Problem

While SOLIDWORKS PDM includes backwards compatibility and service pack interoperability, outdated add-ins have been known to cause issues, including app hangs and crashes. When upgrading a file vault in PDM to the latest service pack, the existing add-ins will not automatically update. The following guide outlines the process of manually updating SOLIDWORKS PDM add-ins.

Solution Step 1: Verify Add-in Version

Before upgrading add-ins, we need to verify what the current version of the add-ins is. 

1. Navigate to the Windows task tray and right-click the blue/white icon for PDM 
2. Select 'Task Host Configuration' from the menu option

3. Select the PDM Vault from the drop-down in the upper right-hand corner of the Task Host Configuration menu. 
4. Review the version of the Add-ins. The format of the Version Number of the add-ins is TTSSBBBB, where TT is the Major Release Number, which is 8 more than the Version Year of SOLIDWORKS PDM, SS is the Service Pack, and BBBB is the Build Number. For the Task Add-in in the example below, the major release number is 31 (SOLIDWORKS PDM 2023), the Service Pack is 4, and the Build Number is 0047. Note: SOLIDWORKS PDM 2020 and older use different version terminology: YYYYSSBBBB, where YYYY is the Version Year 20XX, SS is the Service Pack, and BBBB is the Build Number.

5. If an Add-in is the same version as the PDM Client, it does not need to be upgraded.
6. Continue to the next section to upgrade the Add-ins that need to be upgraded

Solution Step 2: Upgrade SOLIDWORKS PDM Add-ins

1. Once we have determined which add-ins to update, open up the Administration Tool and log into the vault using the Admin Credentials
2. Optional step for updating the Dispatch add-in: Expand the Tasks item in the vault, right-click the Dispatch add-in item, select "Remove...", and confirm the prompt that appears. Continue to step 3.
   
3. In an Explorer window, navigate to the PDM Add-in storage path:
   C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS PDM\Default Data
   

4. Drag and drop the add-in to update from the Explorer Window to the Administration Tool

   

5. A new window will open within the Administration Tool. Drag ONLY the "Add-ins" branch of the tree over to the "Add-ins" item in the Vault. Note: If we drag the item(s) under the "Tasks" branch and overwrite the items in the vault, we will have to manually recreate the task configuration(s). 

   

6. Confirm overwriting if the prompt appears

7. In each Add-in that we directly updated from an earlier version, find the corresponding task and double-click it to open its properties

   

8. Then navigate to Output XXX Details > Advanced Scripting Options, and hit "Reset". Note: If there are any modifications to the Advanced Scripting Options, we will need to remake them in the updated version. Please take a backup of the script before performing this step.

   

9. On all clients that act as Task Hosts, completely exit PDM and log in again to ensure that the updated add-ins are loaded.

For additional support, existing customers can submit a ticket or new customers can contact Hawk Ridge Systems.