This week I think I'll continue to carry on about the tighter integration with data management that is available with next generation of Pro/INTRALINK and Pro/ENGINEER. Here are two little benefits of this integration. (Pro/INTRALINK administrators can simply skim this blog; this one’s for the Pro/ENGINEER users in our audience.)

1) Integrated search

Some of you may remember the powerful yet disjointed search capability in previous releases of Pro/INTRALINK. Not only was Pro/LOCATE a separate window, but it was not accessible from your Pro/ENGINEER session. Pro/INTRALINK 8.0 provides the ability to search Products and Libraries right from within Pro/ENGINEER.

In the Navigator panel of a Pro/ENGINEER session registered with a Pro/INTRALINK 8.0 server, simply click the Search tab (it’s right there after the Connections tab in the Navigator; shall I take a show of hands for how many people have noticed it yet?)

From the Search page in the Navigator you may perform a Basic search on File Name, Number, Keyword, or Date criteria in any (authorized) Product or Library. Searches may be saved for later use. Optionally, you may perform an Advanced Search (utilizing multiple criteria) or (if your system is configured for it) a Full Windchill Search. The Search Results open up in Pro/ENGINEER’s embedded browser, where you may perform actions such as Add to Workspace, Copy, access the Details page and drag the model into Pro/ENGINEER, etc.

I think you’ll find this a much quicker and more useful search tool than Pro/LOCATE! (And don’t forget that searching is also available from most pages in the Pro/INTRALINK 8.0 browser itself, whether in the embedded browser in Pro/ENGINEER or a standalone browser.)

2) Database information in the Model Tree

Another useful feature is the ability to display database information in columns in the Model Tree. This information includes such useful items as the version, lifecycle state, and who modified the object last. This provides a nice glance at some of the important data management parameters without having to go to the object’s details page.

Accessing this information is as easy as adding columns to the Model Tree in a session of Pro/ENGINEER registered with a Pro/INTRALINK 8.0 server: simply select “Database Params” from the Type pull-down list and add the items you want.

I hope someone out there will find these tips useful; if not, I’ll just stick with my day job. Please visit the Discussion Forums and tell me what you think!

Until next time,