Something that many companies strive for is the ability to store, manage and share data on the cloud. We all dream of quickly and easily locating the files we need to go about our tasks. And it is not rare that we spend too much time navigating our file and folder structure in current systems. What if you could tag your files freely? Search them and get a user-friendly overview? We’ve got good news for you: This is easily achieved with our cloud-based platform, 3DEXPERIENCE.
On the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you can store the data in a collaborative space using tools offered by the Collaborative Industry Innovator role.
The Collaborative Space is the vault for your data and can contain a huge amount of files, as well as being further increased if needed. Here, the files are stored, yet they are not organized within a folder structure. But don’t worry; You are not supposed to scroll through the vault looking for files. This is not where you go to manage your files.
Instead, 3DEXPERIENCE offers separate tools to make accessing your data fast and easy.
An important tool when first starting out is using bookmarks with assist from the Bookmark Editor app. Another way is to use the 3Dsearch app, which will be discussed in another post.
Tag your files with the Bookmark Editor app
Setting up a bookmark structure in 3DEXPERIENCE can be seen similarly to setting up a folder structure on your shared network drive, although there are some differences as to how it works. These differences offer you a lot more flexibility and freedom in managing your files.
Try to think of the bookmarks as tags. Instead of placing the files IN a bookmark as you would when placing a file IN a folder – you are instead attaching the bookmark TO the file, like a tag. This means that a file is not limited to just one bookmark and can instead have several attached to it.
Browsing through your bookmark structure however is very similar to browsing through your regular folder structure. Bookmarks are organized in the Bookmark Editor as:
- Bookmark Workspaces
- Bookmark Folders
Bookmark Workspace represents the top-folder, and the Bookmark Folders represents subfolders, and files can be attached at any level you like. Let’s have a look:
Easily manage and share your bookmarked files
Bookmarked files can easily be shared with other users in your organization. Since you can attach multiple bookmarks to a single file, different users can create multiple structures and rearrange the bookmarks as desired. You get all the options you need to customize your setup.
In the Bookmark Editor app you can perform a variety of actions. You can:
- View and edit meta data
- Manage maturity states
- Create Revisions or Branches
- View file structure
- And much more
You can also combine it with other apps on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform by drag and dropping the referenced content – for example to the 3DPlay app to view the files, or to the cloud-based design apps like xShape and xDesign to name a few.
You can also subscribe to documents to stay in tune with updates and changes made to that document. Doing so will give you a notification once a change is made, such as a maturity state change, or if a new revision is created based on that file.
Read more: How to view your product data with meaningful visuals and previews
Integrating the Bookmark Editor in SOLIDWORKS
If you work with the desktop installation of SOLIDWORKS, you can access all the same information from within SOLIDWORKS using the 3DEXPERIENCE Add-in. Select 3DEXPERIENCE from the task pane to login as your user and you will find the apps that you would also find on the platform, including the Bookmark Editor app with all the content from your organization.
When creating a new file in SOLIDWORKS or when working with a file that has not yet been saved to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you are able to add bookmarks to it upon the initial save to the platform. From the Add-in, choosing ”Save with Options” will open the save dialog with additional options to attach one or more active documents to already existing bookmarks.
Read more: See how Pässilä Bicycles works with CAD data in the cloud
Go cloud and save time managing your files
Moving your data management to the cloud offers you a freedom and flexibility in navigating your files that can’t be matched by the conventional file and folder structure on desktop. On the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, bookmarks tag your files so you’re always able to find what you’re looking for in just a few seconds. Your setup is customizable to your preferences and it’s easier than ever to store, share and edit your files.
Are you curious about the possibilities for you, your workplace, or business? Then don’t hesitate to reach out, we’re here to help.
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