Has anyone done a feature by feature difference between PDMWorks
workgroup vs enterprise. COuldn't find such a chart on the solidworks
site the only difference cited on the net/literature is that workgroup
is targetted towards small groups <10 that are geographically in one
location and enterprise is for large distributed groups. That's hardly
enough to go by for a buy decision.

One specific feature difference I am interested in is:
* Does PDMWorks Workgroup allow the use of Windows Explorer interface
to access the vault as Enterprise does or is that feature exclusive to
Enterprise? This is valuable because the valut can then be used to
revision control all types of files not only Solidworks (e.g. word,
excel etc).

Any thoughts?

Workgroup requires a special client interface to access the vault, but 
it still allows you to rev control any type of file, not just SW. n my 
opinion, the Windows Explorer interface in Conisio (Enterprise) is 
highly overrated, not to say that it's bad, just that it isn't much if 
any better than having a separate client software interface. They both 
require learning new stuff.

The main differences are going to be that Enterprise has a real database 
(which has benefits and detriments), it can do things like workflow for 
routing ECNs through a sign off loop, and it has multi-site 
capabilities. And price. They are two completely different products.

how about http://www.javelin-tech.com/main/products/pdm_comparison.htm

Here is my 2�

When I was evaluating a product document management which worked with 
solidworks for my company, here what I found ....

PDMWorks - No database structure (messes with file names and 
directories(folders for you newbie's)).
Conisio (now PDMWorks enterprise) - Good but lacked configuration part 
numbering features.
Synergis by ADEPT - GOOD
DMWorks by Mechworks - GOOD (and supported by our var) this is what I 
recommended.


<venkatperi@gmail.com> wrote in message 
news:1158246705.010753.202860@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Has anyone done a feature by feature difference between PDMWorks
> workgroup vs enterprise. COuldn't find such a chart on the solidworks
> site the only difference cited on the net/literature is that workgroup
> is targetted towards small groups <10 that are geographically in one
> location and enterprise is for large distributed groups. That's hardly
> enough to go by for a buy decision.
>
> One specific feature difference I am interested in is:
> * Does PDMWorks Workgroup allow the use of Windows Explorer interface
> to access the vault as Enterprise does or is that feature exclusive to
> Enterprise? This is valuable because the valut can then be used to
> revision control all types of files not only Solidworks (e.g. word,
> excel etc).
>
> Any thoughts?
> 

> PDMWorks - No database structure (messes with file names and 
> directories(folders for you newbie's)).
We've been using this for almost 4 years.  It's a great little system!  Well 
integrated with Solidworks, maybe the best-in-class imo.

> Conisio (now PDMWorks enterprise) - Good but lacked configuration part 
> numbering features.
We lost interest in this after the Solidworks acquisition.  We want to go 
with a dedicated vendor.

> Synergis by ADEPT - GOOD
Interface seems dated/funky.  Reminds me of DOS 6.22/ Win 3.1.  Integration 
with Solidworks seems to be lacking a little.

> DMWorks by Mechworks - GOOD (and supported by our var) this is what I 
> recommended.
We are leaning heavily toward this one.  Configurations can be managed.  One 
big downside when compared to PDMW, option (Local Checkout Mode) to work 
locally only exists in Enterprise Version.  ;(

venkatperi@gmail.com wrote:
> Has anyone done a feature by feature difference between PDMWorks
> workgroup vs enterprise. COuldn't find such a chart on the solidworks
> site the only difference cited on the net/literature is that workgroup
> is targetted towards small groups <10 that are geographically in one
> location and enterprise is for large distributed groups. That's hardly
> enough to go by for a buy decision.
> 
> One specific feature difference I am interested in is:
> * Does PDMWorks Workgroup allow the use of Windows Explorer interface
> to access the vault as Enterprise does or is that feature exclusive to
> Enterprise? This is valuable because the valut can then be used to
> revision control all types of files not only Solidworks (e.g. word,
> excel etc).
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 

PDMWorks Enterprise is Conisio with an increase in price of $400.0 US.
Not a single thing has changed except for the name.

The problem is that the real PDMWorks vault and the vault in PDMWorks 
"Enterprise"
are totally incompatible and there is no migration tool.

The only plus side is that Conisio has a robust API.

As an added bonus with DBWorks there is a migration tool between
PDMWorks and DBWorks. Existing PDMWorks clients are also eligible for a
25% discount on the same number of new DBWorks seats. Check with your
VAR for details.

Len



Keith Streich wrote:
> how about http://www.javelin-tech.com/main/products/pdm_comparison.htm
>
> Here is my 2=A2
>
> When I was evaluating a product document management which worked with
> solidworks for my company, here what I found ....
>
> PDMWorks - No database structure (messes with file names and
> directories(folders for you newbie's)).
> Conisio (now PDMWorks enterprise) - Good but lacked configuration part
> numbering features.
> Synergis by ADEPT - GOOD
> DMWorks by Mechworks - GOOD (and supported by our var) this is what I
> recommended.
>
>
> <venkatperi@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1158246705.010753.202860@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> > Has anyone done a feature by feature difference between PDMWorks
> > workgroup vs enterprise. COuldn't find such a chart on the solidworks
> > site the only difference cited on the net/literature is that workgroup
> > is targetted towards small groups <10 that are geographically in one
> > location and enterprise is for large distributed groups. That's hardly
> > enough to go by for a buy decision.
> >
> > One specific feature difference I am interested in is:
> > * Does PDMWorks Workgroup allow the use of Windows Explorer interface
> > to access the vault as Enterprise does or is that feature exclusive to
> > Enterprise? This is valuable because the valut can then be used to
> > revision control all types of files not only Solidworks (e.g. word,
> > excel etc).
> >
> > Any thoughts?
> >

PDMWorks is pretty good for small to middling offices. It is reasonably
fast, intuitive for the most part and simple to set up. Just make sure
the vault is locked down. Is limited in some of the SW functionality it
supports.

dbWorks can work with most SW functionality and can be either simple to
setup or extremely complicated. It expands to meet the task as
necessary because it is so open. There is a workgroup and enterprise
version as well and it can interface to many ERP systems if you like.

We went with dbWorks because of configuration support.

$400 more?....how much is it?

Tim Markoski wrote:
> venkatperi@gmail.com wrote:
> > Has anyone done a feature by feature difference between PDMWorks
> > workgroup vs enterprise. COuldn't find such a chart on the solidworks
> > site the only difference cited on the net/literature is that workgroup
> > is targetted towards small groups <10 that are geographically in one
> > location and enterprise is for large distributed groups. That's hardly
> > enough to go by for a buy decision.
> >
> > One specific feature difference I am interested in is:
> > * Does PDMWorks Workgroup allow the use of Windows Explorer interface
> > to access the vault as Enterprise does or is that feature exclusive to
> > Enterprise? This is valuable because the valut can then be used to
> > revision control all types of files not only Solidworks (e.g. word,
> > excel etc).
> >
> > Any thoughts?
> >
>
> PDMWorks Enterprise is Conisio with an increase in price of $400.0 US.
> Not a single thing has changed except for the name.
>
> The problem is that the real PDMWorks vault and the vault in PDMWorks
> "Enterprise"
> are totally incompatible and there is no migration tool.
> 
> The only plus side is that Conisio has a robust API.

for more info on PDMW Enterprise see,
http://www.conisio.com/en/feat_interface.asp
click through the features on right side

Jason wrote:
> $400 more?....how much is it?
> 


$2500.00 USD per seat.

In fairness to the MLC-CAD and other resellers, this has put them in a 
really bad spot.

MLC-CAD was already selling Conisio to fill the void between PDMWorks 
and SmartTeam,
They already have existing customers of Conisio.
I sure hope SW rethinks the pricing.

Yeah...that sounds steep....an old coworker of mine siad he went to a
VAR demo and was told it was $3000 for 5 seats. Was that a promotion or
did he mishear? I told him check on DBWorks....it may be cheaper and
may get more functionality.


Tim Markoski wrote:
> Jason wrote:
> > $400 more?....how much is it?
> >
>
>
> $2500.00 USD per seat.
>
> In fairness to the MLC-CAD and other resellers, this has put them in a
> really bad spot.
>
> MLC-CAD was already selling Conisio to fill the void between PDMWorks
> and SmartTeam,
> They already have existing customers of Conisio.
> I sure hope SW rethinks the pricing.

> $2500.00 USD per seat.

We received the following pricing,
PDMWorks Enterprise for SolidWorks 2006 - $1795
Subscription - $495

PDMWorks Enterprise Contributor - $1295 (non-CAD users)
Subscription - $395

$1500/day for consulting.  No indication of how many days would be required.

Bear in mind we already own SW Office Professional.  So I'm guessing there 
is a
discount because of this.

DBWorks added local checkout mode to its workgroup version - (express)


"kenneth" <kb@none.com> wrote in message 
news:OZiOg.1222$6S3.963@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...
>> PDMWorks - No database structure (messes with file names and 
>> directories(folders for you newbie's)).
> We've been using this for almost 4 years.  It's a great little system! 
> Well integrated with Solidworks, maybe the best-in-class imo.
>
>> Conisio (now PDMWorks enterprise) - Good but lacked configuration part 
>> numbering features.
> We lost interest in this after the Solidworks acquisition.  We want to go 
> with a dedicated vendor.
>
>> Synergis by ADEPT - GOOD
> Interface seems dated/funky.  Reminds me of DOS 6.22/ Win 3.1. 
> Integration with Solidworks seems to be lacking a little.
>
>> DMWorks by Mechworks - GOOD (and supported by our var) this is what I 
>> recommended.
> We are leaning heavily toward this one.  Configurations can be managed. 
> One big downside when compared to PDMW, option (Local Checkout Mode) to 
> work locally only exists in Enterprise Version.  ;(
>
>
> 

"james" <jkelly@hotnut.net> wrote in message 
news:YazOg.37941$_q4.18039@dukeread09...
> DBWorks added local checkout mode to its workgroup version - (express)

nice!

Paul...did you receive my email?...not sure if this google thing sent
it correctly when I chose to reply to your email address.

Jason


TOP wrote:
> PDMWorks is pretty good for small to middling offices. It is reasonably
> fast, intuitive for the most part and simple to set up. Just make sure
> the vault is locked down. Is limited in some of the SW functionality it
> supports.
>
> dbWorks can work with most SW functionality and can be either simple to
> setup or extremely complicated. It expands to meet the task as
> necessary because it is so open. There is a workgroup and enterprise
> version as well and it can interface to many ERP systems if you like.
> 
> We went with dbWorks because of configuration support.