SOLIDWORKS documents are generally opened with full access, Read/Write. In the normal course of event, if a user opens an assembly, then all of the dependent documents are opened with full access. If these parts and assembly files are shared with others, say by means of a shared disk on the network, including VPN, then all write access is denied to anyone else who then tries to open any of these files.
To overcome the blocking of all other users from editing files in an assembly opened by a different user, an option was added in Tools->Options->ExternalReferences, which is named Open referenced documents with read-only access. When checked, this option will internally mark the part or assembly as read-only. This action has no effect on the status of the file in the operating system. It is still opened for read/write. When using a PDM system from SolidWorks, each user has local copies of the files that were checked out. Opening any of the files in this mode will not cause the PDM system to lock the files and prevent others from editing those files. Buttons in SolidWorks “Get write access” and “Make read only” inform the PDM system that the use to edit and save a component and wished to relinquish that ability, respectively.
Using the Kenesto Addin for SolidWorks, the user has similar capability, when sharing documents inside and outside of the Company. Even though there is one master copy of each of the files, they are not locked, when the user has selected Tools->Options->ExternalReferences-> Open referenced documents with read-only access option. They only locked when the user obtains write access, and the lock is release when read-only access is resumed. The Kenesto add-in provides the same button as SOLIDWORKS, “Get write access” and “Make read only”, and they perform the same function as within SOLIDWORKS. The equivalent buttons from the SOLIDWORKS menu should not be used.
