SharePoint-to-EPDM Integration by D2M3

Integrating business systems is always a hot topic. How do you get the information from a CAD system into a PDM system and then into an ERP system? Where do the information handoffs take place? Does the native file get passed along? Do we create a neutral-format rendition (eDrawing, PDF, DWF) to pass along? With the rise of Microsoft SharePoint, many companies are using it to disseminate information across their entire
enterprise. If the question is narrowed down to “how do I get my CAD information from EPDM into SharePoint,” then there is a solution.

D2M3, a European company with significant experience with Conisio, PDMWE and now EPDM, has developed an add-in for EPDM that allows the system to publish files from EPDM into SharePoint. Once the add-in has been installed, there is a configuration tool/wizard that allows a few rules/parameters to be set up for when
files get published to SharePoint. D2M3 has put a great GUI wrapper around the whole product. There are no more config, ini, or even XML files to edit. Everything is done through a nice user interface with pull-down menus and browse buttons.

There are two ways to publish a document from EPDM into SharePoint. The first method is to do it manually
through a right-mouse button menu. Selecting this option allows users to manually pick and choose some options such as what Share the document is going to, what properties are going to be mapped, the upload directory for the source file, and the XML file that contains the meta data properties.

The second method involves an automatic publish to the SharePoint system via a workflow state change. All the parameters (folder, meta data, etc.) are determined ahead of time through the rules and settings dialog
boxes. When a file enters a workflow state change, it is automatically published to SharePoint based on the
applicable rules.

Using either method, within a few minutes, newly published files can be seen inside the SharePoint system
by anyone with the proper permissions. For more information on the D2M3 SharePoint connector and other
D2M3 products, please contact us.

Tags: CAD, configurations, D2M3, edrawings, enterprise, EPDM, ERP, GUI, integration, Microsoft, PDF, PDM, PDMWE, permissions, SharePoint, workflow, XML