Table of Contents

PDMShell add-in

The PDMShell add-in lets SOLIDWORKS PDM administrators run .pdmshell scripts directly from PDM menus and PDM event trigger points. It is designed for the same class of automation normally handled with Dispatch: user commands, event-driven rules, file and folder automation, condition checks, and administrator-controlled deployment.

Instead of building automation from a fixed list of Dispatch actions, the add-in runs PDMShell scripts. This gives administrators access to the PDMShell command engine, placeholders, PDM variables, and headless execution through pdmcli.exe.

Tip

Need help building scripts or automation workflows? Blue Byte Systems offers Enterprise Support Services for customers who want help designing, developing, or troubleshooting PDMShell automation.

Note

The PDMShell add-in is included with the premium version. You can download it from your Blue Byte Systems Inc account or deploy it with PDMDeploy.

If the vault is in a restricted or air-gapped environment that only allows Microsoft-hosted links, use the add-in's Download Center... menu command to open the Microsoft SharePoint folder that contains PDMShell .cex files.

Add-in menu commands

Open the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration Tool, expand the vault, open the add-ins list, locate the PDMShell add-in, and right-click it to open the add-in menu.

The editor menu was removed in 4.0.83. Use the standalone app for authoring, and PDM for running saved automation.

The add-in menu includes:

  • Manage Licenses... for online and offline license management.
  • Download Center... for restricted systems that need Microsoft-hosted .cex downloads.
  • Performance... to review add-in execution timings. This command is available only to PDM administrators.
  • Online Documentation... to open the PDMShell documentation website.
  • Release All Borrowed Licenses... to release active borrowed seats from the vault when an administrator needs to clear stale borrows.

Launch the standalone app from its Windows shortcut to edit scripts. The current add-in menu no longer includes Open PDMShell or Edit Scripts. Vault licensing and standalone machine licensing are separate.

Add-in workflow

Open standalone PDMShell, log in to the vault, and choose New > Vault script or Open > Vault script…. Use the main editor and Script settings sidebar for code, conditions, permissions and triggers. Save publishes the vault script. See Vault scripts and Script settings.

Unified standalone editor with sample vault script

The lightweight add-in does not include the editor or AI dependencies. Task setup imports a script into its own saved copy; see PDM tasks.

What you can automate

  • Add right-click commands such as PDMShell\Rename Files.
  • Create SOLIDWORKS PDM Tasks that run PDMShell scripts, similar to the built-in Convert task.
  • Run scripts before or after checkout, check-in, undo checkout, state change, add, delete, move, copy, rename, get, label, card button, and folder commands.
  • Restrict scripts to selected PDM users or groups.
  • Validate conditions before a script runs.
  • Pass selected files and folders to PDMShell with runscript -items.
  • Test condition values with a message before enabling production automation.

Documentation

Article Use it for
PDMShell add-in installation Loading the add-in, opening the Script Editor, and using the Microsoft-hosted Download Center
Manage add-in licenses Managing vault licenses from standalone Settings
License Pool Managing pooled vault licenses for add-in automation
Machine License Using the local workstation license for add-in automation
Script Editor Creating, importing, exporting, saving, and editing script entries
Permissions Limiting scripts to users and groups
Conditions Building wait-style condition expressions
Command menu scripts Adding right-click PDM menu commands
PDM Tasks Creating SOLIDWORKS PDM Tasks that run PDMShell scripts
Event trigger points Running scripts from PDM command hooks
Placeholders and command context Using file, folder, command, and variable placeholders
Testing and troubleshooting Validating scripts and diagnosing common issues

Dispatch comparison

Dispatch action scripts typically combine triggers, conditions, variables, and actions. The PDMShell add-in uses a similar administrator workflow, but the action body is a PDMShell script.

Dispatch idea PDMShell add-in equivalent
Action script A configured PDMShell script
Administrative action Script configured in the Script Editor
Menu command activation Menu trigger with command menu text
PDM task PDMShell task add-in running a .pdmshell script
PDM event activation Trigger points such as checkout, check-in, state change, add, delete, move, copy, rename, and folder events
Conditions PDMShell wait-style condition expression
Variables PDMShell placeholders and PDM variable placeholders
Shell execute action The add-in runs the configured .pdmshell script
Debugging a script Condition test message, visual script editor, and standalone PDMShell testing
  1. Build and test the .pdmshell script outside the add-in.
  2. Add the script in the Script Editor.
  3. Enable the condition test message while validating conditions.
  4. Configure permissions for a small administrator group first.
  5. Enable a command menu or trigger point.
  6. Test against a small set of files.
  7. Expand permissions after the automation behaves as expected.
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