FAQ

What Is PDMShell?

PDMShell is a command-line and scripting tool for SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional. It helps administrators, engineers, and migration teams automate vault work such as searching, variable updates, file operations, workflow transitions, script execution, and add-in automation.

Start with Introduction if you are new to PDMShell.

What Is The Difference Between Free And Premium?

The Free edition is intended for evaluation, quick validation, and small command-line jobs. The Premium edition is intended for production automation.

Main differences:

• Free search results are limited to 5 items.
• Free runscript execution is limited to 5 script lines.
• Premium removes those limits.
• Premium includes the PDMShell add-in.
• Premium supports production automation, workflow integration, and larger batch workflows.

See PDMShell Free vs Premium for the full comparison. For current pricing, visit PDMShell Premium.

What Is The Difference Between A Single License And A License Pool?

A single license is activated on one workstation and is best for one administrator or one machine.

A license pool is managed from a SOLIDWORKS PDM vault and is best when multiple users need access to PDMShell add-in automation. Users borrow available seats from the pool when they run add-in automation.

See Machine License and License Pool.

How Do I Activate PDMShell?

If the computer has internet access, use License Activation.

If the computer is air-gapped or cannot reach the license server, use Offline Activation.

How Do I Install Or Update PDMShell?

Use PDMShell standalone installation. Version 4.0.50 and newer use a signed per-user VeloPack installer. You can install a newer version over the existing VeloPack installation; a manual uninstall is not required.

Where Do I Download The PDMShell Add-in?

The standalone installer bundles the dedicated add-in payload. Use Settings > Vault add-in > Install / update vault add-in to deploy it explicitly to a vault with Edit add-ins permission. Installing or updating standalone PDMShell alone does not update vaults.

The PDMShell add-in is available with Premium. After your order is complete, download it from your Blue Byte Systems Inc account page, from the order confirmation email, or ask technical support after the order is made.

See PDMShell add-in installation.

How Do I Manage Add-in Licenses?

Open standalone Settings > Vault add-in, choose the vault, and select Manage licenses. Sign in with Edit add-ins permission. The PDM Administration entry remains available, but is no longer required for this workflow.

From there, administrators can choose license pool mode or machine license mode, add license keys, activate pool keys, enable or disable keys, and review active borrows.

See Manage PDMShell add-in licenses.

Can I Use PDMShell For Customer Projects?

Resellers, VARs, consultants, and service partners may not use PDMShell to perform customer migrations, vault cleanup, batch automation, or paid customer services unless their license agreement explicitly allows it.

Contact Blue Byte Systems Inc for special licensing permission or service-provider licensing.

What Are The System Requirements?

PDMShell requires Windows and SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional.

SOLIDWORKS is required only for commands and scripts that open or automate SOLIDWORKS documents, such as macro-based workflows.

Why Are Commands Missing Or Showing Old Descriptions After An Update?

This usually means an update did not finish. Close PDMShell and run the updater again. The updater downloads pdmcli_installer.zip, extracts and runs the signed installer silently, and then starts the active VeloPack version from the per-user installation.

See PDMShell standalone installation.

How Do I Get Help?

Which applications must I close when an update fails?

Use the 4.0.91 updater's Processes blocking installation list rather than guessing from application names. Save work, close the listed applications normally, then Recheck and Retry. Force termination and Explorer restart require separate confirmation and can interrupt work. See update recovery and log location.

What if checking the installed add-in fails?

In 4.0.90 and newer, review the explicitly confirmed repair option. A failed check means the installed version is unknown. Repair does not bypass vault permissions, guarantee a COM registration fix, or unload other applications' add-ins.

Why does check-in report a missing file-format component?

An older standalone build could prefer 32-bit and fail to load 64-bit PDM components. 4.0.89 disables Prefer 32-bit. Update first and, if the error persists, provide the exact message and installed PDM client version to support.

Contact support

For technical support, contact support@bluebytesystemsinc.zohodesk.com.

When reporting an issue, include:

• PDMShell version.
• Command or script being run.
• Error message.
• Whether the issue happens in the command window, visual editor, or PDMShell add-in.

For teams that want help planning, developing, or deploying automation, Blue Byte Systems offers Enterprise Support Services.