PDM Assassin: Will CAD and PDM Ever Merge? | SolidWorks 3D CAD Technology Design Blog

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I’m not sure about you, but I am increasingly frustrated in the separation between 3D design and data management. Yep, I have two hairs left on my head and permanent marker all over my face from nervous twitching each time something needs to be checked-in or out.

There’s creating a model and then there’s managing it. It’s separate, but for the most part you’re already managing the data in the assembly structure you create and the drawings you churn out. All that data is in the model files. For some reason it takes another program to structure the data, produce reports, handle revisions, etc. even though you build that every day into the model. Heck, not only models. Any document.

I imagine sooner or later this could merge and completely destroy what we know as PDM or PLM. Maybe it because we think of it in the sense of managing 3D CAD Data in lists instead of like filling a glass of water, so to speak. Part of this happens because companies want reports and revs to look like they always have. The hardest part about developing a new technology is convincing people that it’s better than how it has been done. That scary.

Hopefully, one day, the resource and data management will happen behind the scenes and data can be generated dynamically not matter if we start from a spreadsheet or a 3D environment. think it can happen?

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Devon T. Sowell 7 months ago 1 point
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Hi Josh-

RE:"Hopefully, one day, the resource and data management will happen behind the scenes and data can be generated dynamically not matter if we start from a spreadsheet or a 3D environment. think it can happen?"

One of my favorite PDMW Enterprise tools is the ability to create Project Template Folders and SolidWorks Template files within the Project folders. Creating a 'new' Project, then using the SolidWorks Templates within the new Project is a powerful way to manage data on the fly.

How's the family? Gettin' any sleep?

Devon

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http://www.3-ddesignsolutions.com

Chris 7 months ago 1 point
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You're preaching to the choir from my side. I've been developing programs to steal raw data from various places to generate a report (similar to how Cosmos works). It would be nice if someone out there already had this mousetrap figured out and all I had to do was license it. ;)

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Design Engineer 7 months ago 1 point
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I've always thought that solidworks should be able to keep track of revision changes to models and have the ability to role back and view previous revisions.

What do other people think? Or will someone tell me that it's all ready there and I just didn't know about it all these years?!

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Pete Yodis 7 months ago 1 point
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Josh,

It will be interesting to watch and see how much "PDM" will be buit into the web and also to operating systems. I am pretty sure that a version or two of Windows Vista will allow you to rollback to a previously saved state of a file. Within the OS itself, it is beginning to provide some PDM like capabilities. I am using FolderShare from Microsoft as a means of sharing data in multiple sites - way cool and previously would have cost a ton of money. These tools are not offering all the things needed and are not necessarily "CAD Central", but its neat to see the gap close somewhat...

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Josh 7 months ago 1 point
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Hey All, thanks for consoling me. I think it's going to have to be thought of differently. It's weird to think about but the people using cad/computer/etc. later on are the kids texting on mobiles, accessing all their info and friends info online, moving around in computer games without having to think about load times and where/how things are stored or related. It's gotta change.

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