Under the Hood

Right click somewhere (The new open from Vault dialog and grid Part 2)

2012-06-01T14:00:00-04:00

So now we roughly know how to get around the dialog, let’s look at what we can do in the grid. Without selecting a file or folder, hold your tongue just so, and right click you will get the view menu – this menu allows you to select the grid view (Details, List, Icons) or some of the other grid attributes like the appearance of gridlines, banding (zebra view – so you can see the different lines of the grid) and automatic column sizing.

Once you have your grid looking right this menu gives the option to select columns to display – just like in the Vault Explorer.

Speaking of “just like Vault Explorer”, if you now right click on one of the column headers you are going to see the familiar menu allowing you to sort ascending and descending values, group by columns set the width to best fit, control the text alignment (don’t want a messy window!) or even remove the column altogether – careful with that one, choose wisely.

We have a few more old favorites here too where you can change your view (again), reset the selected columns or choose some more and finally a new feature called Quick List. Quick List is not quite a saved view but a favorites list, add here the columns you like switching on and off all the time, with 2 clicks they can be returned or removed.

If you have kept pace to this point you are now likely ready to select something in the grid and right click, highlight and file or folder and right click – this will give you an option to create a shortcut to that folder which is available in the left pane or in your Vault Explorer.

When you are done with all the fun – select your file and hit open – sit quietly and enjoy the improvements to Vaults server-client performance.

Getting around open (The new open from Vault dialog and grid Part 1)

2012-05-30T14:37:35-04:00

You install Vault 2013 and open a file in Inventor – wait what’s going on with the open dialog? Lots.

The first thing you will likely notice is that the open and place dioalogs now have a grid – the grid permits you to add file details such as part number, Vault status or lifecycle state, no longer do we need a cheat sheet or point and click method to happen across the correct file – the details are all there. Too much information? Too efficient? No problems, you can revert back to the thumbnail or list views at any time.

If you do decide to hang in there with the grid you might want to check out the CTRL+F functionality, this shortcut opens up a find window just above the grid that will search ONLY the current folder and ONLY on those properties exposed in the grid – this is a nice quick and dirty search to skim through the open window.

Don’t worry though, for those who love filling in forms the original advanced find is still available at the bottom of the window, but you probably won’t want to use it anymore with the other search improvements. Go to the top of the left panel in the dialog and there is your new basic search – type in a value here and it will search the current folder (and any sub folders if you choose) for your file> Pull down the property list under the text box and now you can select a specific file or folder property to search on! You can even save your search right here.

So where does the saved search go? Select the search title at the top of the left panel and you can switch across to saved search view, a list of all your searches created right in the dialog or Vault explorer are available, without opening another window… Pull down the saved searches banner and now select shortcuts and there they are, a list of the shortcuts created from the Vault explorer or even right there in the open dialog – yeah that’s right you can even right click on files in the open dialog and create short cuts – more of that in Part 2.

PLM Tip of the Week - Linking Workspaces in PLM 360

2012-05-14T14:51:33-04:00

“That rug really tied the rooms together,” -The Dude Lebowski

Today’s post will cover some best practices in tying linking data together within PLM 360. Items from one Workspace can call upon and provide a link to items in another Workspace. There are a number of ways to do this, and the advantages include ease of navigation, removing duplicate data entry, and (intended) transparency of information within PLM 360. First, we’ll examine the use of picklists to draw Workspaces together:

Linking Picklists

A Picklist is a drop down of predefined values used during data entry. They display in a variety for forms such as single choice, radio button, check box, and multiple choice to name a few. The advantage is the predefined nature of them, allowing user to select rather than type in values. A Linking Picklist takes that a step further and provides access to Items in another Workspace of your choice. During configuration of a field, choosing Linking Picklist will lookup values available in the other Workspace and establish a link, thus the name.

What’s even better is that Picklists are global in your PLM tenant. Meaning good, well built Picklists that reference other Workspaces can be used over again in another field, another Workspace.

Relationships Tab

The Relationships tab is yet another way to establish links between Workspaces. This tab is enabled through adding permissions on the role of a Workspace. Once enabled, anyone with permission can add a direct link to an Item from another Workspace and establish this as either bi-directional or uni-directional from the active to the related Item.

Workspace Relationships setting on the Workspace

Building upon the previous paragraph, the Workspace Relationship setting on each Workspace allow the administrator to link multiple Workspaces to each other. Certain tabs actually lend themselves to Item relationships as in the image below. Project Management tabs need other projects, tasks, and activities to link to, forming a project gantt chart. Bill of Materials needs BoM items, Revisioning Workspaces need Revision controlled items, and the Relationships tab needs well, something to relate to.

Scripting

Finally, Workspaces can be tied together through the use of an action script that spawns a new item in a difference Workspace. This in turn provides a direct link back to the item from whence it came. A great example of this is an Inspection that leads to a Non conformance, which leads to a Corrective action.

This can even extend from the Corrective action to a Change Request and onto a Change Order. At each step, a link back to the item record that spawned it is available for audit trail purposes.

-Brian Schanen

PLM 360 Video Spotlight - Lifecycle Management

2012-05-07T12:12:49-04:00

Hello all PLM 360 fans, enthusiasts,and aficionados. This week’s video spotlight is on Lifecycle Management. This video is timely as the Vault to PLM 360 Sync tool is now live on Autodesk Subscription Center. http://subscription.autodesk.com/

Lifecycles are a key part of Items in PLM 360 that go through revision changes. Items in PLM 360 that are in a Revision Controlled revise though the use of a Revisioning workspace that follows a defined Lifecycle definition. Within the Lifecycle route are states and transitions that define the behavior of the Items.

This video takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Lifecycle editor and how to advance Lifecycle states using a Change Order in PLM 360.

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/PLM_360/enu/community/Videos/Lifecycle_Management_Guide

-Brian Schanen

Calling all PLM and Data Management Experts

2012-04-27T13:02:09-04:00

The Autodesk University Call for Proposals site is now open! This year we have even more to talk about than ever. With the launch of Autodesk PLM 360, there is already the expertise out there, and we anticipate another great year at AU. So, if you’re an implementation expert or a customer with an Autodesk PLM/PDM solution you’d like to showcase, feel free to submit a class proposal for the updated track: “PLM, Data Management, and Collaboration. Be sure to check out the Tracks section and look up PLM, Data Management, and Collaboration for details on our vision for this. Here’s what we are looking for on this track:

This track addresses those who are involved in configuring Autodesk PLM 360 software for product lifecycle management (PLM), Autodesk® Vault software for data management (PDM), and Autodesk Buzzsaw for project collaboration.

PLM themes include getting started with Autodesk PLM 360, workspace configuration, and process modeling. Data Management themes include deployment, care, and maintenance of the Vault server and client applications and connections to PLM 360 and Buzzsaw. Collaboration themes include exchanging project information and supporting BIM workflows on the desktop, mobile devices, and web with Buzzsaw and Buzzsaw Mobile.

Track topics should offer examples of unique or advanced applications of Autodesk PLM 360, a behind-the-scenes look at Autodesk Vault, and workflows supporting Buzzsaw. Topics for more advanced classes should aim to educate those who are responsible for populating these applications with data, ensuring compliance, and routing or delegating work, as well as first-level support for each department’s manager.

In addition, we seek topics to address the needs of people who are responsible for creating, authoring, or consuming data—of any kind—and incorporating that data into processes that meet the needs of people who rely on these systems to be successful.

Looking forward to another great Autodesk University! See you there.

-Brian Schanen

PLM 360 Video Spotlight - Creating Reports and Charts

2012-04-24T16:19:24-04:00

If you have been following along with the videos tutorials on PLM 360, building out Workspaces and creating data, then be sure to check out the video on creating reports and charts. With some data on your tenant, you can create a variety of reports and display them several ways: HTML, Excel (export), and as a Chart.

This video tutorial also shows how to share reports with others in your organization and pin these reports to your Dashboard in PLM 360.

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/PLM_360/enu/community/Videos/Creating_Reports_and_Charts

-Brian Schanen

Autodesk Vault and PLM 360 Integration

2012-04-19T09:06:55-04:00

Great news for Autodesk Vault and Autodesk PLM 360 users! The Vault/PLM360 synchronization utility is in the final rounds of testing, and I have compiled a sneak peek video on the integration - here – out on the PLM 360 Wiki Video page.

The first phase of the integration will provide a seamless push of Vault Professional (2013) Items to PLM 360 upon moving to the Release state. In the image below, this Bill of Material has been 'Released' in Vault Professional, and is sent to Autodesk PLM 360 (next image).

All Item, Bill of Material, structure, rev level, and quantity will be sent to PLM. In addition, select Item properties (UDP’s) will populate and update Items in PLM 360.

The sync configuration will involve setting up an optional Vault user account (similar to ‘Job User’), choosing a PLM 360 tenant, configuring a Workspace, and mapping Vault Properties to PLM 360 fields. Please see the video for more details. This is for Vault Professional 2013 only, and due out shortly.

In the mean time, consider brushing up on Vault Professional Items (hint, hint). To help prepare you, I’ll be reviewing Vault Item theory on this blog and calling up posts and AU papers from the past.

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/PLM_360/enu/community/Videos/Autodesk_Vault_Professional_to_PLM_360_Synchronization

Enjoy!

-Brian Schanen

PLM 360 Video spotlight - Creating New Items

2012-04-16T13:37:41-04:00

Hello PLM 360 fans. This week’s video spotlight is the next step in using PLM 360. By now you’ve seen the administrative side, setting up your site, users, workflow. Now I’d like to take you on a tour of creating and using Items created in a workspace. Also discussed is the Main Menu of Categories, Cloning Items, and the Left Search view of any given Workspace.

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/PLM_360/enu/community/Videos/Creating_New_Items

Please note that these videos will also be posted to the official Autodesk PLM 360 YouTube channel.

Enjoy!

-Brian Schanen

Autodesk Vault Upgrade Documentation

2012-04-11T14:00:20-04:00

Attention Autodesk Vault administrators, consultants, power users, and fans. New documentation is available that outlines best practices for upgrading Autodesk Vault. An F.A.Q. along with a white paper on the recommended procedures are all included on the Autodesk Vault Wiki site.

Details on upgrading Autodesk Vault can be found on our Wiki http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Vault/enu/Help/Help/0206-Autodesk206/0261-Upgradin261

Special thanks to Ross, Irvin, Martin, and Sara. Nice work!

PLM 360 Video Spotlight - Workflow Modification

2012-04-09T23:21:06-04:00

Time for the next Autodesk PLM 360 video. If you’ve followed along, you should be able to configure your site, make some users and groups, and even tweak the pre-built sample Workspaces within PLM. This week’s video covers the next step after Workspace modification or cloning: Editing and modifying Workflow.

Each Workspace has the option to leverage a unique workflow map. This tutorial covers a sample Workspace with an existing workflow, and how to use the Workflow Editor to modify it. Enjoy!

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/PLM_360/enu/community/Videos/Modifying_the_Default_Workflows

-Brian Schanen