1. Routes

Using routes in 3DEXPERIENCE can improve your document/design validation processes, whether in SOLIDWORKS, CATIA or Office365.

Introduction

The Route Management application in 3DEXPERIENCE allows you to create a series of tasks, the main purpose of which is to review and validate documents. We are going to see how to use routes to validate a part and its drawing, and change their maturity states.

Step 1: Create a route in 3DEXPERIENCE

1. A good practice before sending files for review is to change the maturity to "Frozen". In this way, you can be sure that the document you are sending for review will not be inadvertently modified.

2. Add the Route Management application to your 3DDashboard. Simply drag and drop it into a new tab:

3. Next, you can create a route by clicking on "New route" on the left:

Select "Promote connected objects" as the "Action on route completion" so that the files automatically become "Distributed" once the route has been validated.

Add your files to be validated (SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, Excel, PDF, Word, etc.) as shown in the video, or by using the search function.

Next, define the tasks you want for your process. The files are automatically linked to this task, so the approver doesn't have to go looking for them!

You can create the route "In draft" and start it later.

Step 2: Start the route

When you have defined all the tasks for your route, start it so that each person is notified when their task is due:

Each person will then carry out their task, and can view the files directly:

When the task is validated, you can choose to sign the approval electronically (this can be useful for complying with certain standards). This is set in the Collaborative Space Configuration Center -> Route Management application.

When all the tasks have been completed, the files are automatically switched to the "Distributed" maturity state if you chose this option when creating the route.

The route then terminates. You can still access it, to guarantee good traceability.

Step 3: Create a route model

In general, a validation process does not change every day. So it's a good idea to create a route template that you can use each time you want to validate a document.

To do this, simply click on "New template" instead of creating a route:

When you create a route, you can choose this model:

Conclusion

Routes are a good way of guaranteeing the validation and traceability of your documents, whether they are SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, PDF or Excel files, etc.

If you have any questions or would like to set this up, please contact us!