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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 Hardware Guide
- Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS Installation Issues
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- SOLIDWORKS Individual Installation
- How to Modify Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- How to Repair Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- Performing a Clean Uninstall
- How to Quickly Update SOLIDWORKS to a Newer Service Pack
- How to Transfer a Standalone License
- Install Multiple Versions
- SOLIDWORKS Activation Wizard: How to Transfer SOLIDWORKS License
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- 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
- Reserve Licenses with Options File
- How to add or remove network serial numbers
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SOLIDWORKS Portal
- Customer Portal replaced by DSx Client
- How to get FREE Certification Testing
- The SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base – Help Resolve Your SOLIDWORKS Questions
- How to Add Contacts and Assign Roles in DSx Client Care - 3DEXPERIENCE
- How to Enter Enhancement Requests for SOLIDWORKS Users
- MyProducts.solidworks.com Overview
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SOLIDWORKS
- 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
- Understanding SOLIDWORKS Settings and Templates
- How to create SOLIDWORKS Part, Assembly, and Drawing Templates
- Utilizing Cloud Storage with SOLIDWORKS
- Automate File Exports with Task Scheduler
- Troubleshooting Weldment Cut List Consolidation
- SOLIDWORKS Multi-sheet Custom Properties Source
- How to Use Save As with References
- How to Troubleshoot Graphical Issues
- How to Enable or Disable SOLIDWORKS Add-ins
- Updating File References in PDM
- How to Add Fonts in SOLIDWORKS
- Essential SOLIDWORKS Hotkeys and Shortcuts
- Where Used with SOLIDWORKS File Utilities
- SOLIDWORKS Backup and Recovery System Options
- SOLIDWORKS Performance Evaluation - Parts
- SOLIDWORKS Performance Evaluation - DRAWINGS
- SOLIDWORKS Performance Evaluation - Assemblies
- Difference Between Delete and Destroy in PDM
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PDM
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- PDM How to Work in Off-line Mode
- 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
- Preview Tab Options
- How To Overwrite Latest PDM Version
- Difference Between Versions and Revisions
- How to export search results from PDM
- Selecting Child References Automatically in SOLIDWORKS PDM
- PDM Branch and Merge Overview
- What is a Drawing Node in PDM?
- Copy and Paste as Reference in PDM
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- 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 Local HOSTS file to Resolve Server Name
- Create Local Vault View Shortcut
- How to Configure a Computer to be a PDM Task Host
- How to Setup a Dedicated Unattended Task Host
- How to use PDM Database Upgrade Tool
- Collect Support Information for PDM
- Update Credentials for PDM Archive Server
- Update Credentials for PDM Database Server
- Creating and Using PDM Labels
- Troubleshooting PDM Notifications
- PDM Cold Storage and How To Use It
- How to set the PDM Preview Tab Viewer
- How to reset the SQL password for the PDM Vault SQL Server
- SOLIDWORKS Strategies for Using the File Version Upgrade Tool (FVUT)
- How To Relocate An Existing SOLIDWORKS Vault View To Another Drive
- How to manually remove a disconnected PDM Vault View
- How To Relocate Vault Archive Folders To Another Drive
- How to Setup Toolbox in PDM - SOLIDWORKS
- How to Resolve “Workflow States Exceeds Permissible Limit” - SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Enter a Valid Account for this Resource
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- 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
- 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
- Change SQL Server License
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM - AUTOMATICALLY
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM - MANUALLY
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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
- SOLIDWORKS Educational Resources
- How to Change the SOLIDWORKS Language
- Restore Your File Associations
- How To Reset SOLIDWORKS Registry
- Resolve "Sheet Format Could Not Be Located"
- How To Correct The "Default Templates Are Not Valid" Error
- Correcting foreign language characters in the FeatureManager Tree
- How to Collect CXPAs
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Simulation
- Simulation Meshing Guide
- How to Duplicate and Reuse Simulation Study Data
- Setting Up Default Options for SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- 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?
- Submodeling Studies – The What, Why, & How of Using Them in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- What To Do When you get the “Excessive Displacement” Warning in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- How to Create Temperature Dependent Custom Materials in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- How to Export Flow Simulation Results to Import into FEA
- How to Add a Hydrostatic Load
- Important Mesh Theory to Accurately Run your Finite Element Analysis Simulations
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3DEXPERIENCE
- How to Create a 3DEXPERIENCE ID
- 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud Eligibility Tool
- Cloud Services Activation
- Invite Users & Assign Roles
- How to Install Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS
- Install the 3DEXPERIENCE Add-in for SOLIDWORKS
- How to Install 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Connected
- How to Update SOLIDWORKS Connected and other Apps
- Storing SOLIDWORKS Templates on 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
- Work Offline in 3DEXPERIENCE
- How to uninstall 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Connected
- How to Export as 3DEXPERIENCE Package File and Share
- How to Import a Package File with 3DEXPERIENCE Exchange Add-in
- How to Delete Files and Objects in 3DEXPERIENCE Collaborative Spaces
PDM Cold Storage and How To Use It
PDM Cold Storage and How To Use It
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS PDM’s Cold Storage and How To Use It. This feature can be configured to automatically move or delete old versions of files to reduce required disk space on an archive server. This article will describe some considerations for configuring and using Cold Storage.
Considerations before using Cold Storage
Simply moving files to a different location on the same server does not save on disk space. It does, however, make sense to move versions if there is a physical limitation to the amount of storage available for the archive server directory. Keep in mind retrieving versions does consume server resources and may reduce performance while performing the action. Use cold Storage wisely for versions that you don’t necessarily or anticipate needing to access again unless necessary.
Using the Cold Storage option to delete older versions will save space, though keep in mind that the deleted versions will show up in the document history but cannot be retrieved. Use the delete option with CAUTION.
Configuring Cold Storage
Launch the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration tool and log in as the admin user or a user with Administrative Permission ‘Can update cold storage’.
Cold Storage options are set up in schemas from the main menu option ‘Cold Storage Schemas’.
Each vault can have multiple schemas to fit your needs. The options for each schema include:
- Which vault folders to include.
- Different schemas for different archive servers.
- Option to delete or move versions to a different drive and folder location.
- The number of file versions to retain.
- Whether to include versions with Revisions with the option ‘Never move versions with revisions to cold storage’.
- A predefined or customizable schedule to run the cold storage schema.
Which Versions To Keep
There is not a one-size-fits-all answer to determining which versions and how many to keep, delete, or move. The default value for a new schema is 10.
Considerations:
- How often are users checking in files and creating new versions?
- Are there frequent design interactions?
- Do users need to view or retrieve earlier versions that are not Revisions?
Note, you can configure multiple schemas. New products in specific folders may retain more versions throughout the design process than released products. Defining which folders are part of a schema is beneficial, if your PDM vault is set up accordingly.
Working With Cold Storage
Files that are part of a Cold Storage schema will display in the file’s history dialog. For files that were moved as part of the schema, they can be retrieved by users with ‘Restore file from cold storage’ permission set for both the State and the Folder where the file resides.
- Only a single file can be restored at a time, though referenced documents can be included as well.
- Deleted file versions CANNOT be restored.
- Once a file is restored to the archive server and cached in users’ local vault views, the version will once again be sent to cold storage the next time the schema runs.
The example below shows versions 1, 2, and 3 were moved with Cold Storage schema set to keep only the last 2 versions and ‘Never move versions with revisions to cold storage’. The user is using the Get command to retrieve version 3.
File With Reference in Cold Storage
If the attached version of a referenced file is cold stored, the Contains tab displays a warning that the version is in cold storage.
The Get version dialog box also shows a warning if the get operation tries to retrieve a cold stored version.
If cold storage deleted the referenced file version, it is not possible to cache that version and you have to get a more recent version instead. If cold storage moved the requested version, you must recover the version before it can be cached on the client computer.
Schedule Interval
This option defines an interval schedule for when this cold storage schema runs. You can select from a list of predefined interval strings, or you can specify a custom interval by selecting the User defined schedule option.
The interval string consists of three parts in the form: minute hour weekday. You can use an asterisk (*) character as a wildcard and a minus (-) character for a range.
- Minute: Defines at what minute of the hour the schema runs. The acceptable values are 0 (on the hour) to 59.
- Hour: Defines at what hour of the day the schema runs. The acceptable values are 0 (for midnight) to 23 (11pm).
- Weekday: Defines on what day of the week the schema runs. The acceptable values are 1 (Monday) to 7 (Sunday).
Examples:
0 18 6 Runs every Saturday (6) at 6 pm (18) on the hour (0)
0 23 1-5 Runs every Monday (1) through Friday (5) at 11pm (23) on the hour
30 20 * The schema runs every day (*) at 8.30pm
Notes
- The interval defines the time at which cold storage operation starts. You only need to
define the start time once. It is best to not run the schema too frequently.
- When the cold store operation starts, all file archives within the defined vault folders
are processed, and cold storage runs until the last archive folder is processed.
- Consider performing the cold storage operation no more than once or twice a week,
and at most once per day.
- Avoid starting the operation at midnight and 3:00 am because other scheduled
operations often run at those times.
- The start time in the interval uses the local time of the archive server.
- If you want to keep the cold storage schema, but not run it, you can choose the interval ‘No Schedule’ or enter the interval strings as ‘Off’.
Technical Support
As this article describes what cold storage is as well as how to configure and use it, some additional guidance may be necessary to fully understand if Cold Storage should be implemented at your company and at what frequency. If you have any questions or experience unexpected behavior, feel free to reach out to MLC CAD Systems technical support or complete this form to reach out to our MLC CAD Systems services department to review your PDM environment and help with implementation.