Setting Up Windows Users in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional

SOLIDWORKS PDM has the ability to make ad hoc users or groups with their own usernames and passwords, not tied to any other system. This works for some organizations to have users remember login information for both Windows and SOLIDWORKS PDM, but some require single sign-on capabilities.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional enables you to configure Windows users based on the Active Directory, leveraging the logins they already use. Doing so requires additional configuration of the server so that the users and groups line up.

Key Steps to Add Windows Users in SOLIDWORKS PDM

1. Set up Active Directory to have a user group you want to use in SOLIDWORKS PDM.
2. Configure SOLIDWORKS PDM on the archive server to access the users in Active Directory.
3. Create new users in SOLIDWORKS PDM based on the Active Directory accounts.

How to Configure Windows Users in SOLIDWORKS PDM

This guide will focus on setting up the SOLIDWORKS PDM server to be able to reference the already created Active Directory users.

Setting up the Archive Server

1. On the server hosting the SOLIDWORKS PDM archive, open the Archive Server Configuration tool.

2. Open the Archive Server settings.
   • If you are using the default vault settings: Navigate to Tools > Default Settings…
   • If you are using vault-specific settings: Right-click on the Archives folder and select Properties.

Opening the vault settings

3. Switch to the login tab.
4. Ensure that Windows login is selected and open the Settings.

Windows login settings for a SOLIDWORKS PDM vault

5. Add users or groups from Active Directory.
   

   Adding Windows users to SOLIDWORKS PDM

6. Click “OK” on all setting windows to save all the changes.

Creating the New Windows User

After the SOLIDWORKS PDM Archive Server settings are saved, we need to add the new users to the vault.

1. Open the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration tool and log in to the desired vault.
2. Expand the Users and Groups Management node.
3. Right-click Users and select New User…

Creating a new SOLIDWORKS PDM user

At this point, we can choose to either List Windows Users or add a New Windows User.

List Windows Users

SOLIDWORKS PDM will read the groups added during the Archive Server configuration and list out the users in Active Directory.

Modifying user information before adding to the vault

We can select users and modify the permissions or information before finally creating a user. At any point before final confirmation, the user can be cancelled and will not be added to SOLIDWORKS PDM.

New Windows User

A dialog menu will appear prompting for the domain and username for the new user we want to add. If the user does not already exist and can be added to Active Directory, they will be added to our list of available selections.

Adding users with a domain and username

We can select users and modify the permissions or information before finally creating a user. At any point before final confirmation, the user can be cancelled and will not be added to SOLIDWORKS PDM.

Performance Focused SOLIDWORKS PDM Tips

While the steps outlined above will let you add new users with Windows credentials to your SOLIDWORKS PDM vault, there are a few things to keep in mind. These tips will keep your vault running as it should and everyone working smoothly.

• Create a specific Active Directory group for SOLIDWORKS PDM
  Aim for the smallest group possible to aid in validation and lower overhead when creating new users.
• Add users and groups to a local Windows group
  There is already a built-in Windows Users group that is configured for attach access, which would allow the user to run the View Setup tool without further validation (as long as their Windows user is in that group).

Need help configuring your vault? Check out our SOLIDWORKS PDM services here.