1. Exploring the Power of EPDM Tasks Working with and Developing Tasks in SolidWorks Enterprise PDM (EPDM)
By:
Marc Young
xLM Solutions

2. What is an EPDM Task
Tasks are customizations that can be queued up and run on a separate computer / batch server
Printing / PDF Generation
Updating Files
Checking file integrity
The running of a task off loads the work to a server/computer so it does not take up time / resources of the individual’s computer
Out of the Box EPDM Tasks (involving SolidWorks files)
Convert
Print
Check
Customized tasks can be created to handle very specific requirements

3. Sample Customized Tasks (1 / 2)
Watermarking Files
Writing to a variable on the Drawing
Creating a temporary note on the drawing
Using third party software i.e. Adobe Writer
Batch Printing Other Files Types – AutoCAD, Office, Inventor, SolidEdge ….
Publishing Data
Upon Release of a file / converted files gets moved to a secure location
SharePoint
Windows Share
Another EPDM Vault

4. Sample Customized Task (2 / 2)
Merging files
Generating one large PDF of all drawings / documentation in a project
Engineering Change information that combines EC meta data and the file(s) effected
Generating Reports
Adding Custom Headers and Footers to Documents

5. Out of the Box EPDM Tasks
There are out of the box tasks for EPDM
Print
Convert
Check
These tasks can be configured and customized

6. Configuring Out of the Box Task
Assign the task name
What Add-in to use
Who will execute it as
Should an input card be used
Number of retries
Minutes before failing

7. Execution Method Determine where the task will run
A computer needs to be designated via the Task Host Configuration
If multiple task hosts can be picked
Right click on blueberry to set a machine up as the task host

8. Menu Command Display the menu command to execute the task
The task could also be executed via a state transition

9. Task Specific Info (1/2) Specific info for the task Print Task
Always use one specific printer
Provide a list of Printers for the user to pick
Based on the printer on the sheet size of the drawing
Convert Task
Convert Format
Conversion Options
Configuration Options

10. Task Specific Info (2/2) Print Convert Page Size Orientation Margins
Header Info
Footer Info
Convert
Map Variables
Output paths
Reference links

11. Print Task - Files Determine what files to print
Just the select file
The select file and all of its references i.e. children
Determine to use as built or latest
Where the log info will be written to
Advanced Configurations (Macro that performs this operation)

12. Advanced Scripting Options
This is the SolidWorks Macro that does the work

13. Notification Who should notify when the task is successful
Who should notify when the task fails
What he message should say….

14. Adding Variable to Convert Task Output
Open up the script via Advance Scripting Options
Declare a Vault Object Variable
Add Functions
LogIntoVault
GetVariableValue
Call Functions from main function
Associated Variable Value to File Name

15. Declare Vault Object
Dim vault As Object

16. Add Function - LoginToVault
Private Sub LoginToVault() On Error GoTo ErrHand Dim strTempVaultName As String Dim strVaultName As String strTempVaultName = "<VaultPath>" i = Len(strTempVaultName) j = InStrRev(strTempVaultName, "\") strVaultName = Right(strTempVaultName, i - j) Set vault = CreateObject("ConisioLib.EdmVault") vault.LoginAuto strVaultName, 0 Exit Sub ErrHand: If Not vault Is Nothing Then Dim errname As String Dim errdesc As String vault.GetErrorString Err.Number, errname, errdesc Log ("LoginToVault error" & vbCrLf & errname & vbCrLf & errdesc ) Else Log "Error creating file vault interface." End If End Sub

17. Add Function - GetVariableValue
Private Function GetVariableValue(FilePath, VariableName, Configuration) On Error GoTo ErrHand Dim File As Object 'Get the interface of the file (and its parent folder) Dim Folder As Object Set File = vault.GetFileFromPath(FilePath, Folder) 'Obtain the variable interface Dim pEnumVar As Object Set pEnumVar = File.GetEnumeratorVariable Dim Value As Variant If pEnumVar.GetVar(VariableName, Configuration, Value) Then GetVariableValue = Value Else GetVariableValue = "" End If Exit Function ErrHand: Dim ename As String Dim edesc As String vault.GetErrorString Err.Number, ename, edesc Log "GetvariableValue End Function

18. Add Function – Call Functions
Find Function Convert(docFileName)
Add code below
Specify the Variable Name and Configuration
'Get the vault interface Call LoginToVault 'Get Variable Value Dim VarValue VarValue = GetVariableValue(docFileName, "Number",

19. Add Function – Associate Variable Value To Name
Find Build destination filenames section
Add code below where the filename is being configured
convFileName = Replace(convFileName, "<VariableValue>", VarValue)
Updated Code

20. All aspects of the Task can be configured:
Customization of EPDM Tasks
Setup
Configuration GUI Properties
On close of the configuration window of the Task
Initialization
RMB Menu / bring up a GUI
On close of the Task Initiates
Execution
The performing of the task
Task Details
The Details GUI of a the task

21. Setting up your Environment
Reference in the EPDM Library
Set the import (simplify declarations) - Imports EdmLib
Add the implements line - Imports EdmLib
Write code for the two main add-In functions
GetAddInfo – Information about the add-in
OnCmd – Information about executing the Add-In Functions

22. OnTaskSetup This controls the setup behavior of the custom task
Add a Control to your project
Create a sub for the OnTaskSetup
Set where the control can run (menu / change state)
Menu command for the control
Associate GUI setup to task
Design the control
Set the Load Data and Store Data functions
(you will need to create these functions)

23. OnTaskSetupButton
This controls what happens then user hits okay or cancel at the end of the setup
Per the entered values, save them to EPDM
The task Properties object is used to store this information: IEdmTaskProperties

24. OnTaskLaunch
This code executes on the client when the client initiates the task
For instance, prompt the user to change the PDF Location
This functions code will:
Get selected files
Store them in the task instance object
Populate GUI based on info in Task Setup
Show GUI
If Cancel exit task

25. OnTaskLaunchButton
Controls what happens if a Data Card is presented and the user hits okay / cancel Not used in this example

26. OnTaskRun The actual execution of the task
The code will perform the following actions:
Get selected files
Retrieve from the Task Instance Object
Do something with them (purpose of the task)
Create PDF for Excel Documents
Store info regarding the execution of the task
The Task Instance object can be used
Set the task status

27. OnTaskDetails
Allows the addition information / behavior present in the Detail information of the Task
Add a Control to your project
Create a sub for the OnTaskDetails
Design the control
Set the Load Data and Store Data functions
You will need to create these functions
If can be read from the task instance object

28. Best Practices for Running a Task
Have a dedicated Task Host machine to run the task
It should be powerful enough to run SolidWorks or any CAD that be used
The EPDM (blueberry) must started and use must be logged into the task host
When the task runs a license of EPDM and SolidWorks will be taken
Need to insure licenses will be available for the task host
For Convert task it is recommend to set SolidWorks Visible to true
swApp.Visible = True
Clean up stuck (Cancelling) tasks via SQL
UPDATE TaskInstances SET TaskStatus = 8 WHERE TaskStatus = 6
Make sure to control what files the task runs on when executed from a transition

29. Conclusion
Task can be a powerfully way to off load time / processor consuming tasks
Many of common requests can be done with the out of the box task
If the out of the box task, cannot handle it, the task can be programed to handle almost any customer requirement

30. Script example shown is available at: http://www.xlmsolutions.com
Thank You!
Marc Young
xLM Solutions, LLC.
Questions?
Script example shown is available at: