Set Up Your First PDMPublisher Task
Read time: 2 minutes
Note
Before creating a task, make sure:
- PDMPublisher has been added to your vault.
- You have activated your license. See Licensing.
After validating the license and before saving your first task, review these important settings:
- Select the correct Template. This is critical when PDMPublisher needs to calculate assembly references, configurations, or quantities.
- Confirm Use this version of SOLIDWORKS points to a SOLIDWORKS version installed on the task host computer.
- Set a valid Export Location and Filename. Avoid trailing backslashes in export paths, and use filename placeholders such as revision, configuration, or sheet name when one source file can create multiple outputs.
- If you need troubleshooting records, enable Vault Activity Logs and set Log Folder (Vault Only) to
(VaultRootFolder)\Logs\PDMPublisher. Create this folder manually and make sure the user running the task, or the task host account, can add log files there.
Create the Task
Open the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration tool.
Right-click Tasks, then select New Task....
Enter a unique name for the task. Use a name that clearly describes what the task exports, then review the notes above before saving.
On the Add-in page, choose PDMPublisher from the Add-in dropdown.
Click Next.
On the Execution Method page, choose which computers are allowed to run the task.
This page comes after the add-in selection. Only computers checked in this list are considered as task execution machines.
If the computer list is empty, right-click the SOLIDWORKS PDM icon in the Windows tray and open Task Host Configuration.
In Task Host Configuration, permit PDMPublisher on the task host computer.
Configure the Scheduling page if SOLIDWORKS PDM should launch this task automatically. See Scheduled Items when the scheduled task should process a saved list of files.
Scheduling is SOLIDWORKS PDM's own scheduling framework. It controls when the task starts.
On Publish, configure the output and file-processing rules. At the bottom, choose task input file types, or leave the extension selection empty to allow all file types. For controlled releases, review Use latest released versions only. Review the PDMPublisher setup pages listed below.
On Integrations, optionally configure an ERP connector that runs after a successful publish.
On Permissions, select the users and groups that can start the task.
Configure Success Notification and Error Notification only when the vault's mail system is configured and task notifications are required.
Click OK to save the task.
The task appears in File Explorer under Tasks in the right-click menu.
If the Tasks menu does not appear, see Why is the Tasks menu missing?.
Setup Pages
Use these pages to configure what PDMPublisher exports and how it handles each file.
| Tab | Use this page to |
|---|---|
| Options | Configure file formats, output paths, filenames, SOLIDWORKS version, templates, logs, and other export behavior. |
| Annotations | Add notes or watermarks that can include fixed text, PDM variables, and SOLIDWORKS properties. |
| Conditions | Decide which referenced files should be included when processing assemblies. |
| Scheduled Items | Define files that should be processed when the task runs without selected files. |
| Integrations | Optionally push published item data and mapped PDM variables to an ERP connector after a successful publish. |
Publish
The first part of Publish defines the export location, filename, output formats, and which documents and PDM file versions are processed.
Review the recommended setup items in Options Task Page, especially export location, filename, file formats, SOLIDWORKS version, template, and activity tracking.
Annotations
The annotation table is the workspace where you create and manage notes or watermarks that will be placed on exported PDFs. Each annotation can have its own text, formatting, position, sheet rule, and active state.
Conditions
Use conditions to control which referenced files are processed when publishing assemblies.
Scheduled Items
Use Scheduled Items when this task should always process a saved list of files. Scheduled Items override other selected files.
Integrations
Use Integrations to run an installed ERP connector only after publishing succeeds. Connections are configured separately under the Windows account that executes the task. See Integrations Task Page.
Permissions and Notifications
Select who can launch the task. Then use the notification pages only if success or failure messages are useful for your workflow.
| Page | Screenshot |
|---|---|
| Success Notification |  |
| Error Notification |  |