ECAD > ECAD-MCAD Colaboration Workflows > Using PTC Windchill > When to Create and Save EDMD IDX and EDA Files
  
When to Create and Save EDMD IDX and EDA Files
Continuing MCAD work while waiting for response from ECAD
The MCAD team makes changes to the CAD data, saves an EDA file and checks it into Windchill. Then using the Compare method, they create an incremental EDMD IDX file and send it to the ECAD team. This allows any rejects made by the ECAD team to be easily instantiated back into the MCAD design in Creo Parametric. It also allows the Validate results to link back to the EDA files used to create the EDMD IDX change proposal in Windchill.
Waiting for approval before continuing MCAD
The MCAD team makes changes to the CAD data, sends an incremental EDMD IDX file to the ECAD team and waits for approval. No EDA file is needed at this time.
ECAD Continuing to work without waiting for approval
The ECAD team can create and store EDA files in Windchill for reference for the MCAD team. They can, at the same time, make incremental EDMD IDX files to send to MCAD.
ECAD waiting for approval
The ECAD team makes changes to the CAD data and sends an incremental EDMD IDX file to the MCAD team. The ECAD team sends an EDA file to the MCAD team for reference in case a counter proposal needs to be made. The team then waits for approval from the MCAD team.