Blue Byte / SOLIDWORKS PDM add-ins / Folder Columns Manager

Assign column sets to specific folders

Give every folder in your vault the columns it actually needs. Folder Columns Manager applies a tailored column layout in Windows File Explorer, folder by folder.

What does this PDM add-in do?

Define unique column layouts for different folders in the vault.
Enhance productivity by ensuring relevant information is always at hand, without manual adjustments.

See it work

Select a folder in the vault. The columns change to match, just as they will for your team.

Engineering Vault - File Explorer

This PC › C: › Engineering Vault › Designs

Column set: Design set

4 items | 1 item selected

SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault

Overview

Folder Columns Manager streamlines the file browsing experience in SOLIDWORKS PDM. It gives administrators and users a simple way to customise folder columns in PDM Professional, by applying tailored column layouts in Windows File Explorer for specific folders within the vault.

Works with: SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional
Applies in: Windows File Explorer
Scope: Per folder, across the vault
Verified on: PDM 2024 SP05

Walkthrough of Folder Columns Manager in a PDM vault.

Premium

One rule for many folders

Folder Columns Manager Premium adds placeholders to folder paths, so a single column set mapping can cover every matching folder in the vault instead of one folder at a time.

Standard

Map column sets folder by folder

Reusable column sets of variables and properties
Assign a column set to a specific vault folder
Right-click access from PDM
Applies in Windows File Explorer for every user

Premium

Everything in Standard, plus placeholders in folder paths. One-time payment.

Any number of characters\Projects\%\Drawings applies your Drawing set to the Drawings folder of every project, including new ones.

Exactly one character\Customers\C___ matches folders such as C101 and C245, but not C1001.

US$3,000.00one-time payment

Buy Premium Details Questions? Contact us

Looking to customise this tool?

We build custom PDM add-ins around how your team works.

What engineering teams say

I can map columns sets to different folders! You have no idea how long I wished for that ability.

John F. ReconCraft, LLC

I did not experience any problems downloading or installing the add-in. It works fine for me in SolidWorks PDM 2024 SP05. However, I just had to figure out how to write mapping properties and I think it could be a really useful tool in the long run.

Johnny Nygaard Process Development Manager and CAD specialist, VELUX