Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Product evaluation

OK, I'm ready. How do I start?

Register to download the PDXpert Application Server and PDXpert client software and, if you need a Microsoft SQL Server database engine, the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SSEE). We'll send you an email with links to our download page. You should also download and read the PDXpert PLM Installation Guide, which can help you configure your computer's firewall and SMTP service if needed.

What's the best approach for evaluating PDXpert PLM software?

We have created the PDXpert PLM Evaluation Guide, which describes a general approach to evaluating our software (or, for that matter, anyone else's PLM product). In addition to the broad guidelines, we include a very detailed step-by-step procedure for creating a few parts and a simple bill of materials (BOM), and then releasing these using a change form. This information is also available in a training video. After you've seen our drag-and-drop part and BOM creation, creating document records and processing change forms will be very similar.

I want to compare PDXpert PLM to another PLM solution. How do I get started?

You need only three things: (1) an understanding of how your engineering and production processes will be defined, (2) the competing PLM product, and (3) the PDXpert PLM application. Getting a copy of PDXpert PLM is easy: just download it from this website. Which of the other two is more challenging depends upon whether there's general agreement within your company on what PLM practices you want to adopt, and the evaluation policies of the other PLM supplier. We suggest that you download and install PDXpert PLM now, and model your proposed PLM solution for your colleagues. When everyone's satisfied with your new PLM process, invite the other solution vendor to help configure your design using their solution.

Can I run the evaluation as a multi-user system?

Absolutely. Since the actual production software is installed for your evaluation, you can add or remove user accounts to match your company's needs.

How long is the evaluation period? Do I lose all my data when this period expires?

The evaluation period expires 21 days after you enter the first part, document or change into the PDXpert PLM database. You'll be asked to provide a license registration key at the expiration, but your data will remain intact. All previously-entered data will again be available after you enter the license registration key.

I may need more than 21 days to evaluate PDXpert PLM. How can I extend the evaluation period?

The 3-week evaluation period won't start until you enter a part, document or change into PDXpert PLM. This allows you to take as long as you want to set up the system rules and collections to model your development and production environment. We suggest that, just prior to entering your first part or document, you take a backup of the configured database. This will allow you to restart the evaluation if you decide to change your configuration design or if the evaluation period expires before you finish your assessment.

If you've invested significant time in creating items that you want to use in production, and just need a little more time to complete your evaluation, we can usually provide you with a free temporary license.

My manager wants a demonstration of PDXpert PLM. How can I arrange for an on-site sales presentation?

Well, the short answer is: you can't. PDXpert PLM has been designed from the ground up to be a web purchase. Roughly half the cost of other PLM solutions subsidize sales visits and commissions, yet these expenses yield negligible benefit over the life of the software. We hope your boss will appreciate the value of using the actual product with your data, rather than viewing an hour of PowerPoints followed by a couple hours looking at a make-believe company's example data. The time you'll invest is about the same either way.

Installation

How long does it take to install the PDXpert PLM software?

We believe you'll be up and running in about 30 minutes. Of the 3 installation components (Microsoft SQL 2005 Express Edition database server, PDXpert Application Server, and PDXpert client), only the database server takes significant time. Fortunately, it's configured to without any user inputs, so there's really nothing you need to do beyond launch the installer.

Can I run PDXpert PLM to a remote location over the Internet?

Yes, using a virtual private network (VPN). You will need to install a PDXpert PLM client onto the remote computer. The performance will be affected principally by the bandwidth available to the remote client.

Purchase

I've completed the evaluation period, and want to continue using PDXpert PLM while my company issues a purchase order. Can you send me a license immediately?

Generally, yes. We can issue a subscription license for the period necessary for you to send us a purchase order and remit payment. After we receive payment, we'll send you the appropriate perpetual or subscription license that you've purchased.

Legacy data migration

Can existing part and assembly data from be imported from my purchasing and manufacturing ERP system into the PDXpert PLM database?

Yes. We prefer using ERP data where available, since the data integrity is generally better than a collection of individual spreadsheets. However, the database must be in a reasonably standard format, and ideally the database schema would be available for inspection. We generally quote the work on a per-hour basis, but will also consider a fixed-cost project bid if the conversion/import appears straight-forward.

Can existing part and assembly data be imported from Microsoft Access and Excel into the PDXpert PLM database?

We can import your legacy product data for you. We'll first need some sample files to understand how your data maps to the PDXpert PLM data attributes. To minimize the cost of conversions, all of your data should be accurate and the format should be consistent. Otherwise, we can do some manual pre-processing at additional cost.

I have all of my CAD files in a library directory on my department server. How do these get imported into PDXpert PLM?

Files are not stored within the PDXpert PLM database; only the file names are stored within the database. To establish an unambiguous relationship between the current library file and the related part or document within PDXpert PLM, you must provide some rules we can use for establishing this relationship. Typically, this requires that the file name (and possibly the folder that contains the file) be related to the item type, number and revision. We can take it from there.

Configuration and best practices

Is factory assistance required to configure our PDXpert PLM system?

We believe that many companies can meet their configuration goals without our on-site guidance. Our support includes a detailed installation guide, a pre-configured "starter" database, and advice via phone and email. It's generally quite cost-effective to exchange configuration data (or even complete databases) via email or FTP.

Can I get on-site assistance to configure our PDXpert PLM system?

Sure. While we're happy to provide configuration advice via telephone or email, you may find it's more efficient to have us visit your site for interviewing stakeholders, investigating current practices and configuring your solution.  We charge a per-day fee for configuration activities; all travel expenses must be pre-paid. Please contact us for details.

Can I use my own part, document and change numbering and revision formats? Do I have to start my item numbers from a specific place, or can I continue my current sequence?

PDXpert PLM has very flexible numbering and revisioning capabilities. It can accommodate most of the common approaches for automatic numbering, including category-based prefixes (e.g., resistors are RES-??????) and iteration suffixes (e.g., ??????-001), or both (RES-??????-001). The numbers can be defined to begin at any point.

Who decides what are "best practices", and does PDXpert PLM require me to use them?

PLM best practices are those which have been evaluated and tested over long periods. Many people don't realize that the formal engineering discipline called "configuration management" has been evolving since the 1960s. Although you are welcome to take advantage of our configuration management expertise (including professional certification), you will have complete control over which practices you adopt. Many best practices are offered in the configuration sections of the PDXpert PLM help file. There are only a few best practices that are hard-coded into PDXpert PLM, the principal one being that parts with the same identifier are fully interchangeable between revisions. (This allows PDXpert PLM to always display the latest revision on a BOM without requiring a formal change to the structure.)

Training

Can I get on-site training for my administrators and users?

Yes, we can arrange to visit your facility for training. This is typically customized for your company's environment, and therefore we suggest that we begin training only after the PLM system has been configured and the database has been populated with your data. (You may wish us to help with these activities, as well. Therefore, it may be most efficient to combine on-site configuration and administrator training, followed by user training.)

Can I send someone to your facility to get trained?

Only in special cases. We have found that most users don't need a theoretical knowledge of our product. You'll want to know how PDXpert PLM works in your environment, using your data. Learning is substantially less efficient if there's a constant "translation" between our idealized demonstration data and your company's actual development environment.

Maintenance, support and updates (MSU)

Am I obligated to purchase maintenance, support and updates (MSU) with my software license?

If you're buying a perpetual license, you have the option of declining maintenance, support and update services. This gives you the permanent right to use your original PDXpert PLM software, but your license key will not work with updated software releases containing new features and improvements, and telephone and email product support is very limited. We recommend buying MSU with your initial perpetual license, and using your support and update experience to assess the utility of subsequent annual MSU purchases.

Subscription licenses always include MSU.

I purchased a perpetual license without MSU. Can I upgrade to the most recent release?

Yes, there are two paths to acquiring upgrades. The typical path would be to purchase a new MSU license for the perpetual licenses you currently have. Since upgrades require that you be current on MSU, the amount you'll owe will depend on how long you have been without MSU. If you've been without MSU for several years, it may be less expensive to acquire a brand new license with MSU rather than pay for the accrued MSU on the older license. We can help you choose the most economical alternative.

How often is PDXpert PLM updated?

We target for one major release, and between 2 and 6 less significant releases, each year. A major release would add notable new user and/or administrative capabilities. Minor releases add minor capabilities and refine existing functions, as well as enhance product performance.

Can I request new product features?

Absolutely! Most of our product enhancements are a direct result of feedback from our customers.