Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today

The top CAD Admin Dashboard is an excellent web based reference tool that allows you, as the SOLIDWORKS Admin, to monitor the computers that have or have had SOLIDWORKS installed on them. The CAD Admin Dashboard is accessed by logging into the SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal.

Hidden inside this Dashboard is a myriad of great tools that can help make your SOLIDWORKS experience even better. In this article we will work you through where to find the Dashboard, and some of the top tools found within. 

Where to find the CAD Admin Dashboard

STEP 1: Browse to www.solidworks.com and select Login.

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today
STEP 2: Select Login under SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal.

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today
STEP 3: Sign in with your existing account information or create a new account. If creating a new account, you will need to enter your SOLIDWORKS serial number.

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today
STEP 4: Locate and select the CAD Admin Dashboard under the references heading to load the CAD Admin Dashboard.

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today

The Top 5 Admin Dashboard Tools

The Upper Half of the CAD Admin Dashboard is a list of the machines that have had SOLIDWORKS activated on them.  This list can be shortened using groups if the company owns many Licenses.

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today
Tool #1: Red Flag Status

The Status column shows the red flag, and that column can be set to show up based on the Set Red Flag Conditions, under the Set Red Flag Options button.  As seen in the CAD Admin Dashboard below With the Graphics driver is not supported selected and the Red Flags turned on the Status column for all the machines.

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today
Tool #2: Systems Options

The System Options column allows you the option to set the Baseline Options and compare those to the other systems.  This selection is done by clicking on the computer in the Actions column.  In the example below by making Alpha the Baseline, all the other machines have modified options.

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today
Tool #3: Display Filters

Display Filters allow you to display only certain information on the computers, (i.e. the operating system or the group that a computer is in.)

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today
Tool #4: Specific Machine Details

The CAD Admin Dashboard receives updates from the specific systems.  When you click on the specific system, you can find out more detailed information regarding that specific system.

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today
Tool #5: All Systems Details

The Machine details allows you to access all the information regarding the machines that you can get by selecting the specific system and view them next to all other machines as well.

Top 5 CAD Admin Dashboard Tools You Should Be Using Today


If you are interested in learning more, sign up for one of the many training courses we have to offer at Alignex or check out our Alignex support documents available on our website.

Also, make sure to subscribe to the Alignex Blog to always stay up-to-date in the world of SOLIDWORKS.

Alignex, Inc.
Alignex, Inc. is the premier provider of SOLIDWORKS software and partner products to the mechanical engineering industry in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming and Illinois. With more than 25 years of technical experience, Alignex offers consulting services, training and support for SOLIDWORKS as well as support for partner products. For more information, visit alignex.com.
Alignex, Inc.