Let's Talk Turkey: What Would You Like to See at the Event?

I don't even know yet if I'd be able to go, but one thing I would be curious to talk to other Admins about would be "what it is we actually want to test for when we do a version upgrade?".

• Presentation: How to use PowerBi to show PDM-specific information on dashboards (archive server status & growth, task stats, etc.). Could be part of this presentation or a separate one on setting up a second database to keep track of some of these stats that aren't directly captured in PDM's tables.

• Presentation: Best practices on troubleshooting user complaints with the vault. What some common settings to know about are, limitations of the software, and fixes & workarounds.

• Presentation: How to submit a good Enhancement request. Reference KB articles, provide details like steps or pictures, add context of why it is important/useful, spread the word/advertise.

• Presentation: How PDM Web Service works and what the setup best practice is.

• Presentation: Recommended vault configuration to comply with sensitive or restricted documents (R&D, ITAR, CUI, Classified, etc.), especially if there is a global presence that involve replicated archive servers.

• Interactive Learning: Create an Ask Me Anything (AMA) post on Reddit and the r/Solidworks community can ask us questions that we answer in real time.

• Interactive Learning / Activity: Find/share existing (or create new) enhancement requests so we can collectively vote on them and give them a ratings boost.

• Activity: Set up a "secure" vault and have the group perform a penetration test to see if they can get at restricted data.

• Activity: Set up a scavenger hunt in the form of a PDM "Escape Room". State an end goal, but along the way have certain tasks yield clues to unlock other tasks in the exercise or have the users need to solve riddles in order to know which feature to do next. Something like have 100 data cards, but a when a certain file goes through a transition, a notification is sent that is the "combination" for which data card to go look at to find the next clue.

• Networking: Because the event is starting so early Thursday, I'm flying in Wednesday afternoon. It'd be nice if there was a coordinated dinner or happy hour somewhere so we could socialize outside of the presentations.

• Networking: Have individual experts host breakout groups that focus on a very specific topics. API, large vault management, global administration, etc. Kind of a "pick your brain" session.

• Lunch suggestions: Hot turkey sandwiches or turkey tater tot hotdish.

• Festive Delights: It would be kind of cool to have a Boston cream pie available while we're in Boston.

Hello all, I'm excited to join you guys this year for my first visit to Waltham!

Tor's 1:30 session may be my place to get questions answered about Cold Storage. With a 3TB vault that's growing, my IT team is interested in helping me setup a secondary archive data location to offload older data (i.e., E-drive). From what I've seen it looks pretty straightforward, but interested to hear any possible risks, limitations, and/or tips to consider upfront to ensure a successful plan can be implemented when I get home.

I also need to see what I am missing to get automatic PDF output working as part of the release process for Office files (e.g., Word, Excel), similar to what's working in my drawings workflow.

Other topics suggested by David and Nic also look interesting. I would especially be interested in discussing handling of "sensitive or restricted documents" and how to best manage access to restricted folders without giving access to other folders at the same level (currently a permissions management challenge when read access is needed for the parent folder).