Free eBook · 62 pages · PDF

51 tips that save hours of PDM API debugging

Practical, battle-tested tips for building SOLIDWORKS PDM add-ins, tasks and integrations, with ready-to-use C# and VB.NET examples.

Avoid the pitfalls that cost even experienced PDM developers days of debugging.
Write faster, leaner add-ins: searching, batch interfaces, hooks and deployment done right.
Debug with confidence: add-ins vs. task hooks, assembly resolution, the console debugger.

51tips & tricks

C# & VB.NETcode examples

10topics

51 TIPS & TRICKS

Tips & Tricks to Master the

SOLIDWORKS

PDM API

Blue ByteBy Amen Jlili

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A taste of what's inside

Real answers to real PDM API problems

Each tip is a page you can act on right away: the problem, why it happens, and the code that fixes it.

TIP 06

Searching is faster than iterating

Why a folder search beats walking GetNextFile, and by how much on large folders.

TIP 07

Avoid race conditions when saving to the vault

The timing bug behind "file not found" right after a save, and two ways to fix it.

TIP 20

Customize commands with `EdmMenuFlags`

The exact flag values for context-menu commands on files and folders.

TIP 41

Debugging add-ins vs. task hooks

Why your breakpoints never hit in tasks, and the snippet that attaches the debugger.

TIP 48

The ideal number of add-ins per vault

How add-ins slow down every login, and how many custom ones you can really afford.

FundamentalsAdd-in developmentWorkflow & eventsData cards & variablesFiles & versionsSearchPerformanceDebuggingDeploymentResources

Written by Amen Jlili

Founder & Technical Director, Blue Byte Systems · SOLIDWORKS API User Group leader

Amen has spent years building PDM add-ins, task add-ins, integrations and data migrations for engineering teams, and teaches the SOLIDWORKS and PDM APIs to developers on Udemy. This eBook condenses that experience into the tips he wishes he had on day one.

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