use the Move column to mark which files will be moved.

Right-clicking a column header will display a list of columns to display. Columns can also be reordered left-click and dragging the column header to a new position. In the image below, the dialog has been configured manually to display only the columns shown. Rows with changes will be highlighted in yellow.

Note, in this example, the Destination Folder Path for Light.SLDDRW is set to a different folder than the other files. Light.SLDDRW will be moved to a subfolder named Drawings while maintaining the file associativity to the parent files.

destination folder path

The bottom of the dialog displays Total Selected, which summarizes the number of files to be moved based on the selections.

total selected

A row is added to History to indicate where the files were moved from.

drawings history
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