SOLIDWORKS PDM Search Results – Which Configuration’s Variables are Displayed?
PDM Search Results – Which Configuration’s Variables are Displayed?
Have you ever wondered when a SOLIDWORKS file has more than one configuration, and PDM can only display one variable in search results under the “Description” column, which configuration’s variable is displayed?
The Answer
The variables of the configuration which was last updated are displayed in the PDM search results. Modifying either the SOLIDWORKS Custom Properties, PDM Data Card Variables, or the actual Configuration name will mark the configuration as the last updated configuration.
- A change to model geometry will not mark the configuration as the last updated configuration. It must be configuration data.
- Switching which configuration is the active configuration when saved also does not mark the configuration as last update.
- Only a change to Custom Properties, PDM Variables, or the Configuration Name will change which variable is displayed when searching in PDM.
The Demonstration
Below are 3 examples to help explain the PDM search results. The file used as an example contains two configurations, which displays 3 tabs on the PDM Data Card.
PDM Data Card Tabs:
- @ (variable = Description @)
- 1 (variable = Description 1)
- 2 (variable = Description 2)
Configuration 2 was the last configuration created, so Description 2 is the Description variable displayed in the search results.
To further demonstrate the search results, the file was opened in SOLIDWORKS with configuration 2 as the active configuration. The configuration specific custom property Description of configuration 1 was modified to include (1st update to the file). Lastly, the file was saved and check into PDM.
The PDM search result displays the Description variable of configuration 1, which was the last configuration updated.
Then, working in the PDM Data Card, the Description variable of configuration 2 was modified to include (2nd update on the file), then the file was checked into PDM.
The PDM search result displays the Description variable of configuration 2, which was the last configuration updated.
For the final example, the file was opened again in SOLIDWORKS with configuration 1 as the active configuration. The custom property Description on the Custom tab was modified to include (3rd update to the file). Lastly, the file was saved and check into PDM.
The search result displays the Description variable of the @ tab (Custom tab within SOLIDWORKS), which was the last configuration updated.
Now You Know!
PDM search results display the variables of the last configuration updated.