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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
Difference Between Versions and Revisions
SOLIDWORKS PDM
What’s the Difference Between PDM Versions and Revisions?
SOLIDWORKS PDM captures two different layers of document change history: Version History and Revision History. Both history types are important but work in different ways to help manage files.
The simple definitions are Version History is maintained by SOLIDWORKS PDM automatically for each file, whereas Revision History is specific versions of files created by moving the file through the workflow and set according to your company’s approval process.
Version History
A new version of a file is added to the version history each time a file is checked into PDM. The changed file is copied to the PDM Archive and assigned a new version number.
- Version history is set automatically by the PDM server, and they are always numeric starting with 1.
- Each version contains an automatic time stamp and user assigned which cannot be modified. This is useful for industry standards compliance.
- A digital file resides in the PDM Archive for each version of the document. If a file has 10 versions, then there are 10 copies of the digital file in the PDM Archive.
- Users can add comments when checking in files, which can then be viewed in the file’s history to help identify when and why changes were made as well as which PDM user made the change.
- PDM may also create versions for files without the file being checked out/in by a user. For example, this can occur because of a programmed action in a workflow.
- Variables can be configured to be Version Free Variables to have the values changed by users without creating a new version.
Revision History
A Revision is an instance of a file version which has been released through the workflow approval process configured by your company.
- Revisions are associated to a specific version of a file.
- Revisions can be set/bumped by actions in workflow transitions or Set Manually.
- Revisions are dependent on Revision Schemes configured by the PDM Administrator according to your company standards. For example, alphabetically (A, B, C…), numerically (1, 2, 3…), or a combination of the two ( A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2…) for Major Minor Revisions.
Viewing Document Version and Revisions History
The version and revision history of a file can be views from within PDM File Explorer by selecting a file and then selecting Actions > Get Version, or by right-clicking a file and selecting Get Version. Either method will expand a flyout menu list with the versions and comments stored for the file as well as any revision stamps created by a release.
Follow this guide to learn How to Control Get Version Commands in PDM.
Clicking on any version or revision from the flyout will ‘Get’ (copy) that version of the file to your local cache. Selecting a revision copies the associated version.
For example, if version 5 is selected in the image above, it is the same as getting revision A. They are the same version of the file. Version 5 is stamped as revision A.
To view the full history, including all comments, select a file and then select Display > History, or right-click and select History. Select a specific version row and then click the ‘Get’ button to copy that version to your local cache. Note you can only have a single version cached locally at one time.
Technical Support
Version and Revision work together to create the complete record of the changes made to a file. If you do not have access to either the Get Version or Get commands, review this article with your PDM Administrator or feel free to reach out to MLC CAD Systems technical support