Add-ins in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional are:

• DLLs that implement the COM interface, IEdmAddIn5.
• Added to a file vault through the Add-in Properties dialog.
• Notified about SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional user actions:
  • IEdmAddIn5::GetAddInInfo is called when the add-in is added to a file vault.
  • SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional calls IEdmAddIn5::OnCmd when a user performs an action that the add-in wants to be notified about, e.g., when a menu item is selected, a file is created, or a file is checked in or out.
• Programmed with hooks (EdmCmdType) into SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional. All hooks are handled through the IEdmAddIn5 interface.

The following samples show how to create a basic add-in written in:

• VB.NET
• Visual C#
• Visual C++

After you create the basic add-in using the examples, see how to add hooks:

• Add a menu item and toolbar button in File Explorer using:
  • VB.NET
  • Visual C#
  • Visual C++

• Add hooks that get called when a file is checked in or out using:
  • VB.NET
  • Visual C#
  • Visual C++

• Hook up a button in a file data card using VB.NET
• Create serial numbers using an add-in written in VB.NET