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This topic is contained in the PDXpert help file: select Contents from the application's Help menu.

Configuration & log files

PDXpert uses several different files to save configuration information and record operating events and errors. These files are often useful for restoring the application to a known state and for diagnosing unusual conditions.

Some of these files are created only after starting the related PDXpert client or server application for the first time.

Locating the file

The file locations are often determined by Microsoft's preferred practices for each operating system, and may change based on which Windows version that you're using and your Windows user name. We'll locate the correct file folder, regardless of differences between Windows versions, by using Windows environmental variables. The "target folder" value is defined for each target file in later sections.

Windows XP and 2003

  1. Ensure that the PDXpert client application is closed.
  2. Click on the Windows Start menu.

  3. Select the Search command.

  4. In the Address line of the Windows Explorer window, type the target folder (for instance: %APPDATA%\PDXpert\).
  5. Press the Enter key. A new Windows Explorer folder opens to establish your starting point.

Vista/Windows 7

  1. Ensure that the PDXpert client application is closed.
  2. Click on the Windows Start menu.

  3. In the Start Search box, enter the target folder (for instance: %APPDATA%\PDXpert\).

  4. Press the Enter key. A new Windows Explorer folder opens to establish your starting point.

User settings file

The user settings file is created as needed by the PDXpert client. It contains server connection information, your computer's temporary (scratchpad) folder, and other preferences.

Do not edit the configuration file. As with any XML file, inappropriate values or typing errors may cause unexpected results.

  • Target file: settings.xml
  • XP target folder: %UserProfile%\PDXpert
  • Vista/7 target folder: %AppData%\PDXpert

Deleting the settings.xml file will reset all settings when the PDXpert client is next started.

Client application log file

The PDXpert client log file contains a record of normal and unusual application events. The client target file will be created only on a workstation with the PDXpert client installed.

  • Target file: PDXpert.log
  • XP target folder: %AppData%\PDXpert\Logs
  • Vista/7 target folder: %AppData%\PDXpert\Logs

In some cases, there may be other files in the target folder with a .log extension. These may also be useful for diagnosing errors and should be included for review.

Deleting a .log file will start a new log file when the PDXpert application is next started.

Server & Services configuration files

These configuration files are created as needed by the PDXpert Application Server. They contain server configuration and other settings.

Do not edit the configuration file. As with any XML file, inappropriate values or typing errors may cause unexpected results.

  • Target files: PDXpert.Service.exe.config and PDXpert.Server.exe.config
  • XP target folder: %ProgramFiles%\PDXpert\Server\
  • Vista/7 target folder: %ProgramFiles%\PDXpert\Server\

Server & Services log files

The PDXpert Services and the PDXpert Application Server application log files contain a record of normal and unusual events. The target files will be created only on the computer where the PDXpert Application Server has been installed.

You can obtain a copy of a log file even while the server application and services are running. To obtain a copy while avoiding file contention errors:

  1. Locate the target log file in Windows Explorer (as described above).
  2. In Windows Explorer, right-click the log file and select Copy from the context menu.
  3. Right-click on an open area of your Windows Desktop and select Paste from the context menu.
  4. Insert the log file from your Desktop into an email.

Deleting a .log file will start a new log file when the PDXpert application is next started.

PDXpert Services log file

The PDXpert Services facility handles all communications with the client applications. It also manages the SQL Server database, the file library, email notifications, data indexing and other maintenance tasks. The PDXpert.Service.log file provides information about normal PDXpert Services operation as well as unexpected service events.

  • Target file: PDXpert.Service.log
  • XP target folder: %ProgramFiles%\PDXpert\Server\Logs\
  • Vista/7 target folder: %ProgramFiles%\PDXpert\Server\Logs\

In some cases, there may be other files in the folder with a .log.n extension (where n is a number, such as PDXpert.Service.log.1). These may also be useful for diagnosing errors and should be included for review.

PDXpert Application Server log file

The PDXpert Application Server console provides a user interface to the PDXpert Services facility. The PDXpert.Server.log file provides information about the PDXpert Application Server console operation as well as unexpected user interface events.

  • Target file: PDXpert.Server.log
  • XP target folder: %AppData%\PDXpert\Logs\
  • Vista/7 target folder: %AppData%\PDXpert\Logs\

In some cases, there may be other files in the environment folder with a .log extension. These may also be useful for diagnosing errors and should be included for review.

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Help topics describe the most current PDXpert PLM software release, and may differ from earlier releases.