Below is a list of language operators and examples you can find as helpful aids on the platform. As an added benefit, I’ve included more thorough explanations of the situational examples provided. Hopefully, this further emphasizes best use cases so that you can be more efficient in your day-to-day.

Expression Rules Criteria

Feature:
A feature without any option refers to all options associated with this feature.
Example: [Color]
Explanation: We’ve previously established the feature ‘color’ as a variant for a Model Version. This Variant is the beginning piece of a Rule Expression.

Feature/Option:
A feature with an option is a valid expression.
Example: [Color] [Blue]
Explanation: We’ve previously established the feature ‘color’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘blue’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘color’ by arranging the expression in this order.

Feature/Several Options:
A feature followed by a list of options is equivalent to an OR in between all listed options.
Example: [Color] [Blue] [Green]
Explanation: We’ve previously established the feature ‘color’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the features ‘blue’ and ‘green’’s definitions, both Variant Values, as ‘color’s by arranging the expression in this order.

Standard Operators for Expression Rules

NOT: [NOT] expression1
An expression preceded by a NOT is the logical complement of this expression.
Example: [NOT] [Color] [Blue]
Explanation: We’ve previously established the feature ‘color’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘blue’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘color’ by arranging the expression in this order. Beginning this expression with the ‘NOT’ operator, we define this arrangement to be ‘false/not allowed’, for the associated Model Version.

AND: expression [AND] expression2
AND between two expressions express the logical conjunction of the two expressions.
Example: [Color] [Green] [AND] [City] [Paris]
Explanation: We’ve previously established the feature ‘color’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘green’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘color’ by arranging the expression in this order. Additionally, we establish the feature ‘City’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘Paris’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘City’ by arranging the expression in this order. Placing the operator ‘AND’ between these two expression segments links them ‘both’ in the same rule expression for the associated Model Version.

OR: expression1 [OR] expression2
OR between two expressions express the logical disjunction of the two expressions.
Example: [City] [London] [OR] [Country] [France]
Explanation: We’ve previously established the feature ‘city’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘London’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘City’ by arranging the expression in this order. Additionally, we establish the feature ‘Country’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘France’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘Country’ by arranging the expression in this order. Placing the operator ‘OR’ between these two expression segments links them as ‘one or the other’ in the same rule expression for the associated Model Version.

Conditional Requirement

IMPLY: expression1 [IMPLY] expression2
A conditional requirement – if (expression 1), then (expression 2) – uses the IMPLY operator.
Example: [City] [Paris] [IMPLY] [Country] [France]
Explanation: We’ve previously established the feature ‘city’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘Paris’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘City’ by arranging the expression in this order. Additionally, we establish the feature ‘Country’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘France’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘Country’ by arranging the expression in this order. Placing the operator ‘IMPY’ between these two expression segments links them as ‘one as well as the other/so long as’ in the same rule expression for the associated Model Version.

Co-dependency Statement

EQUIVALENT: expression1 [EQUIVALENT] expression2
Equivalent makes expression 1 and expression 2 have the same logical content.
Example: [Citizen] [French] [EQUIVALENT] [Country] [France]
Explanation: We’ve previously established the feature ‘citizen’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘French’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘Citizen’ by arranging the expression in this order. Additionally, we establish the feature ‘Country’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘France’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘Country’ by arranging the expression in this order. Placing the operator ‘EQUIVALENT’ between these two expression segments links them as ‘synonymous’ in the same rule expression for the associated Model Version.

Incompatible Statement

You may want to create two incompatible statements. You can do this with existing operators.
Example: [City] [London] [IMPLY] [NOT] [Country] [France]
Explanation: We’ve previously established the feature ‘city’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘London’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘City’ by arranging the expression in this order. Additionally, we establish the feature ‘Country’ as a variant for a Model Version. Here, we assign the feature ‘France’’s definition, a Variant Value, as a ‘Country’ by arranging the expression in this order. Placing the operators ‘IMPLY’ and ‘NOT’ between these two expression segments links them as ‘if so, then not allowed’ in the same rule expression for the associated Model Version.

Additional Examples
Example Scenario: Include a bottle holder whenever we release a bicycle in France.
Example Syntax: [Country] [France] [IMPLY] [Accessories] [Bottle Holder]

               Example Scenario: Exclude a GPS Unit for a bicycle whenever a customer selects 26-inch tires or a basket option.
Example Syntax: [Tire] [Wanda 26] [OR] [Accessories] [Basket] [IMPY] [NOT] [Accessories] [GPS]

Expressions that specify invalid scenarios will automatically prevent certain scenarios from being chosen when creating Configurations.

Wrap Up

By using logical expression rules in your Project Plan Portfolio, you can ensure consistent results across your team. This means everyone always follows the same rules every time. This also makes it easier to manage going forward, as you set these rules up front and become the standards going forward.

Gabriel Rodriguez
Application Engineer II
Computer Aided Technology

This will allow a user to continue their work in 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS when there is no internet connection available.

The OFFLINE MODE does need to be a “planned event” for a user, not an afterthought, meaning that you need to prepare for it ahead of time. If you suddenly find yourself without internet it is too late to switch to offline mode. This is the same as if you use a SolidNetwork (floating) License of SOLIDWORKS and want to check out a license because you are going to be away from the local license server.

The workflow for “going offline” would be to FIRST open any assemblies/files that you will need access to in SOLIDWORKS.  This will download copies of those files to your local cache directory on your machine so that you have the files when you are no longer connected to the cloud vault.

You would most likely also want to LOCK the files so that no one else can make changes to them while you are “gone”. Otherwise there would be a conflict of which file is the new(er) one when you come back if two different (unconnected) people were allowed to make changes. If you are not planning on physically changing any of the files in SOLIDWORKS while you are offline, then this step could be skipped.

THEN you would activate OFFLINE MODE from the top right of the SOLIDWORKS window by clicking on your log in picture.

There is a dialog box that reminds you about getting any files you may need into your local cache and locking them.

When OFFLINE MODE is active you will be reminded with a message that the maximum time you can go offline is 30 days, and there will be a “working offline” status indicator in the upper right corner.

Another difference in the interface is that instead of having a tab on your taskpane with the 3DEXPERIENCE compass icon you have a tab for “3DX Files On This PC” which is looking into your local cache folder.

You can now be offline for up to 30 days and continue working on and modifying any files that you have locally.  When you eventually reconnect to your cloud vault you will of course have the opportunity to save (or save with options) your changes back up to the cloud and take any necessary steps to overwrite files or make new revisions.

To reconnect to your 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you simply click on the “working offline” status indicator.  Which will give you the following dialog.

The “3DX Files On This PC” tab will change back over to the 3DEXPERIENCE compass icon and you will get access to the MY SESSION area of your cloud vault.

Super easy way to overcome a past obstacle of working with a cloud vault and cloud licensing model when you know you are going to be without an internet connection for a while!

This OFFLINE MODE functionality is also available for 3DEXPERIENCE DRAFTSIGHT.

Randy Simmons
Sr. Application Engineer, Strategic Solutions
Computer Aided Technology

The first addition is that there is a new flyout on the right side of the Feature Manager Tree that can be enabled to show columns with 3DEXPERIENCE data management information.  This is the same place for a long while that you have been able to see visualization information, but now there is a 2^nd tab named Lifecycle & Collaboration.  The columns included are STATUS (not saved, equal to, newer than, etc), LOCK STATUS, REVISION, and IS LATEST REVISION.

A nice enhancement in the Feature Manager Tree flyout is that you will see a green checkmark if you DO have the latest revision and a red “X” if you do NOT.  This is better than the “blank” or “+” sign used in the task pane interface in my opinion.

There is also new sub menu when you RT+CLK a part from the Feature Tree for “Lifecycle And Collaboration” tools to get access to some common functionality for data management.

A new standalone TOOLBAR titled “Lifecycle And Collaboration” that is available to turn on/off that contains the same tools as the RT+CLK menu.

Even better than that, there is a new TAB that can be enabled on the Command Manager for “Lifecycle And Collaboration” to get to these tools.

This tab has to be “added” to your Command Manager the first time, then can be turned on/off like the other tabs you have.

If you can’t remember how to add a tab to your Command Manager (I never can), here is a quick reminder…

One thing I did notice on the free standing toolbar and on the Command Manager tab was that 2 of the new related commands were not showing on them by default.  I had to customize and manually add the buttons/commands for “Share as Picture” and “Share as 3D” to both of these.  Those commands are listed under a new section called “Lifecycle and Collaboration” of the Customize—Commands window.

These new interface enhancements obviously don’t eliminate the need for all of the 3DEXPERIENCE tools in the Task Pane, but does get some of the most commonly needed information right over in your Feature Manager for easy access, as well as faster ways to get to some of the commands you need. Sometimes your 3DEXPERIENCE Task Pane is filled with other info like search results, or Relations, etc. and it is nice to be able to see all this info at the same time.

This functionality is available to customers using desktop SOLIDWORKS with the Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS add in OR using a seat of 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS.  You just need to update to SOLIDWORKS SP02.

Randy Simmons
Sr. Application Engineer, Strategic Solutions
Computer Aided Technology

For instance, how do we determine the difference between revision “A” and revision “B” of file “X” today? Odds are, the answer is not readily available or users have a tough time explaining it. Of course, one could open each file individually and review its details to come up with an answer. However, that process is time consuming, it may result in errors, users may not have time dedicated to investigate it or all o the above. What if there was a better way?

The new “Compare” application was released to solve that specific issue, it cuts the amount of time required to investigate distinct files and come up with an answer. Further, users can load files in seconds to come up with an output of their differences. It is a clean but effective tool that one should have in their toolbox at all times; let us go ahead and investigate its functionality below:

ENOVIA – Compare Interface

This is what the “ENOVIA– Compare” application looks like. It puts forth an easy and simple to use interface that starts interacting with users as soon as a file is dropped in it.

After dropping the first file in the app, it will automatically look for available comparisons. Simply drop the available comparison in the small box to witness magic.

Once we have chosen the comparison files, “ENOVIA – Compare” quickly goes to work to come up with a report. Quickly, we can start pin pointing differences between Revisions “A” and “B” of this specific bracket. It is clear from the 3D rendering view that Revision B has added slots which were not present in Revision A. The tool also populates a list of properties which were changed and gives us the chance of saving this report as an XML file.

As can be observer, with a simple file drag and drop we were able to use the ENOVIA –  Compare app to quickly investigate this bracket’s revisions. Furthermore, we are able to investigate entire assemblies in the same fashion. Simply drag and drop files into the compare app and watch the magic happen.

On my last blog of the series and closer than ever to Christmas, I’ve decided to focus on the foundation of the 3DExperience Platform. There are hundreds of different things we can discuss. However, understanding the fundamentals of the platform is key before we start elaborating on its different tools. Most of the 3DExperience capabilities were derived from ENOVIA, a high end product life-cycle management solution offered by Dassault Systèmes. This cloud enabled collaboration will change the way users go through their daily workflows.

Users may be surprised to find that the 3DExperience platform is a blank slate the first time they log in. Much like a new cell phone, it is up to the user to customize it as needed for the desired experience. For instance, users can choose apps from the north, south, east and west side of the navigation wheel. Each quadrant provides different solutions specifically designed to solve a collaboration problem.Once you’re familiarized with the available applications and their locations, you can start creating tabs and dashboards for a fully customized experience on the platform. You can see below that I have tabs like Project Planner and Community

My Custom Dashboards

My personal dashboard is comprised of several different tabs. Plus, it’s tailored to my specific needs. These tabs help with collaboration as well. By using 3DSwym and the SW connector, I am able to collaborate on current designs while employing a project planner application to keep track of current projects. Also included in my dashboard are the markup and compare applications; these allow me to quickly interrogate existing CAD parts and collaborate with colleagues on their development.

Finally, the platform is an integrated solution customizable to each user. With every update, new applications are added, and additional functionality is introduced. If considering a comprehensive cloud solution, 3DExperience may be the way to go.

In order to gain an understanding of the platform, we first need to understand its integration with SOLIDWORKS on the desktop. Whether you employ SOLIDWORKS for 3D CAD modeling, Simulation, CAM, or Electrical PCB design; the platform add in can enhance you experience tremendously. Today, the 3DExperience platform SOLIDWORKS add-in is little known throughout the industry. However, traction on this new cloud offering has been creeping up.

The add in works to bridge the gap between the cloud and current desktop applications. With a simple and intuitive user interface, managing CAD files and their metadata is extremely simple. Below, we will look at an example of the platform in action and its added functionality inside SOLIDWORKS 2020.

With a simple right click, it is very easy to perform tasks like “Reserve”, “Replace by Revision”, change a “Maturity” state, and even “Revision” control.

Reserve – Works like check out, allows users to reserve a specific file so others cannot change it

Replace By – The cloud keeps track of changes as you design, therefore if you need to replace a file with another revision, it is a click away.

New Maturity State – Similar to workflow states, allows users to route files thru different maturity state depending at which stage of its lifecycle the file is currently in.

Revision Control – Allows users to create new revisions of existing files.

Upon opening the platform, you immediately notice that the interface has been completely re-vamped and has adapted a more sleek and modern look.

CATIA V5 Interface

3DEXPERIENCE Interface

Another striking difference is the new Top Bar. Instead of the typical Top Bar Menus (Start, File, Edit, View, Insert, Analyze, Window, and Help), you are left with some icons, a search bar, and the ultra-handy Compass. These icons essentially replace all the functionalities that were available within the CATIA V5-6 top bar menus.

Me Menu: All information related to you

My Roles/Profile: Activate or Deactivate roles. This will enable and disable certain features and accessibilities for the user. An Admin or Project Manager will assign these roles to each user profile.

My Status: This denotes the user’s communication status for collaborative instant messaging inside of 3DEXPERIENCE. Statuses can be “Online, Busy, do not disturb, Be right back, or Away”.

Preferences: Gives user access to customize actions, commands, toolbars, standards as well as access to the “Preferences” menu that is familiar to the V5-6 platforms.

Work Offline: Gives user ability to complete work without being connected to the Cloud or Internet all together. This will limit the user to the 3D Modeling Apps.

My Offline Content: View and manage offline content.

Add Menu: Create and add content

Import: Import 3D XML 3DEXPERIENCE Native Files, CATIA files, and Non-CATIA-Native files (STEP, IGES, STL, x_t, etc).

Physical Product/3D Part/Drawing: creates a new file of type chosen.

Share Menu: Share, save, & collaborate

Save: Save, Save with Options, Save All, Local Save.

Share: Share data to Collaborative Spaces or to Community .

3DMessaging: Instant message with others on 3DEXPERIENCE.

Export: export to 3D XML, STEP, IGES, X-PDM,and CATIA V5.

Print: Print items.

Home Menu: Switch to another Collaborative Space

Collaborative Space: Switch to desired Collaborative Space and Role within that Space.

Manage: Opens the 3DSpace App.

Help Menu: User assistance and support community

Get Started: Opens welcome window giving brief overview of platform.

Help: Redirects to web browser that will provide help on current command.

User’s Guides: Grants access to online or installed user assistance.

Tutorials: Provides various tutorials embedded within client.

User Companion: Starts User Companion (if Computer-Based Training module and Companion have been installed), or routes to 3DS eLearning solutions page.

About 3DEXPERIENCE Platform: Shows 3DEXPERIENCE background information

The search bar, or “3DSearch”, creates a unified user experience for finding information on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. The 3DSearch is built on Dassault’s industry-leading Exalead CloudView technology and is available across all the applications and experiences within the Platform. 3DSearch allows for all data and metadata stored in the 3DEXPEREINCE Platform to be searched using Full-Text Search within the context of the active application. To help users sift through large amounts of results more easily: a user can select sub-categories, utilize built-in help menus, refine searches using predefined scopes, and access previously saved searches. A user can also filter data by using 3DEXPERIENCE’s unique tagging system (6WTags) that categorize objects by Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How criteria.

The Compass has changed from V5-6 to 3DEXPERIENCE, but by name only. 3DEXPERIENCE still has a graphic manipulator that was known as the “Compass” in CATIA V5-6. Except now it is referred to as the “Robot” and is in the bottom right of the screen next to the new “Swap Visible Space” command.

In 3DEXPERIENCE, the compass is the user’s gateway to all their roles and applications for both Web and Native Apps

To access an app, the user simply clicks the quadrant of the Compass, activates the necessary role, and chooses the desired app. CATIA V5-6 does not have the Compass, however, there are some parallels with access to the 3D Modeling commands. In CATIA V5-6, a command toolbar would be accessed by choosing the desired workbench from the Start menu or from the Workbench Toolbar.

With 3DEXPERIENCE, the user will now select the desired quadrant of the Compass, select the applicable Role, and then select the applicable App. This is a slightly longer process, but is necessary to better organize all of the capabilities that 3DEXPERIENCE has to offer.

If you’ve been playing along on your own 3DEPXERIENCE client, it’s become apparent that not only are the command icons larger and more intuitive, but the toolbar layout is vastly different than that of V5-6. Instead of a set of toolbars that can be shown/hidden, rotated, and moved: the toolbars which are specific to the active app are pinned to the bottom of the screen in what’s called an “Action Bar”. Each Toolbar is split according to function and categorized within a tab. Commands which are most often used in each app are placed in an “Essentials” tab for easy access. Much like a “favorites” feature. 3DEXPERIENCE still gives the option to make edits to this action bar as well as create custom action bars.

3DEXPERIENCE Action Bar

CATIA V5-6 Toolbars

While working in 3DEXPERIENCE, selecting just about any geometry will prompt 3DEXPERIENCE to show a toolbar with commands specifically related to that geometry. For example, selecting a line in a sketch will prompt the interface to show a toolbar with commands for Construction Element, Trim, Break, Offset, Auto Search, Constrain, Fix, Horizonal, and Vertical to apply to that line.

Finally, you will notice that even the command bar is more user friendly than in CATIA V5-6. In 3DEXPERIENCE, if a command that the system does not recognize is entered, 3DEXPERIENCE will open a window with suggested commands similar to the original input.

If you would like to gain a more in-depth understanding of what 3DEXPERIENCE has to offer, Inflow Technology holds regular training sessions to get you up to speed in no time.

At InFlow Technology, we provide product lifecycle management and product data management solutions, with a focus on ENOVIA, SOLIDWORKS PDM, CATIA, and SIMULIA products, services, training, and support.

“It starts with providing the right solutions and our commitment to making sure our clients are successful,” said Justin Webster, Vice President, InFlow Technology. We want to build lasting partnerships with our clients.”

In 2017, we added CATIA 3D modeling and design software to our solution portfolio. CATIA is used in a wide variety of industries for product design by some of the world’s most recognizable brands.

“The addition of CATIA to our portfolio was a decision that made sense. We always look for ways to add more value to our relationships with our clients. Many were already using CATIA in their design process. By adding CATIA, we have positioned ourselves as a one-stop shop for our clients,” said Rod Levin, President, InFlow Technology.

For more information, visit our website at www.cati.com.

Jim TeDesco, Vice President, Marketing
Computer Aided Technology, LLC and InFlow Technology, LLC
www.cati.com

Bernard Charles introduces the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform to the SOLIDWORKS community at SWW 2012.

This year at SOLIDOWKRS World 2018 was no exception. The introduction of SOLIDWORKS 3DEXPERIENCE PLM Services on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform was unveiled by Milos Zupanski, Director or Product Portfolio Management, in one if the keynote presentations (begins at the 21:38 minute marker). This service offering provides basic “turnkey” PLM functionality to your document management needs. Since this is a cloud service, there is no need to invest in server hardware and maintenance. While this is a major benefit to cost of ownership of a PLM system, many companies are still very leery of having their IP (intellectual property) hosted on a cloud service. Dassault Systems has ensured that they use the best possible security measures and encryption that the cloud computing industry offers. Even with that concern, as the cost of ownership in cloud computing decreases, the cloud based IP storage model should become more widely accepted  and begin to phase out the current On-Premise models. Cloud computing in general is already here and is incorporated in many aspects of our lives. Our online banking, Amazon, Microsoft Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Apple iCloud, and social media streams are just some examples.

SOLIDWORKS 3DEXPERIENCE PLM Services on the cloud

ENOVIA has been a major component of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for years, but SOLIDWORKS 3DEXPERIENCE PLM Services will bring the ENOVIA experience to the cloud. Pricing hasn’t been announced as of yet, but the hope would be to introduce the capabilities of ENOVIA to a wider market by making it economically feasible and will eventually include migration paths for SOLIDWORKS PDM Pro.

ENOVIA integration in SOLIDWORKS. The foundation of the SOLIDWORKS 3DEXPERIENCE PLM Services.

So is this the future of document management or PLM? The concepts are definitely on trend with where other technologies are headed. If you are in the SOLIDWORKS Ecosystem, you will certainly want to keep an eye on this development over the course of 2018 and beyond.

3DEXPERIENCE Compass

The following are some of the features in a load balancer environment:

Performance – With multiple application clones, response time to clients is significantly reduced. The performance boost may be as high as 80% compared to non-load balanced environments.

Faster Response – Load balancing features like round robin send requests to the server that can handle more volume depending on its strength.

Avoid downtime – If you have a one server environment and it needs downtime for maintenance, users will be locked out whereas with load balancers, server #1 can be offline and server #2 will handle the incoming traffic.

Risk Management/Failover – If one of the servers in the load balancer fails, the second or third server in the load balancer environment can continue processing the requests.

Other Features – Apart from managing data requests, load balancer has capabilities like HTTP compression (utilizing gzip), DDOS protection, caching of static data content that is used repeatedly, data encryption etc.

How is load balancing applicable in a 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Environment?

3DEXPERIENCE platform is a web application server with 10+ web application services that can be load balanced. For example, 3DPassport which handles login credentials can be load balanced for large implementations of 100s of users. Load balancer could send 25 login requests to server #1 and 25 to server #2. 3DSpace, which is the heart of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and the most involved can be load balanced for CAD intensive implementations of more than 50 users.

Some of the major load balancer providers are F5, CISCO, Citrix, KEMP, Barracuda, Radware. Cost could range from a couple of 1000s to upwards of 20k. It all depends on what features are needed. Apache web application server on the other hand offers free load balancing capabilities that can help with small size user bases. Even though there are limitations it does a good job with load balancing.

Customers on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform should definitely take a look at load balancers as it will significantly reduce downtime, boost performance and help in secure communications.