SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Automation:

This podcast covers some of the automation options available to SolidWorks Enterprise PDM administrators to perform common tasks.  Topics covered:

- New Task options in Administration

- Understanding the Task layout

- Creating "Convert" tasks

- Creating "Print" tasks

- Application of tasks to send a released PDF to manufacturing

- Beyond Tasks - using Dispatch

- Dispatch layout

- Some common use cases for Dispatch scripts.

Many of you have heard me talk about the SolidWorks Task Scheduler, boasting some of the powerful tasks that it can do for data within Workgroup PDM.  EPDM 2010 finally got some of these tools but with a more powerful tool-set and option setup, the automation choices are deeper.

EPDM Tasks can be launched as part of a right click menu but more importantly can be launched as part of a transition action from one state in the workflow to another.  These tasks can convert data (automation of a Save As from SolidWorks) or print data based on conditions set by the administrator.  These tasks can operate based on user action, input or completely transparent to the user all together, allowing tedious tasks to be performed without delay.

I also talk briefly on EPDM Dispatch, a scripting tool that allows anyone (including non-programmer types) to build more complex sets of condition-based instructions to be executed.  This is why I typically advise customers against the custom programming route unless it is the only option.  Tasks and Dispatch allows EPDM to be expanded on without worrying about the possible "version tie-down" most home grown tools tend to add to systems like PDM. ~Lou

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