New version of Design Data Manager

[maxweston]

Hi Folks,


I have just received and loaded the 2007 version of DDM and was more than satisfied with the new functionality, The new configurable auto part numbering system alone makes this system worth the small investment. I must say congratulations to DDM for their continued commitment to this products ongoing development and their willingness to listen to its users.


While on the subject of their commitment I must also include their support staff, their service is second to none, their feedback is instantaneous and precise, their response to their clients needs is outstanding.


Do yourself a favor, jump on their web site and eyeball a few demo movies that explain some of the 2007 enhancments;


http://www.designdatamanager.com/downloads/videos/index.html


Enjoy.
Edited by: maxweston

 

[verge]

Max,


Does your company use an ERP system? We're in the midst of implementing Epicor, and I'm just now going through the 45-day free trial of DDM. I'm told by their support that we should be able to export our BOMs into Epicor, although it may take "a little tweaking" for it to work out.


Any experience with this? Exporting BOMs is a big deal for us.


I'm also satisfied with the functionality, I'm just concerned about this issue.


Thanks in advance...

 

[MarkBrouwers]

Hi Verge,
We're using DDM for more than 1 year now and I have integrated DDM into our (selfwritten)MRP system via EUM. I heavily depend on the EUMupdate (company with +700 employees).
What I've done is create a file watchdog (windows service) that comes active as soon as a XML file is created (by DDM) in a custom defined directory.
This XML file that DDM generates contains all information neccesary to import the BOM into our MRP system. The XML contains the BOM structure as well as all the individual parts that are present in the BOM (incl. your own defined attributes).
Exporting the BOM from DDM into our MRPsystem takes about 2 sec. The only thing that you have to do is convert the generated XML file into another file/structure that can be read by Epicor.
Hopes this helps or let me know,
Mark

 

[verge]

Max,


Thanks for the response. I'm passing this on to our Mech. Eng. Manager and our IT Manager.


The other process we're concerned with is renaming parts. We're about to begin a major parts renaming process. I'm hoping DDM will be able to deal with this better than Pro-E by itself. Right now I can't even pull the requisite number of assemblies and drawings into session in order to rename a part without messing something up. Sometimes it requires pulling nine or ten assemblies and nine or ten drawings into session, and Pro-E won't even let me open that many at one time.


We shall see...


Thanks again.

 

[maxweston]

Hi Verge,
DDM will not rename in the database (at least not yet) but if you use the
"used on" function to interrogate the database and bring the identified components into session you can do your renaming then. If there is a large number of components involved, what you will have to do is open them into session then close them. As long as you don

 

[verge]

I was able to use theopen-into-session-then-close technique successfully.


Should Ibe changing the "prompt on exit" config optionwhen I move from using standalone Pro-E to using Pro-E within DDM? I'm moving back and forth a lot right now, due to the fact that I don't have time to migrate everything into DDM's directory right now.

 

[maxweston]

Hi Verge,


You can only use Prompt on exit using Pro/E in stand alone mode, not with DDM.


This technique will not work with DDM running, what I have done is installed Pro/E in another directory (using the same license file) and run one version of Pro/E at a time. This means that I can use Pro/E with a different config file (the original) and don't have to keep changing the same file all the time.



Hope this helps,


Max.

 

[verge]

I actually used the technique within DDM.

It worked just fine. I also have Pro-E in another directory, so I guess we're on the same page with that.


So far, everything's working well. We're meeting with a DDM rep next week to look into it further. I'll keep you posted.


And thanks again for your help.

 

[maxweston]

Your very welcome Verge.


Max.