Our Cloud Data Management experts Christoffer Stokkebro and Anders Wentzel hosted an appreciated webinar about Cloud Services, and how it can improve your CAD workflow. The Q&A session included a lot of interesting questions, so we decided to share them with you – read them all below.
Is there a tool that handles the migration from SOLIDWORKS PDM to 3DEXPERIENCE?
At the moment there is not a single unified tool that handles everything in regards to migrating from PDM to 3DEXPERIENCE.
But, we do have a variety of tools available, such as the Batch Save to 3DEXPERIENCE function, and tools for prepping files before platform upload, after they have been exported from PDM. But we don’t have a tool available yet that takes care of everything in the process, YET!
How are the SOLIDWORKS File Properties connected to the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform File Properties?
SOLIDWORKS File Properties can be connected to Platform Attributes, and vice versa, so that our file properties are always up to date.
A lot of the Platform Properties are already predefined in SOLIDWORKS and can be referenced right out of the box.
These Platform Attributes can also be saved on Templates and referenced on Drawings as well.
What are the key differences between the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform and SOLIDWORKS PDM/PDM Professional?
One key difference is that with the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, your company doesn’t need to host a server at all, since everything is handled on cloud.
In the sense of actual functionality, it is kind of difficult to measure the two systems next to each other.
SOLIDWORKS PDM primarily solves Product Data Management. And it is good at that. It can be customized like crazy. But it also sort of stops there.
The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform also comes with PDM functionality, but it is also much more than that.
With the rapidly expanding range of tools and the compatibility of our data, the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform potentially offers a complete ecosystem for a company. The universal compatibility of our data when using the platform tools allows us to really extend our use of our data.
With everything from Sustainability, Production Planning, Simulation, and a lot more.
When planning tasks for a project, is it then possible to define the duration in hours instead of days?
Yes, we can use either days, hours, or a mix of the two. So depending on the template that you set up for your project, if you decided to use days for example, you can still type in whatever unit (hours or days) when planning the task, and then the project planning app will automatically convert them to the template format. In this case, 2 hours would automatically be converted to 0.25 days.
Is it possible to store other file types than SOLIDWORKS files on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform?
Yes.
It is possible to store just about any file type on the platform.
And a lot of those are also previewable in the 3DPlay app, filetypes like PDF, STEP, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, JPG, MP4, and a lot more.
Does remote work on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform require a VPN connection?
The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform itself does not require a VPN connection.
Neither does licensing of the 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS role (SOLIDWORKS Connected).
A standalone SOLIDWORKS Desktop license connected through the Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS role does not require VPN either.
However, if you are using a network-licensed version of SOLIDWORKS Desktop with a Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS role on top. Then a VPN connection would still be required when launching SOLIDWORKS and acquiring a license.
Can a locked file be unlocked by another user in case of an emergency?
Yes, it will always be possible for the Platform Admin to unlock any locked file if necessary.
Where is my data stored when using the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform?
All data is stored in one of Dassault Systemes Data Centers located all over the world.
For 3DEXPERIENCE Platforms purchased in Europe, all connect to the Datacenter in Paris, France.
Do you offer help in getting started with the platform and tweaking settings to fit specific needs?
Yes.
We offer multiple different services to help you get started with the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform and set up your platform to fit your needs if the out-of-the-box version doesn’t fit your exact needs.
Are there automated tasks such as creating step- and pdf files when moving from i.e. Frozen to Released state?
Yes.
These are set up by the Platform Admin. For now, only PDF and STEP formats are supported.
These derived formats can also be set to create on every save if needed.
The derived formats are also automatically attached to the original file so that they can easily be found and accessed.
Can you communicate with external parties (suppliers etc)?
It is possible to invite external parties to your platform. This can be done either by using your own role licenses or by having the external party bring in their own licenses. This will allow for communication through the 3DSwym app.
Filesharing with external parties that don’t use 3DEXPERIENCE can also be done from the 3DDrive app. Here the external party can be granted access to viewing and downloading specific files or folders.
Do you want to watch the full webinar?
Watch Christoffer and Anders dive into new ways of how to improve efficiency, collaboration, and speed up your workflow.
