CAD drawing data base Set-up Options ??

[Roe]

Hi guys

 

I have to collect alot of company drawings and will be setting up a CAD database which will have company equipment in it. Im the only CAD guy in the building, but other frequently look at drawings as pdf's when needed. Of course all we really have is windows folders, but im thinking the clean way is of course larger assembly then broken down pay smaller assembles then parts of assemblies.

Autodesk has TruView. I was looking at using this if im able to set up a folder system that other employees can access and locate dwg on their on at will.

 

Now i did something like this before, but that company had Solidworks and CAD so i used the PDM Works program and i worked fine. We dont have 3D in this office so im looking for another system or program to use, i gues as an overlay for non CAD users to use. I know other companies selling products and using CAD have to be doing something for a drawing system so im looking for ideas on the subject.

 

Thanks

[ReMark]

We set up an "Engineering Department" webpage that lists drawings by category (ex. - site plans, building layouts, process flow diagrams, process piping and instrumentation diagrams, etc.) and we use a program called CADwizz to view the drawings. Click on a particular drawing and the viewer opens it up automatically. We also maintain a master database of all drawings using MS Access.

[Roe]

Thanks ReMark

 

but I was hopping to avoid having to use Access and extra programing. Ive have had previous jobs where the company attempted something like this and there were ALWAYS programing problems and disconnected link problems, so i really don't want to go down that road again. Plus it always seamed when things did go bad, the person needed to help fix the problem was out or work load too large to help at the time.

 

I did find that Autodesk has a program called the VAULT which seams to work just like PDM Works, which i have set up myself in the past. The only thing is i haven't seen alot of information on it or many who have used it. From what i have read it may be exactly what I'm looking for. The only issue is that in the past Autodesk wanted to control the drawings on THEIR server and that isnt going to be acceptable. Im guessing that from the lack of comments people must be using the old "put it all in windows folders" option.

[ReMark]

99% of our drawings are for in-house use and there are really only two of us creating/editing them so VAULT is of no use to us. I cannot speak as to what other companies are doing.

[Roe]

I understand. Right now im the ONLY designer for the company at all, but other project leads will at least need to LOOK at the drawings and see equipment sizes for their own projects. So ideally, even though im the only one editing the dwgs, im not the only one who needs to seriously look at them. Them having the ability to look at drawings and past job configurations would be great because then i dont have to go loing for them. But like i said having set up a PDM works data base, THAT was in the same KOOL-NESS ball park because the tool guys and part guys can look at parts with out waiting on me to do it. I think i am leaning (almost tilting) toward vault now. The individual viewing and ability to organize equipment alone is better than the regular old folder system we have now. Thanks mar.

[Chilidawg]

Export it all into PDFs