When you are working while connected to a Windchill server in an active workspace, PDM actions become available in your CAD application to help you manage your data in Windchill. Some common PDM actions are Open from Windchill, Save to Workspace, Check In, Check Out, Undo Check Out, and Update.

Your CAD models, drawings and associated documents remain in your control until you are ready to share them with others. Use either Save, Save As, or Save to Workspace, from the Windchill toolbar to save any changes you have made. Then use Check In to copy your documents to the Windchill server where they can be accessed by others.

Another PDM action is Update. Update ensures that the objects in your workspace comply with the workspace configuration specification setting. For example, if data has been changed by other users in the commonspace, then the configuration of objects in your workspace may be out-of-date. You may want to update your workspace with those changes. Update determines how objects are organized in the workspace. Sometimes the version of an object you have modified is not the latest, so you are required to perform an update before you can check in your modifications as the latest iteration of the object. Windchill displays a conflict message, and prompts you to Save and Update this object. Windchill updates the saved version of this object, and then you can proceed to check in the object.

The Check Out function enables the person who performs the check out to modify the data being checked out. Once checked out, an object cannot be modified by anyone else. The object can be viewed by others, but can only be modified by the check out owner. This exercise of checking in and checking out ensures data integrity is maintained because the file is always controlled through Windchill. These and other PDM actions are covered in more detail in PDM Actions Accessible from CAD Authoring Applications.