Table of Contents

move

Description

The move command moves file(s) from one folder in the vault to another, or moves external filesystem files into a destination folder.

You can move:

  • A single file
  • A folder
  • Files returned from a search query
  • External filesystem files returned from a filename search

When a vault file is moved:

  • All references are automatically updated by SOLIDWORKS PDM.
  • Any parent files referencing the moved file are updated.
  • File history and versions are preserved.

Syntax

move (-source file_or_folder | -search search_query | -fsSearch filename_pattern -fsSearchDir external_folder) -directory existing_destination [-recursive]

Parameters

Parameter Required Description
-source No File or folder to move. Use one source mode: -source, -search, or -fsSearch with -fsSearchDir.
-directory Yes See parameter details below.
-search No Search query scoped to the current PDMShell directory. Use one source mode only.
-fsSearch No Filename pattern for external filesystem files, such as *.pdf. Requires -fsSearchDir.
-fsSearchDir No External filesystem folder to search. Requires -fsSearch.
-recursive No Includes subfolders when used with -search or -fsSearch.

Parameter Details

  • source
    The complete file path of the file to move.
    You can also specify a folder path. This will move the actual folder. This parameter is ignored when -search is specified.

  • directory
    Target directory where to move the file(s) to. Must already exist. For vault moves, this must be a vault folder. For external filesystem moves, this must be an external filesystem folder.

  • search
    Search query. PDMShell searches from the current directory, moves matching files to -directory, and does not use -source as a search scope. This does not support moving folders from search results.

  • fsSearch
    Filename pattern for external filesystem files. Use this with -fsSearchDir when moving files that are outside the vault, for example *.pdf or Report*.xlsx.

  • fsSearchDir
    External filesystem folder to search when -fsSearch is used. This mode does not move files from vault views, does not overwrite destination files, and does not move through linked or reparse paths.

  • recursive
    Affects the -search and -fsSearch parameters. Specify -recursive to make the search recursive.
    For -search, the start location is the current PDMShell directory. For -fsSearch, the start location is -fsSearchDir.

Examples

Example 1: Move a Single File

move -source "C:\Vault\Parts\Bracket.SLDPRT" -directory "\Released"
## Moves a single file to the Released folder.

Example 2: Move a Folder

move -source "\Projects\OldProject" -directory "\Archive"
## Moves the OldProject folder to Archive.

Example 3: Move Search Results

move -search "Name=%.sldprt%" -recursive -directory "\Archive"
## Moves all part files found in the current directory, including subfolders, to the Archive folder.

Example 4: Move External Files by Filename Pattern

move -fsSearch "*.pdf" -fsSearchDir "C:\Exports" -recursive -directory "D:\Released PDFs"
## Moves matching external PDF files from C:\Exports and its subfolders into D:\Released PDFs.

Notes

  • You must have permission to move the file(s).
  • If the file is referenced by other files, referencing paths are updated automatically.
  • If the file has references, those reference paths are updated automatically.
  • Target directory must already exist.
  • Search mode always starts from the current PDMShell directory. Use cd to change the search scope before running move -search.
  • External filesystem mode uses -fsSearch and -fsSearchDir together, cannot be combined with -source or -search, and keeps the source and destination outside vault views.
  • Move operations preserve version history.

Availability

Available since PDMShell 3.0.28.

Video

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