Set Up Solidworks Basic Property Mapping

Part of the initial configuration required for full use of the Vault add-in for SolidWorks is property mapping, where SolidWorks file content is indexed for display, item assignment, searching and editing in Vault.

The Vault add-in for SolidWorks supports two-way mapping of SolidWorks custom properties to user-defined properties. This help provides flexibility for property mapping. However, there are specific one-way property mappings you must set up so that SolidWorks files are managed properly in Vault. These include:

• Thumbnail mapping
• File component mapping for BOM creation

You can also set up custom mappings of SolidWorks file properties to Vault user-defined properties.

Set Up Thumbnail Mapping - Required

1. From the SolidWorks Tools menu, select Administration and Vault Settings.
2. On the Behaviors tab, click Properties.
3. In the Property Definitions list, select the Thumbnail property and click Edit.
   
4. In the Edit dialog box, select the Mapping tab and click Add.
5. From the property provider box, select SolidWorks.
   
6. If you have not yet loaded SolidWorks data into your Vault, select Import From File. Otherwise, select Import From Vault.
   
7. Navigate to a SolidWorks file to import.

   When you select the file to import, you will see the SolidWorks thumbnail property that you can map.

   
8. Click OK.

You should now be able to see previews and thumbnail images of the file in Vault.

Set Up Component Mapping - Required

The Vault add-in for SolidWorks supports item creation from SolidWorks CAD files, enabling you to create CAD-based bills of material for use in downstream processes such as ERP systems.

To enable correct BOM structure behaviors, you must map the SolidWorks file component type to the item type property.

1. From the SolidWorks Tools menu, select Administration and Vault Settings.
2. On the Behaviors tab, click Properties.
3. In the Property Definitions list, select Type and click Edit.
4. In the Edit dialog box, select the Mapping tab and click Add.
5. From the property provider box, select SolidWorks.
   
6. Select Import From Vault to import the properties from a vaulted SolidWorks file.
   
7. Select the Component Type property.
   
8. Click OK.

Like with thumbnails, this property is read-only when viewed from Vault. When you assign items, the expected CAD structures are created from SolidWorks models.

Set Up Custom Mappings

After the two required property mappings are created, follow the same steps to map custom SolidWorks file properties to Vault user-defined properties; for example, the SolidWorks file number, description, revision, project, etc. This enables users to better search for and identify vaulted components.

You can make this mapping bi-directional so that you can edit SolidWorks custom properties from Vault.