VX provides application menus for interfacing with the VX PDM functions.  You can get to these functions by selecting File > Manage Vault from any VX level.  The table below lists the current VX PDM functions and the menu paths to locate them.

 

VX PDM Menu Functions
Select: File > Manage Vault
Activate	Logging in with your user name and password activates VX PDM.  See User and group Manager for more information.
Deactivate	This deactivates VX PDM.
Manage Users	Use this to manage (Add/Edit/Delete) VX PDM users and groups.  This displays the User and group Manager.
Manage Files	This displays the VX PDM Manager.
View File	This displays the VX PDM Manager and opens a selected file.
Insert Component	This displays the VX PDM Manager and inserts a selected file as a component.
Copy File from Vault	This displays the VX PDM Manager and copies a selected file to the work directory.
Manage File Network	This applies PDM functions to all files referenced by the active part or assembly. (See Manage File Network below).
Select: File > Manage Vault > Life Cycle
Check In External	Check any external file into the vault.
Check In Active	Check the currently active file into the vault.
Check Out	Check a file out and copy it to the work directory.
Check Out And Edit	Check a file out to the work directory and open it.
Check Out And Insert	Check a file out to the work directory and insert it as a component.
Release External	Release an external file.
Release Active	Release the currently active file.
New Release	Create a new release of the selected file and copy it to the work directory.
New Release And Edit	Create a new release of the selected file and open it.
New Release And Insert	Create a new release of the selected file and insert it as a component.
Obsolete External	Obsolete an external file.
Obsolete Active	Obsolete the currently active file.

 

 

 

 

 

Invoked By: File > Manage Vault > Manage Files

 

With the VX PDM Manager you can search for and manage VX object files and other non-VX files such as word processor, database and spreadsheet tables associated with your design projects throughout their life cycle.  You can also perform product life cycle functions (e.g., Check In, Check Out, Release, etc.) and set user and group permissions using the VX PDM Manager.

 

 

 

Current Directory

Use the drop-down list to switch between the vault directory and your user directory.  File searches will be performed on the current directory.

 

File Filter

To filter the current vault directory (or your user directory); enter the filter criteria in the File Filter Form (see below).  The VX PDM Manager will locate and list those files that match all of the fields provided.

 

File List

The results of a file search are listed here.  All files are listed if no search criteria are entered.

 

Revision List

The revision history of the selected file is listed here.  Each revision represents a file that is listed in the File List.  You can select a file from the File List by selecting its revision level from the Revision List. You can also review a files revision history using this list.  You can perform Object Editing on selected files.  See Mouse Button Functionality for more information.

 

State List

This list shows the current state of the selected file (e.g., New, Checked In, Checked Out, Released or Obsolete).  The user and group name and their access level to the file are also listed.  See also Changing a File's Release State and Changing VX User and Group Permissions for more information.

 

Preview

The preview of the file is shown here.  A preview is automatically created when the Save File, Save File As, Save All Files and Save and Close File commands are used.

 

 

Mouse Button Functionality

 

File List

Right-click on a file to display the following Object Edit functions.  Some functions may be disabled depending on the current state of the file.

 

• Check In

• Check Out

• Release

• New Release

• Obsolete

• View File

• Copy File

• Delete File

 

State List

Right-click on an item and select "Change State" to display the Change File State Form.  You can change the state of the file or the user and group permission for the file.  See also Changing a File's Release State and Changing VX User and Group Permissions for more information.

 

 

File Filter Form

 

Use this form to filter the Files List (see above).  If you are just looking a file and you know the file name, complete only the File Name field.  If you know the revision level or the user name, complete those fields as well to limit the filtered list.  If you're not sure, leave the fields blank.  Otherwise, the file may not be located.

 

When you are done entering the search criteria, put a check in the box next to the fields that you want to search by or press <ENTER> in any of the input fields.  You can enable or disable fields to modify the search results.  If no search criteria are entered, all files in the current directory are listed.

 

The File Filter is only active as long as the menu is visible. If the user closes the File Filter menu then the values reset to defaults (= show everything).

 

 

 

 

• Keyword - Finds all files that contain the specified pattern (keyword)

• Hide inaccessible files - Check this box to hide all files which are inaccessible to the current user because of their permission settings.

 

 

 

Invoked By: File > Manage Vault > Manage Files

 

You can change a file's release state (e.g., New, Checked In, Checked Out, Released or Obsolete) by right-clicking on the release flag and select Change State.  This is done in the State list of the VX PDM Manager while the file is selected from the File list of the manager.  See Mouse Button Functionality and the Change File State Form for more information.  

 

 

 

Invoked By: File > Manage Vault > Manage Files

 

You can change a file's user and group name and permissions (e.g., read or write) by right-clicking on the USER or GROUP flag and select Change State.  This is done in the State list of the VX PDM Manager while the file is selected from the File list of the manager.  See Mouse Button Functionality and the Change File State Form for more information.

 

 

 

Invoked By: File > Manage Vault > Manage Files > Change State

 

Use this form to manually change a file's release state, user and/or group name and file permissions.  It should not be used during regular use of the VX PDM system.  

 

The form will default to the current state of the selected file. Use the State section to change the file's current state (e.g., New, Checked In, Checked Out, Released or Obsolete).  Use the User section to change the User and Group name and assign read/write permission to the assigned user or group.  Use the Description to modify the description assigned to the file.

 

 

 

 

User Permissions Form

 

Invoked By: File > Manage Vault > Manage Files > Change State > User

 

Use this form to assign user permissions for the file.  First select, File > Manage Vault > Manager Users to set up your users using the User and Group Manager (see below).  Then using the User Permissions Form shown below, select the User from the first drop down list and then check the box next to Read and/or Write to assign permissions to that user.  Repeat the process for up to ten users.

 

 

 

 

Group Permissions Form

 

Invoked By: File > Manage Vault > Manage Files > Change State > Group

 

Use this form to assign group permissions for the file.  First select, File > Manage Vault > Manager Users to set up your groups using the User and Group Manager (see below).  Then using the Group Permissions Form shown below, select the Group from the first drop down list and then check the box next to Read and/or Write to assign permissions to that group.  Repeat the process for up to ten groups.

 

 

 

 

 

Invoked By: File > Manage Vault > Manage Users

 

Use this form to create and manager users and groups.  You can assign names and passwords for each user.  You can also assign administrator privileges to a user.  Refer to the list of options below.

 

 

 

 

• User list - The upper portion of the manager lists the current users as they are created.  Each user is assigned either an Administrator or a User privilege as indicated next to the user's name.  Pick Yes or No next to Administrator to assign this privilege to a user.

• User name, Password - This is the login name and password that users will enter when they activate the VX PDM Manager.

• Groups - If the user is assigned to one or more groups, they are shown here.  See Select Groups to assign a new user to a group.

• Administrator - Pick Yes or No next to assign Administrator privileges to a user.

• Select Groups - When creating a new user, pick this option to select one or more groups that the new user will be assigned to.  Read and Write privileges to files can be assigned by user or group.  Refer to the Change File State Form.  Also refer to the User and Group Manager.
   

 

 

• Clear Input - This clears the values in the User name, Password and Groups fields.

• Add User - This adds a new user to the User list based on the User name, Password and Group fields.

• Delete User - Select a user from the User list and then pick this option to delete them.

• Show Groups - This lists the groups that are currently defined.  Refer to the User and Group Manager.

• Add Group - Pick this option, enter a name for the group in the popup form and then pick OK to create the group.

• Delete Group - Pick this option, select a group from the list and then pick OK to delete the group.

 

 

 

Invoked By: File > Manage Vault > Manage File Network

 

Use this command to apply the Check Out, New Release, Check In, Release or Obsolete PDM functions (see The VX PDM Interface above) to all the files referenced by a selected component or the active part/assembly.  See below for additional options.

 

 

Required Inputs

 

• Component - Select the component to apply PDM functions to or middle-click for the active part or assembly.

 

Optional Inputs

 

• Option - Select the PDM function to apply.

• Include components - Check this box to include child components of the selected component or of the active part/assembly.

• Include hard-linked objects - Check this box to include hard-linked objects.  See Tools > Link Manager for more about hard-linked objects.

• Include imported files - Check this box to include imported files referenced by the part history of the selected component or of the active part/assembly (e.g. IGES or point cloud files).