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How to Upgrade a SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard Vault to PDM Professional

Upgrade an existing installation of SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard to SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional

This guide walks through upgrading PDM Standard to Professional on your archive server and migrating the vault database to the Professional schema. Complete this only after you've backed up your vault and confirmed any required SQL Server changes.

Before you start

Please confirm the following.

  • A completed and verified backup (see Backing Up Your SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault).
  • Any required SQL Server edition upgrade already completed (see Upgrading SQL Server).
  • The PDM Professional installer matching your current PDM version.
  • All PDM client sessions closed for the duration of this step.

Close client sessions and stop the archive server

  1. Notify all users that the vault will be unavailable.
  2. Confirm no users remain checked into files in PDM Administration.
  3. In the Archive Server Configuration Tool, select your vault and click Stop.

Activate PDM Professional Licenses

  1. On the license server machine, open the SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
  2. Select Modify.
  3. Select Activate/Reactivate your product license(s) and Next.
  4. Confirm the server information and select Next.
  5. If a new network, select Add and enter the new serial number, and proceed with the activation or reactivation of an existing network license to register access to PDM Professional.

Upgrade the PDM Standard Vault Database to Professional

  1. Open the PDM Administration app.
  2. Right-click on the vault in the navigation pane on the left and select Upgrade to Professional Vault.
  3. Proceed through the pages in the upgrade wizard and complete the upgrade.

Upgrade the PDM Standard Server Installation to PDM Professional

  1. Access Programs and Features in Control Panel.
  2. Right-click on SOLIDWORKS PDM Server and select Change.
  3. Select Next, select the option to Modify and select Next once again.
  4. Select SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional and select Next.
  5. Ensure Archive Server, Database Server, and Client are all selected and proceed with the remaining prompts to complete the upgrade.

Upgrade PDM client installations

Each workstation running the PDM client needs the Professional client installed to match the upgraded vault. If you have computers already installed to connect to PDM Standard, please carry out the following steps to upgrade their client installation.

  1. Access Programs and Features in Control Panel.
  2. Right-click on SOLIDWORKS and select Change.
  3. Select the option to Modify Your Installation and select Next.
  4. Proceed until you reach the summary page and select Change next to PDM Options.
  5. Select Back to Summary and complete the Modification.

Repeat this for every workstation with PDM Standard client already installed that accesses the vault before returning it to general use.


For further support, submit a ticket or access support contact information at https://www.swyftsol.com/support.