3DEXPERIENCE includes cloud-based collaboration among your team. With that power comes ways to ensure that your hard work is not lost with 3DEXPERIENCE file management Tools. Tools to ensure this include:
- Lock files – Reserve files so you’re the only user with write permission.
- Save to new revisions – Preserve various stages of development on the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud.
- Freeze files – Lock files for design review.
- Author instead of Leader role – Prevent frozen files from being deleted.
- Download your design data – Create a local backup for security.
Locking Files in 3DEXPERIENCE
Locking is a must in a multi-user environment. For those familiar with PDM, this is the equivalent of checking out a file. A file saved to 3DEXPERIENCE could be modified by others on your team unless you reserve it by locking it. When you lock a file, you take ownership of it, and nobody else can overwrite it until you unlock it.
Below is an example of the local cache (also known as “3DEXPERIENCE files on This PC”) that is available in SOLIDWORKS when the add-in is loaded by toggling it in Tools>Add-Ins…>3DEXPERIENCE files on This PC.
Confirming lock/unlock status in 3DEXPERIENCE files on This PC
Locking an Entire Assembly
If you need to lock an entire assembly, use the Bookmark Editor to select all components simultaneously. To do this:
- Go to the right-hand task pane in SOLIDWORKS and access the 3DEXPERIENCE tab.
- Close all 3DEXPERIENCE apps by clicking the X in the upper right.
- Right-click the top-level assembly and select “Save with Options”.
- Assign a bookmark to all components in that assembly for easy retrieval.
Using Save with Options from MySession
In the Save with Options dialog, you can create and apply bookmarks, increment the revision, and optionally unlock the files after saving.
Bookmarking and incrementing the revision in Save with Options
Confirming Locked Files
Using the Bookmark Editor, you can track down and lock all files related to an assembly. If you select all the files within a bookmark, you can then use the tools across the top of the screen to lock all files en masse. Once locked, you’ll see a green key icon next to all files in the Lock column, indicating you have reserved the files.
Using Bookmark Editor to lock all files related to an assembly
Other users will see a red lock icon, signaling that the file is locked by another user. To check who locked the file, use the Information button.
Using the Information button to confirm who locked the file
3DEXPERIENCE File Management to Control Revisions
Before unlocking a file, it’s recommended to increment the revision. For example, if the file is at revision A.3, incrementing it to A.4 preserves the previous state of work. Consider incrementing again before unlocking to ensure that others will work on revision A.5 instead of overwriting A.4.
For a detailed guide on revisioning, see this article: Revisioning in SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE.
Freezing Files
When a file is in the Frozen state, it cannot be edited, making it ideal for design reviews. To freeze a file:
- Go to MySession.
- Select the files you want to freeze (Ctrl+A for all).
- In the bottom toolbar, go to Lifecycle>Maturity>Freeze.
Accessing Maturity settings in 3DEXPERIENCE
Author vs. Leader Role
In a Collaborative Space, members have different roles:
- Reader – View-only access.
- Contributor – Can edit files.
- Author – Can edit but not delete frozen files.
- Leader – Can edit and delete files, including frozen ones.
To protect your data, it’s safer to assign the Author role rather than the Leader role to prevent accidental deletions.
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