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DriveWorks Challenge 4 Recap

For DriveWorks Challenge 4 we asked you to develop the best use of SVG images in DriveWorks. You could either use the project we provided to create the best SVG image or use the project to create the best use case for SVG images.

DriveWorks Challenge 4 – The Winning Solutions

Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who took part. We had some very creative submissions, with some participants really going to town. It was really great to see the effort that had gone into all of the submissions.

And the DriveWorks Challenge 4 winners are…

Zach Long and Bill Murch. Congratulations to both of them! They had excellent creative entries and we are very happy to recognize them as DriveWorks Challenge 4 winners.

What’s next? Challenge 5…

For DriveWorks Challenge 5 we’re asking you to develop a new and creative (or familiar) way to select multiple items. Take our DriveWorks Challenge 5 salad configurator and show us how you would give the user the ability to select multiple salad toppings.

You can use the project provided or create your own OR allow users to select and unselect multiple options.

Start DriveWorks Challenge 5 today

DriveWorks Challenge 5 welcomes participants of all DriveWorks skill levels—no need for engineering, IT, or SOLIDWORKS expertise.

Feel free to spend as much or as little time as you want (average time is about 30 minutes), but you can go at your own pace.

Don’t forget, the deadline for prize submissions is April 11th with the winners being announced live at DriveWorks World 2024.

We’ll be showcasing some of the submissions throughout DriveWorks World, so it’s the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your DriveWorks skills in front of a global audience.

How to Join the DriveWorks Challenge 5

Follow 3 simple steps to join the DriveWorks Challenge 5

Log In to the DriveWorks Learning Portal

Head to the MyDriveWorks Community and log into the Learning Portal. The Learning Portal includes learning courses about a variety of topics. It’s also home to the DriveWorks Challenge. If you don’t yet have an account, it’s quick, easy and free to create one.

Follow the DriveWorks Challenge Instructions

The DriveWorks Challenge course in the Learning Portal guides you through the steps required to join the challenge.

There’s a video and a downloadable brief, along with all the files you need.

Upload Your Drive Package Submission

Once you have made all of your changes to the provided project, zip your Drive Package up and upload it on the final page of the DriveWorks Challenge course.

That’s it, you’re in!

Join Us at DriveWorks World 2024 to See Some of the DriveWorks Challenge 5 Submissions

Have you registered for DriveWorks World 2024? DriveWorks World is a value-added virtual event, hosted by DriveWorks experts.

It’s a celebration of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical expertise free for DriveWorks Customers with Active Subscription, Resellers, and Partners to attend.

We are going to be highlighting some of the DriveWorks Challenge 5 submissions throughout DriveWorks World so register for your place today to be a part of it.

New Updates to DriveWorksLive.com

The configurator examples on driveworkslive.com are a great way to see what’s possible with DriveWorks software across many scenarios. 

They allow you to get hands on and see what it is like to use a configurator built using DriveWorks software. 

The range of different examples show how versatile and customizable the software is to tailor it to your own company’s requirements. 

To get the full experience, and really see what DriveWorks technology can do, make sure to submit your configuration so you can see the type of sales documentation and manufacturing data, including quotes, BOMs and SOLIDWORKS parts assemblies and drawings, that can be automatically generated using DriveWorks technology. 

New Website Examples 

Our new website examples demonstrate how DriveWorks configurators can be embedded in a real-world company website so you can see how a DriveWorks configurator brings products to life and can take website and online sales to the next level. 

All of the examples also include a Guided Tour, helping you navigate through the website and understand which parts of the website are being powered by DriveWorks.

Screen showing website examples of DriveWorks configurators
DriveWorks configurator for agricultural trailer

Agricultural Trailer

The new Agricultural Trailer Website Example demonstrates how customizable the look and feel of DriveWorks software is. The new example uses the same design automation and 3D rules set as the existing Agricultural Trailer Industry Example, but with a different user-interface and user-experience.

Technical Know-How: This has been done by modularizing the DriveWorks Projects using Specification Host Controls ensuring both examples can use the same 3D and design automation projects.

The Agricultural Trailer website example also includes a rotating 3D preview with a transparent background; demonstrating how DriveWorks can be used to enhance a website outside of the configurator.

Multi-Head Weigher

The new Multi-head Weigher Website Example demonstrates how DriveWorks can be fully embedded inside a website, with the website triggering tasks inside DriveWorks.

Selecting one of the Quick Start Configurations that are part of the website, and outside of the DriveWorks configurator, will trigger tasks inside the configurator to set up a preconfigured product guiding users to select valid product options.

Technical Know-How: In technical terms, this has been done by triggering a Specification Macro from the website using the DriveWorks Live Web API.

Staircase

The new Staircase Website Example demonstrates how DriveWorks can be used to configure dynamic products. In this example, users are given the ability to specify number of flights, number of steps per flight, turn type and stair specific options with a 3D preview of the configured product to help users make the right decisions.

Technical Know-How: The configurator’s 3D Document uses a combination of the Document Replacer and Duplicate Document Node to achieve the dynamic 3D and looping Generation Tasks have been setup in the background to generate the required SOLIDWORKS files.

The example also demonstrates how animations can be applied to a DriveWorks configurator’s forms, creating an appealing user interface. Clicking the View Documents or View Summary buttons will trigger the animation.

Technical Know-How: This has been setup by targeting the Frame Control inside the configurator’s ProjectStyles.css file.

The example also shows how the product specified is fully customizable using DriveWorks software, with this example offering users the ability to configure in millimeters or inches.

Technical Know-How: The conversion between different units has been set up using DriveWorks Rules.

Industry Example Updates

Three Industry Examples have also been updated with new DriveWorks functionality:

Wooden Door

The Wooden Door Industry Example enables users to configure the product in multiple languages.

Technical Know-How: This has been setup using Table functions and the DWLambda functionality added to DriveWorks 21.

Industrial Stairs

This example shows how DriveWorks Rules are evaluating in the background and generating a PDF, on request, to further explain how values are being calculated.

Technical Know-How: This has been setup using the Markdown to PDF Specification Macro task introduced in DriveWorks 21.

Entrance Canopy

The Entrance Canopy Industry Example demonstrates how a product can be configured using a single scrolling page.

Technical Know-How: This has been setup using a Frame Control and its Vertical Scroll Visibility

Deployment

All the new and updated examples have gone through an automated deployment process going from our development environment, through to testing and production. This uses the DriveWorks Data Management Copy Group functionality that can be automated using the Specification PowerPack Task Copy Group. This ensures any changes pushed to the production environment have been thoroughly tested before being used by external users.

Join Us at DriveWorks World 2024 to Learn More About New DriveWorks Functionality

Have you registered for DriveWorks World 2024? DriveWorks World is a value-added virtual event, hosted by DriveWorks experts. It’s a celebration of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical expertise free for DriveWorks Customers with Active Subscription, Resellers, and Partners to attend. Our team of DriveWorks Technical Experts will be hosting a number of sessions designed for you to find out about new DriveWorks functionality and how we manage our DriveWorks implementations.

DriveWorks World 2024

Wednesday, April 10th & Thursday, April 11th | Virtual | Free to Attend

Broadcasting live from 1pm – 9pm BST, plus a library of on-demand technical sessions

DriveWorks World 2024 isn’t just an event; it’s a community-driven celebration of innovation, knowledge-sharing, and technical expertise for DriveWorks users and resellers.

This is your opportunity to join hundreds of other DriveWorks community members from around the world to share knowledge, hear about the latest updates and learn how to get the very best from DriveWorks.

DriveWorks World 2024 will be hosted virtually and tickets are free for all DriveWorks customers with active subscription, reseller technical staff and authorised DriveWorks partners.

Plus: Reseller Preview – Tuesday, 9th April

Broadcasting live from 2pm to 5.30pm BST – an opportunity for resellers from around the world to spend valuable time with the DriveWorks team and hear the latest news and updates from us. There will be sessions for all reseller teams – technical, order-admin, sales, marketing and more.

“Anyone else excited for an EPIC event? I can’t wait to see some familiar faces”

“The customer stories had so many great insights and pertinent examples to what we’re hoping to achieve”

The DriveWorks World 2024 agenda is live!

The focus of DriveWorks World is always on sharing knowledge, technical know-how, and handy tips and tricks. We’ve built an agenda packed with technical sessions and opportunities to learn directly from the DriveWorks team.

The livestream at DriveWorks World 2024 will be recorded and available to watch again once the broadcast has finished. So if you’re on a different time zone, you can still join DriveWorks World, explore all of the resources in the Event App, and watch any sessions you miss. You will need to be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the recordings.

Can’t Join Live? Watch On-Demand

The livestream at DriveWorks World 2024 will be recorded and available to watch again once the broadcast has finished. So if you’re on a different timezone, you can still join DriveWorks World, explore all of the resources in the Event App, and  watch any sessions you miss.
You must be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the recordings.

Technical Video Library

Available throughout and after the event

Alongside the live broadcast at DriveWorks World 2024, there will also be over 100 on-demand technical learning sessions created by experts from across the DriveWorks team, and our community.
These sessions cover a variety of DriveWorks topics, at different skill levels.
Choose the on-demand sessions that are relevant to you and your learning. Learn at your own pace and at a time that suits you. These on-demand sessions will be available throughout DriveWorks World, so you can watch them even when we’re not broadcasting live. They will also remain available after the event so you don’t need to rush through them.

Register For DriveWorks World 2024 Today

If you haven’t registered yet then what are you waiting for?

Registration is easy using your MyDriveWorks Community Account.

If you don’t already have a MyDriveWorks Community account, it’s quick, easy and free to create one.

The MyDriveWorks Community

The MyDriveWorks Community is our user portal, bringing together DriveWorks users from around the world.

It’s where DriveWorks customers, resellers and partners can connect, learn and find useful exclusive DriveWorks resources. Whether you’re trialing DriveWorks Solo, familiar with DriveWorks Pro, or from a reseller sales, technical, marketing or order admin team, the MyDriveWorks Community is a place for everyone.

The MyDriveWorks Community provides helpful content, learning resources and opportunities to connect with other DriveWorks users. It’s designed to enable you to get the very best out of DriveWorks technology.

Man using DriveWorks technology on a computer screen

The MyDriveWorks Community is home to a wide range of support and resources – including DriveWorks software and PowerPacks, the DriveWorks Learning Portal, DriveWorks user forums, DriveWorks Certifications and lots of other useful resources.

You can access the MyDriveWorks Community through a MyDriveWorks Community Account.

How To Set Up a MyDriveWorks Community Account

It’s quick and easy to create a MyDriveWorks Community account and get access to all of the resources.

Computer screens with DriveWorks software on

1. Enter Your Details

Enter your details into the form. You will need to enter your first name, surname and your email address.

Screen showing set up for MyDriveWorks Community Account

2. Set a Password

Once you’ve entered your details, you will need to set yourself a memorable password, in line with our password policy.

MyDriveWorks Account Password setting
Screen showing subscription to DriveWorks monthly email updates

3. Subscribe to DriveWorks monthly emails & set up your My DriveWorks Community Account

4. Verify Your Email Address

You will receive an email from us with a verification code to activate your MyDriveWorks Community Account. The code will be active for 1 hour before expiring.

If you don’t receive the verification email, please check your spam or junk folder and make sure that your email address is correct.

5. Set Up Your Profile

Once you have verified your email, click on your name in the top right corner of My.DriveWorks to edit your profile. Upload an image or an avatar to your profile and change your details here.

You’re all set up with your MyDriveWorks Community Account!

Explore the MyDriveWorks Community

Through the MyDriveWorks Community it’s easy to keep your knowledge and software up to date and ensure you’re getting the most from your DriveWorks software.

DriveWorks Forum

Join the conversation in the DriveWorks forum. Share ideas and connect with other users.

Download Software

Download the latest DriveWorks software and PowerPacks or find previous versions.

Learning Portal

Access exclusive DriveWorks learning resources and build on your knowledge.

Webinars & Events

See upcoming events and webinars, sign up, get involved and join us to learn and network.

DriveWorks Learning Portal

The DriveWorks Learning Portal is part of the MyDriveWorks Community and provides a wide range of DriveWorks training courses, exclusive learning resources and DriveWorks certifications. It’s available for you to access at any time.

Set up your MyDriveWorks Community Account Today

Create a MyDriveWorks Community account today to connect with other DriveWorks users, learn new DriveWorks skills and access a wide range of DriveWorks resources.

DriveWorks World 2024 Exclusive Reseller Preview

Tuesday, April 9th | Virtual | Free to Attend

Be part of an exclusive DriveWorks Reseller Preview event on Tuesday, April 9th

This is an opportunity for resellers from around the world to spend time with the DriveWorks team and hear the latest news and updates from us.

We’ll be sharing tips, tricks and resources to help you train and support your DriveWorks customers.

There will be sessions for all reseller teams – technical, order-admin, sales, marketing and more.

DriveWorks World 2024 will be hosted virtually, so you can attend from wherever you are in the world. Tickets are free for all resellers so everyone has the chance to participate and benefit from this exclusive preview day.

Join us and take the opportunity to meet with the DriveWorks team, get the latest DriveWorks news and updates, and put yourself in the best position to support your DriveWorks customers.

DriveWorks World 2024 Reseller Preview Agenda

Ahead of the technical sessions on the 10th and 11th of April, the DriveWorks team will be presenting on reseller specific topics.
Join us to get the latest market updates, see an exclusive preview of DriveWorks 22, and make sure you know about all of the resources available to help you.

Exclusive Reseller Preview – Tuesday, April 9th

All agenda timings are in BST, find the time in your timezone with this tool.

2pm - Welcome to DriveWorks World 2024 & Keynote Speech

The DriveWorks team will run through what’s coming up at this exclusive Reseller Preview and why you won’t want to miss any of the sessions.

2.20pm - Sales & Marketing Update

Hear the latest insight from the DriveWorks Sales & Marketing teams. Learn more about what we’ve been doing and what’s coming up.

2.45pm - Customer Success & Subscriptions

Customer Success – Find out more about how customers are benefiting from DriveWorks CPQ technology with a customer case study and reseller Q & A.

Subscriptions – Learn more about the benefits of DriveWorks subscriptions and take a walk through our subscription process.

3.25pm - What's New in DriveWorks 22

DriveWorks CEO, Glen Smith presents a preview of the latest updates in DriveWorks 22.

4.10pm - Reseller Resources

Find out more about the wide range of DriveWorks reseller resources designed to support you in your DriveWorks sales and customer service strategies.

4.30pm - Licensing

Learn more about the different types of DriveWorks licenses and how to identify the best license for your customers.

4.45pm - DriveWorks Reseller Awards 2024

Join us to recognize and celebrate the contributions of our DriveWorks reseller community.

5.15pm - Preview: What's Happening at DriveWorks World 2024

DriveWorks Experts will talk through what’s coming up over the next few days at DriveWorks World. We’ll share information on all of the sessions that you and your customers won’t want to miss.

Can’t Join Live? Watch On-Demand

The livestream at DriveWorks World 2024 will be recorded and available to watch again once the broadcast has finished. So if you’re on a different timezone, you can still join DriveWorks World, explore all of the resources in the Event App, and watch any sessions you miss.
You must be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the recordings.

Register For DriveWorks World 2024 Today

If you haven’t registered yet then what are you waiting for?

Registration is easy using your MyDriveWorks Community Account.

If you don’t already have a MyDriveWorks Community account, it’s quick, easy and free to create one and you’ll get access to a range of resources to help you sell and support DriveWorks software.

And if you have already registered, don’t forget to encourage your DriveWorks customers to register. We’ve planned a full program of technical sessions across 2 days, designed to help them get the very best out of DriveWorks. Find out what’s on the agenda for 10th & 11th April here.

What’s Happening at DriveWorks World 2024?

Wednesday, April 10th & Thursday, April 11th | Virtual | Free to Attend

DriveWorks World 2024 isn’t just an event; it’s a community-driven celebration of innovation, knowledge-sharing, and technical expertise for DriveWorks users and resellers.

This is your opportunity to join hundreds of other DriveWorks community members from around the world to share knowledge, hear about the latest updates and learn how to get the very best from DriveWorks.

DriveWorks World 2024 will be hosted virtually and tickets are free for all DriveWorks customers with active subscription, reseller technical staff and authorised DriveWorks partners.

“The customer stories had so many great insights and pertinent examples to what we’re hoping to achieve”

“The Event App was marvelous”

“Another absolutely delightful event”

The DriveWorks World 2024 agenda is live!

The focus of DriveWorks World is always on sharing knowledge, technical know-how, and handy tips and tricks. We’ve built an agenda packed with technical sessions and opportunities to learn directly from the DriveWorks team.

The livestream at DriveWorks World 2024 will be recorded and available to watch again once the broadcast has finished. So if you’re on a different time zone, you can still join DriveWorks World, explore all of the resources in the Event App, and watch any sessions you miss. You will need to be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the recordings.

Do You Have a DriveWorks Story to Share?

After completing your registration, you’ll have the opportunity to express your interest in presenting at DriveWorks World 2024.

Participating in the event by sharing your experiences of using DriveWorks or showcasing a specific technical feature is a key part of what DriveWorks World is all about, so please do let us know if you’d be happy to share your story.

We are excited to announce the agenda for the upcoming March DriveWorks Drivers meeting! As part of our ongoing commitment to providing a platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration, DriveWorks Drivers brings together users from across industries and the world. Whether you’re an experienced DriveWorks Solo or DriveWorks Pro user or an Applications Engineer from a DriveWorks Reseller, these quarterly virtual meetings are tailor-made for you.

What is DriveWorks Drivers?

DriveWorks Drivers is a quarterly virtual networking and knowledge-sharing initiative designed to connect DriveWorks users worldwide. It’s more than just a meeting—it’s a community where you can discuss challenges, explore solutions, and celebrate successes.

By taking part in DriveWorks Drivers, you have the opportunity to connect with fellow users, share technical expertise, and gain practical insights to enhance your DriveWorks experience.

We will be hosting the next meetings on Thursday, 14th March at 3pm NZDT and 3pm GMT so please join us at whichever time suits you best!

What’s on the Agenda?

Here’s what’s on the agenda for the next DriveWorks Drivers meetings on Thursday, 14th March 2024.

3pm NZDT Meeting

DriveWorks World 2024

How SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional & DriveWorks Interact

DriveWorks Challenge #5 Launch

The Final Ascent
Simplify Your Rules with Paul Gimbel, DriveWorks Sherpa

Close & Next Meeting Date

3pm GMT Meeting

DriveWorks World 2024
A preview of what’s on at this year’s event with Jessica Taylor, DriveWorks Marketing Manager

How SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional & DriveWorks Interact

DriveWorks Challenge #5

The Final Ascent
Simplify Your Rules with Paul Gimbel, DriveWorks Sherpa

Close & Next Meeting Date

Register for this DriveWorks Drivers Meeting

Join us on Thursday, 14th March at 3pm NZDT or 3pm GMT

We’ve already had some creative solutions submitted for DriveWorks Challenge 4 but there’s still time to join the challenge!

If this is your first time taking part, here’s how you can get involved…

The idea is simple, we give you a brief (keep reading for more details), and all you need to do is come up with a solution that meets the brief’s requirements.

The goal of The DriveWorks Challenge is to provide you with a quick, fun puzzle that can shake up your thinking process, enabling you to look at DriveWorks and your own projects in a different light.

The closing date for the DriveWorks Challenge 4 is 28th February. There’s no pressure and you can put as much or as little effort into it as you see appropriate. At the end of the challenge, we’ll share a video and DriveWorks Package (.drivepkg) in the DriveWorks Learning Portal showing how we solved the challenge and featuring some of our favorite challenge submissions.

What’s Happening at DriveWorks World 2024?

Wednesday, April 10th & Thursday, April 11th | Virtual | Free to Attend

DriveWorks World 2024 isn’t just an event; it’s a community-driven celebration of innovation, knowledge-sharing, and technical expertise for DriveWorks users and resellers.

This is your opportunity to join hundreds of other DriveWorks community members from around the world to share knowledge, hear about the latest updates and learn how to get the very best from DriveWorks.

DriveWorks World 2024 will be hosted virtually and tickets are free for all DriveWorks customers with active subscription, reseller technical staff and authorised DriveWorks partners.

The focus of DriveWorks World is always on sharing knowledge, technical know-how and handy tips and tricks. We’ve built an agenda packed with technical sessions and opportunities to learn directly from the DriveWorks team.

Don’t miss the valuable sessions at DriveWorks World 2024, register now to join us!

DriveWorks World 2024 Agenda

Day 1 – Wednesday, April 10th

All agenda timings are in BST, find the time in your timezone with this tool.

1pm - Welcome to DriveWorks World 2024

Learn what’s coming up at DriveWorks World 2024 and how to get the most from the event.

1.25pm - DriveWorks Challenge Live at DriveWorks World 2024

Learn what the DriveWorks Challenge is and how to get involved.

1.30pm - Opening Technical Remarks

DriveWorks CTO, Philip Stears and Technical Engagement Manager will be joined by special guests to discuss the evolution of DriveWorks Technology in recent years and set the scene for the next two days of technical knowledge sharing.

2pm - What's New in DriveWorks 22: Part 1

DriveWorks CEO, Glen Smith shares the latest updates in DriveWorks 22. Glen will be joined by DriveWorks Technical Specialists to showcase the new features and functionality live.

3pm - New Feature Q&A with Tech Lead

Following the announcements in the first What’s New session, we’ll be diving deeper into specific features with a Technical Lead to find out why we’ve added specific functionality, and learn best practices for using them.

3.15pm - How We Use DriveWorks - Customer Story

DriveWorks users share how they use the software, sharing insights, ideas, and practical tips. This is a great opportunity to learn how other companies use DriveWorks and pick up ideas for your own implementation. You’ll have chance to ask questions too.

3.45pm - Panel Discussion: Rolling Out Your Configurator

DriveWorks Experts get together to share their knowledge about getting a DriveWorks implementation into production and rolling it out to users. Whether you are launching your implementation for the first time, or pushing updates, join us to learn from our team’s experience.

4.15pm - Understanding Model Generation

Model generation is at the heart of most DriveWorks implementations. In this session we’ll run through how Model Generation works to give you a complete understanding so you can generate the manufacturing data you need.

4.30pm - New Feature Q&A with Tech Lead

Following the announcements in the first What’s New session, we’ll be diving deeper into specific features with a Technical Lead to find out why we’ve added specific functionality, and learn best practices for using them.

4.45pm - Feature in Action: Design Automation

A step by step technical demonstration showcasing a specific Design Automation feature. See how best to use DriveWorks functionality and learn how our team use our software.

5pm - How We Use DriveWorks: Customer Story

DriveWorks users share how they use the software, sharing insights, ideas, and practical tips. This is a great opportunity to learn how other companies use DriveWorks and pick up ideas for your own implementation. You’ll have chance to ask questions too.

5.30pm - How Can You Use the CPQ DriveApp?

CPQ is a term that has risen in popularity in the manufacturing industry but it’s something that has been possible with DriveWorks software for a long time. If you have a DriveWorks configurator, that is CPQ. We have created a CPQ DriveApp to make setting up and managing a CPQ solution that suits your specific business needs as easy as possible. CPQ Product Manager, Tom Wormald will share the different ways you can use CPQ, how to set up the CPQ DriveApp and will discuss how the CPQ DriveApp compliments your existing implementation.

6pm - What's New in DriveWorks 22: Part 2

DriveWorks CEO, Glen Smith shares the latest updates in DriveWorks 22. Glen will be joined by DriveWorks Technical Specialists to showcase the new features and functionality live.

7pm - New Feature Q&A with Tech Lead

Following the announcements in the second instalment of What’s New in DriveWorks 22, we’ll be diving deeper into specific features with a Technical Lead to find out why we’ve added specific functionality, and learn best practices for using them.

7.15pm - Automating Everything at DriveWorks

We use DriveWorks software to automate as many of our internal processes as possible so we can focus on developing software and supporting our community. DriveWorks powers a lot of what we do – from managing licenses, to ordering branded clothing, and even ordering fish and chips. Learn how we make the most of new features to automate as much as possible.

7.40pm - DriveWorks Challenge Live at DriveWorks World 2024

Whilst sessions have been ongoing, DriveWorks users have been working on their DriveWorks Challenge submissions. Let’s check in on the progress they’ve made and what their plans are.

8pm - How We Use DriveWorks: Customer Story

DriveWorks users share how they use the software, sharing insights, ideas, and practical tips. This is a great opportunity to learn how other companies use DriveWorks and pick up ideas for your own implementation. You’ll have chance to ask questions too.

8.30pm - Closing Technical Remarks

DriveWorks CTO, Philip Stears and Technical Engagement Manager, Oliver BasmaLord, will review and recap highlight from the first day of DriveWorks World 2024 and share some insights into what to expect on day two.

Day 2 – Thursday, April 11th

All agenda timings are in BST, find the time in your timezone with this tool.

1pm - Welcome & What's Coming Up

Learn what’s coming up on day two of DriveWorks World 2024 and how to get the most from the event – during and after.

1.10pm - Panel Discussion: Troubleshooting Tips & Tricks

DriveWorks Experts get together to share their knowledge about using the extensive troubleshooting and reporting tools inside DriveWorks. Often we only think about troubleshooting to diagnose issues, but in this session our team will share insights about why monitoring and reporting is essential throughout. We will be joined by members of the DriveWorks Technical Support team to find out how they investigate and make improvements.

1.45pm - Implementation Run Through: Improve Your UX

In this session we will walk through an implementation and take look at the backend so you can see how it has been set up, and what new features have been used to improve the configurator’s user experience. See under the hood and learn tips for improving your own configurator’s UX.

2pm - What's New in DriveWorks 22: Part 3

DriveWorks CEO, Glen Smith shares the latest updates in DriveWorks 22. Glen will be joined by DriveWorks Technical Specialists to showcase the new features and functionality live.

3pm - New Feature Q&A with Tech Lead

Following the announcements in the What’s New sessions so far, we’ll be diving deeper into specific features with a Technical Lead to find out why we’ve added specific functionality, and learn best practices for using them.

3.20pm - What Does the New Forms Technology Mean for Your Implementation?

The forms technology inside DriveWorks underwent a major update for DriveWorks 21. In this session, our Technical Experts will demonstrate how you can work with the new technology to improve the look and feel of your forms. Learn how to create user friendly and consistent forms, and what this means for your implementation in the future.

3.35pm - Panel Discussion: Integrating with Other Company Systems

DriveWorks Experts get together to share their knowledge about integrating DriveWorks with other company systems. We will be discussing how to approach an integration, what tools in DriveWorks you have access to, and specific areas you should understand to help you set up successful integrations.

4pm - How We Use DriveWorks: Customer Story

DriveWorks users share how they use the software, sharing insights, ideas, and practical tips. This is a great opportunity to learn how other companies use DriveWorks and pick up ideas for your own implementation. You’ll have chance to ask questions too.

4.30pm - DriveWorks 3D from the Beginning to Now

This session will explain the very beginnings of DriveWorks 3D – covering why we created our own 3D technology and what that means for you. We’ll take a DriveWorks project created in DriveWorks 16 and apply the features added in recent releases to show what you can achieve with DriveWorks 22.

5pm - How We Use DriveWorks: Customer Story

DriveWorks users share how they use the software, sharing insights, ideas, and practical tips. This is a great opportunity to learn how other companies use DriveWorks and pick up ideas for your own implementation. You’ll have chance to ask questions too.

5.30pm - Implementation Timeline

Look at what’s involved in putting an implementation together, from ideas to production. Learn all the steps involved and how our team put together the many projects we work on. We’ll take our latest DriveWorks Configurator example and run through what went into planning and building it.

6pm - What's New in DriveWorks 22: Part 4

DriveWorks CEO, Glen Smith shares the latest updates in DriveWorks 22. Glen will be joined by DriveWorks Technical Specialists to showcase the new features and functionality live.

7pm - New Feature Q&A with Tech Lead

Following the announcements in all of the What’s New sessions, we’ll be diving deeper into specific features with a Technical Lead to find out why we’ve added specific functionality, and learn best practices for using them.

7.15pm - DriveWorks Challenge Live at DriveWorks World 2024

Throughout DriveWorks World, DriveWorks users have been working on their DriveWorks Challenge submissions. Let’s check in on the submissions!

8pm - How We Use DriveWorks: Customer Story

DriveWorks users share how they use the software, sharing insights, ideas, and practical tips. This is a great opportunity to learn how other companies use DriveWorks and pick up ideas for your own implementation. You’ll have chance to ask questions too.

8.30pm - DriveWorks World 2024 Recap

DriveWorks CTO, Philip Stears and Technical Engagement Manager, Oliver BasmaLord, will review and recap highlights from DriveWorks World 2024, focusing on the new features and functionality announced and explored throughout the event. We’ll share next steps for continuing your learning, and how and when you can get your hands on DriveWorks 22.

Can’t Join Live? Watch On-Demand

The livestream at DriveWorks World 2024 will be recorded and available to watch again once the broadcast has finished. So if you’re on a different timezone, you can still join DriveWorks World, explore all of the resources in the Event App, and  watch any sessions you miss.
You must be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the recordings.

Technical Video Library

Available throughout and after the event

Alongside the live broadcast at DriveWorks World 2024, there will also be over 100 on-demand technical learning sessions created by experts from across the DriveWorks team, and our community.
These sessions cover a variety of DriveWorks topics, at different skill levels.
Choose the on-demand sessions that are relevant to you and your learning. Learn at your own pace and at a time that suits you. These on-demand sessions will be available throughout DriveWorks World, so you can watch them even when we’re not broadcasting live. They will also remain available after the event so you don’t need to rush through them.

Reseller Preview – Tuesday, 9th April

Broadcasting live from 2pm to 5.30pm BST

DriveWorks Resellers – join us for an exclusive DriveWorks Reseller Preview on Tuesday, 9th April.

This is an opportunity for resellers from around the world to spend valuable time with the DriveWorks team and hear the latest news and updates from us.

We’ll be sharing tips, tricks and resources to help you train and support your DriveWorks customers.

There will be sessions for all reseller teams – technical, order-admin, sales, marketing and more.

Register For DriveWorks World 2024 Today

If you haven’t registered yet then what are you waiting for?

Registration is easy using your MyDriveWorks Community Account.

If you don’t already have a MyDriveWorks Community account, it’s quick, easy and free to create one.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll also have the option to register your interest in presenting at DriveWorks World 2024. Sharing stories on how DriveWorks is used or highlighting a particular area of technology is an important part of the knowledge sharing at DriveWorks World and we would love to hear from you.

In this blog, we’re sharing the upcoming events that will make your DriveWorks experience even better. Get ready for networking events, next-level technical knowledge, and helpful discussions with other users.

Our events are designed to help you get the best out of DriveWorks and to keep you updated on all the new developments in the world of DriveWorks.

3DEXPERIENCE World 2024

If you’re at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2024, visit the DriveWorks team at Booth #1024 in the 3DEXPERIENCE Playground.

DriveWorks CEO, Glen Smith, Vice President, Maria Sarkar, CTO Philip Stears, and other members of the DriveWorks team will be actively participating in various parts of the 2024 event, including exhibiting, learning, and networking.

Tech Talks – Next Level Series 

Tech Talks sessions put a focus on DriveWorks technology, taking a deep dive into specific topics. Our experts share their knowledge and discuss a variety of topics, features, and functionality. Each session includes a live Q&A so you can get your questions answered.

The sessions are designed to empower DriveWorks users with in-depth knowledge and practical insights. They are exclusively for DriveWorks Pro Customers with Subscription, DriveWorks Resellers and Authorised Partners

Our new series of Tech Talks focuses on taking your DriveWorks Implementation to the Next Level. In the February Tech Talk our experts will cover how to improve your configurator’s user experience by making the most of DriveWorks’ Forms and UI Technology.

During this Tech Talk, the team will explain to take a basic configurator and use Form Controls, Specifications Macros and other DriveWorks Technology to enhance its user experience so you can apply the same techniques to your own configurators.

DriveWorks Drivers

DriveWorks Drivers is a quarterly virtual get-together for DriveWorks users worldwide. It’s a chance to connect, swap ideas, and dive deep into all things DriveWorks – from the comfort of your own office or home.

For those of us who enjoy sharing technical hacks and real-world experiences in a less formal way, these virtual meet-ups are perfect. Forget the travel hassle – all of the meetings are online.

DriveWorks Drivers is a value add for those using DriveWorks Solo or Pro with an active subscription. We’ve also extended the invite to Applications Engineers from our VARs who specialize in DriveWorks – bringing their valuable insights to the meetings.

The next DriveWorks Drivers meeting will be on 14th March and will run at two different times to suit most time zones – 3pm (NZDT) and 3pm (GMT).

The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams and will last around 60 minutes.

Follow the link to register through the MyDriveWorks Community – you will need a MyDriveWorks account. Don’t worry if you don’t have an account yet, it’s quick and easy to create one.

Choose which session you would like to join and register now to join us.

When you register we’ll send you a confirmation email, including a calendar invitation and link to join the meeting.

“Nice to see you all and thanks for putting this on :)”

 

“Thanks all for your work and time. This was helpful.”

Looking Ahead to April 2024

DriveWorks World 2024

Join the DriveWorks Community at DriveWorks World 2024 – April 10th-11th

DriveWorks World 2024 isn’t just an event; it’s a community-driven celebration of innovation, knowledge-sharing, and technical expertise for DriveWorks users and resellers.

This is your opportunity to join hundreds of other DriveWorks community members from around the world to share knowledge, hear about the latest updates and learn how to get the very best from DriveWorks.

Join DriveWorks World 2024 online with live stream and on-demand sessions so you can take part at a time that works best for you.

It’s free for DriveWorks customers with an active subscription, resellers and partners to attend.

A regular segment of the DriveWorks Drivers meetings, The Final Ascent is where Paul Gimbel takes a detailed look at a particular DriveWorks feature and addresses topics and questions raised by users in our community.

It’s more than just a presentation; it’s a deep dive into the capabilities of DriveWorks.

Learn from DriveWorks Expert, Paul Gimbel

Paul Gimbel is an expert in design automation and all things DriveWorks. His wealth of knowledge and experience makes him the ideal guide for DriveWorks users looking to scale new heights in their use of DriveWorks. As the presenter of The Final Ascent, Paul brings a unique blend of technical expertise and practical insights, enabling you to take your DriveWorks implementation to the next level.

A picture of Paul Gimbel, DriveWorks Sherpa.

Conquering The Final Ascent 

  1. Advanced Techniques Explained: Explore advanced DriveWorks techniques, going beyond just the basics. From integrations to lambda functions, you’ll discover new practical insights that can make a real difference to your DriveWorks projects.
  2. Real-World Applications: The Final Ascent looks at real-world applications and shows how these techniques can be applied to real-world projects. This practical approach resonates with participants, providing tangible solutions to real challenges.
  3. Interactive Learning: Participants are encouraged to engage with the content, ask questions, and share their experiences.
  4. Problem-Solving Strategies: The Final Ascent is fast becoming a recognized platform for problem-solving, helping DriveWorks users optimize their use of DriveWorks.

Watch Previous Final Ascent Segments On-Demand

To make it easy for you to find and watch previous recordings of the Final Ascent, we’ve put a video of each one in the DriveWorks Learning Portal.

You can access the Learning Portal in the MyDriveWorks Community. If you don’t already have a MyDriveWorks account, it’s quick, easy and free to create one.

Once you’ve set up your MyDriveWorks account, log in to the MyDriveWorks Community, and go to the learning tab to access the Learning Portal. You’ll find all of the Final Ascent recordings in the DriveWorks Pro section of the portal.

Here are the Final Ascent topics that you can find now in the Learning Portal:

Lambda Functions

Go through a basic explanation of what Lambda Functions are before diving into how to use them (and how NOT to use them!) while providing a variety of examples to demonstrate everything from basic Lambda Functions for simplifying your rules all the way to advanced recursive functions for processing lists and tables.

DriveWorks 21 Forms Technology

Explore the new Web Forms Technology in DriveWorks 21. Find out about the technology involved, and most importantly, the fact that most users may not notice any differences. Learn about a few of the subtle differences (literally a few pixels), and what they mean for existing implementations.

Mountain with a path plotted out to the summit with a flag at the top

Integrations

Take a look at the three categorizations of integrations, how that helps you to determine which DriveWorks techniques and functionality to use, and how to evaluate the requirements of your integrations.

Host Specifications

Explore what Specification Hosts are and see some examples of how they can be used, including a modular user interface, a Project Updater project, a Library Generation project, and a Testing Automation project.

DriveWorks Live

Find out more about a variety of topics surrounding DriveWorks Live and Internet Information Services, covering everything from the basics to troubleshooting, customization and even performance tuning techniques.

Registration is now open – join us for the March DriveWorks Drivers meeting

The next DriveWorks Drivers meeting will be on 14th March and will run at two different times to suit most time zones – 3pm (NZDT) and 3pm (GMT).

This is a virtual networking event so you can join from anywhere.

The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams and will last around 60 minutes.

There will of course be another Final Ascent segment, and you can have your say about which topic you’d like to see Paul cover. Place your vote here.

Follow the link below to register through the DriveWorks Community – you will need a MyDriveWorks account. Don’t worry if you don’t have an account yet, it’s quick and easy to create one.

Click the session you would like to join. You will automatically be registered and we’ll send you a confirmation email, including a calendar invitation and link to join the meeting.

Thursday, 14th March 2024

Join us at 3pm NZDT

Thursday, 14th March 2024

Join us at 3pm GMT

Take Your DriveWorks Implementation to the Next Level with Our New Series of Tech Talks

Are you ready to take your DriveWorks implementation to the next level?

Don’t miss our new Tech Talks series, where our DriveWorks experts will share valuable insights to help you make enhancements to different aspects of your implementation.

Tech Talks – Next Level Series 

Tech Talks sessions put a focus on DriveWorks technology, taking a deep dive into specific topics. Our experts share their knowledge and discuss a variety of topics, features and functionality. Each session includes a live Q&A so you can get your questions answered.

The sessions are designed to empower DriveWorks users with in-depth knowledge and practical insights.

This series of Tech Talks focuses on taking your DriveWorks Implementation to the Next Level.

The first webinar in the series will focus on the importance and advantages of establishing distinct environments for development, testing, and production.

January 2024:
Tech Talks – Next Level Setting Up and Using Development, Testing and Production Environments

In the January Tech Talk, our experts will explain the benefits of setting up and using Development, Testing and Production Environments.

Join the DriveWorks team to find out how setting up multiple DriveWorks environments can improve your DriveWorks implementation and take it to the next level.

What We’ll Cover in the January Tech Talk

During this one-hour session, the DriveWorks team will cover the following key topics:

Understanding a DriveWorks Implementation:

    • Take a deep dive into what makes a robust DriveWorks implementation.
    • Find out the key elements that enable efficient and scalable processes.

Benefits of Multiple Environments:

    • Explore the advantages of having dedicated Development, Testing, and Production Environments.
    • Learn how this approach can streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and mitigate risks in your DriveWorks projects.

Data Migration Strategies:

    • Discover how data can seamlessly move between different DriveWorks environments.
    • Get practical tips on maintaining consistency and reliability when transitioning from development to testing and finally to production.

Behind-the-Scenes: Our DriveWorks Implementations:

    • Get a unique perspective as our experts share real-world examples of how we manage DriveWorks implementations internally.
    • Uncover best practices and strategies that can be applied to optimize your own DriveWorks projects.

Next Level: Setting Up and Using Development, Testing and Production Environments

Thursday, 18th January | 3pm – 4pm (GMT)

This webinar is exclusively for DriveWorks Pro Customers with Subscription, DriveWorks Resellers and Authorised Partners.

The webinar will be hosted via GoToWebinar, click below to register and join us.

Tech Talks Coming Up In 2024

February 2024

Enhancing the UX of Your Configurator Using Forms & UI

22nd February | 3pm (GMT)

March 2024

Enhancing the Performance of Your 3D

21st March | 3pm (GMT)

April 2024

What DriveWorks 22 Means for Your Implementation

18th April | 3pm (BST)

May 2024

Enhance & Accelerate Your Implementation Using DriveApps

16th May | 3pm (BST)

What is DriveWorks Drivers?

DriveWorks Drivers is a quarterly virtual get-together for DriveWorks users worldwide. It’s a chance to connect, swap ideas, and dive deep into all things DriveWorks – from the comfort of your own office or home.

For those of us who enjoy sharing technical hacks and real-world experiences in a less formal way, these virtual meet-ups are perfect. Forget the travel hassle – all of the meetings are online.

DriveWorks Drivers is a value add for those using DriveWorks Solo or Pro with an active subscription. We’ve also extended the invite to Applications Engineers from our VARs who specialize in DriveWorks – bringing their valuable insights to the meetings

What to Expect? 

Here’s what you can expect from DriveWorks Drivers

Knowledge Sharing

Guest Presentations

Technical Discussions

Registration is now open – join us for the March DriveWorks Drivers meeting

The next DriveWorks Drivers meeting will be on 14th March and will run at two different times to suit most time zones – 3pm (NZDT) and 3pm (GMT).

This is a virtual networking event so you can join from anywhere.

The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams and will last around 60 minutes.

Follow the link below to register through the DriveWorks Community – you will need a MyDriveWorks account. Don’t worry if you don’t have an account yet, it’s quick and easy to create one.

Click the session you would like to join. You will automatically be registered and we’ll send you a confirmation email, including a calendar invitation and link to join the meeting.

Secure Your Place At The March DriveWorks Drivers Meeting

Register now to join us in March

Thursday, 14th March 2024

Join us at 3pm NZDT

Thursday, 14th March 2024

Join us at 3pm GMT

DriveWorks Challenge 4 – A Reminder

Here’s a friendly reminder about DriveWorks Challenge 4. We’ve already had some creative solutions submitted but there’s still plenty of time to join the challenge!

If this is your first time taking part, here’s how you can get involved…

The idea is simple, we give you a brief (keep reading for more details), and all you need to do is come up with a solution that meets the brief’s requirements.

The goal of The DriveWorks Challenge is to provide you with a quick, fun puzzle that can shake up your thinking process, enabling you to look at DriveWorks and your own projects in a different light.

The closing date for the challenge is 28th February. There’s no pressure and you can put as much or as little effort into it as you see appropriate. At the end of the challenge, we’ll share a video and DriveWorks Package (.drivepkg) in the DriveWorks Learning Portal showing how we solved the challenge and featuring some of our favorite challenge submissions.

A reminder of the Challenge 4 Brief

For DriveWorks Challenge 4, we want you to develop the best use of SVG images in DriveWorks. So you can either:

  • Use the project provided to create the best SVG image

OR

  • Use the project to create the best use case for SVG images

The choice is yours!

Watch the video to get more information on the challenge brief.

Please get your submissions in before 28th February 2024 to be in with a chance of winning a prize!

Who’s Up For The Challenge?

DriveWorks Challenge 4 welcomes participants of all DriveWorks skill levels—no need for engineering, IT, or SOLIDWORKS expertise.

Feel free to spend as much or as little time as you want (average time is about 30 minutes), but you can go at your own pace.

Don’t forget, the deadline for prize submissions is Friday, 28th February. You can still submit afterwards, but unfortunately, it won’t be included in the prize draw. Ready, set, challenge!

How to Join the DriveWorks Challenge 4

Follow 3 simple steps to join the DriveWorks Challenge 4

Log In to the DriveWorks Learning Portal

Head to the MyDriveWorks Community and log into the Learning Portal. The Learning Portal includes learning courses about a variety of topics. It’s also home to the DriveWorks Challenge. If you don’t yet have an account, it’s quick, easy and free to create one.

Follow the DriveWorks Challenge Instructions

The DriveWorks Challenge course in the Learning Portal guides you through the steps required to join the challenge.

There’s a video and a downloadable brief, along with all the files you need.

Upload Your Drive Package Submission

Once you have made all of your changes to the provided project, zip your Drive Package up and upload it on the final page of the DriveWorks Challenge course.

That’s it, you’re in!

Customer Presentations at DriveWorks World 2024

Every year customer presentations are a key part of DriveWorks World, and we actively encourage our customers, partners, and resellers to share their DriveWorks experiences.

The presentations are a great way for DriveWorks users to share insights, ideas, and practical tips as part of a collaborative learning environment.

Submissions are now open for presentations at DriveWorks World 2024 and we’d love to hear from you.

Why Present?

DriveWorks World is a place to exchange ideas, knowledge, and real-world experiences. It’s a valuable opportunity for us to get a better understanding of how our customers use DriveWorks, and for our user community to learn and inspire each other.

The presentations are a real bonus for both the DriveWorks team and the DriveWorks community. Watching them helps us to ensure that our software meets the changing needs of our customers and at the same time, DriveWorks World attendees get inspiration and insights for their own DriveWorks implementations.

Presenting at DriveWorks World not only allows you to tell us more about your company and how you use DriveWorks but also means that you get DriveWorks community input and feedback for your future projects.

We’d Love to Hear Your DriveWorks Story

We welcome contributions from customers, resellers, and partners, showcasing practical applications of DriveWorks.

Whether it’s a customer sharing their project, a reseller presenting a standout demo, or a partner collaborating on a customer project, we’d love to hear from you. It doesn’t have to be a complete DriveWorks implementation that you show – it could be a small example of one aspect of your project, or just something cool you would like to share.

How you share your story is also up to you. It could be a traditional presentation or an interview-style Q&A session with one of our team. We encourage open-sharing and what you include in your customer story is down to you. It can be as detailed or concise as you like.

It’s your DriveWorks story and we’d love to hear it.

Submit Your Presentation

Do you have a DriveWorks story you’d like to share at DriveWorks World 2024?

Submissions are now open!

We invite you to submit your presentation proposal to the DriveWorks team who will be reviewing and shortlisting entries.

Click the button below and log in to your MyDriveWorks Community account. If you’re already registered, you will see a button inviting you to Present at DriveWorks World 2024.

Join the DriveWorks Community at DriveWorks World 2024 – April 10th-11th

DriveWorks World 2024 isn’t just an event; it’s a community-driven celebration of innovation, knowledge-sharing, and technical expertise for DriveWorks users and resellers.

This is your opportunity to join hundreds of other DriveWorks community members from around the world to share knowledge, hear about the latest updates and learn how to get the very best from DriveWorks.

DriveWorks World 2024 will be hosted virtually and tickets are free for all DriveWorks customers with active subscription, reseller technical staff and authorised DriveWorks partners.

Register For DriveWorks World 2024 Today

If you haven’t registered yet then what are you waiting for?

Registration is easy using your MyDriveWorks Community Account.

If you don’t already have a MyDriveWorks Community account, it’s quick, easy and free to create one.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll also have the option to register your interest in presenting at DriveWorks World 2024. Sharing stories on how DriveWorks is used or highlighting a particular area of technology is an important part of the knowledge sharing at DriveWorks World and we would love to hear from you.

2 New DriveWorks Releases are Now Available to Download

Download the Latest Releases Now from the MyDriveWorks Community

DriveWorks Resellers and Customers with an Active Subscription Support Contract can download DriveWorks 21 Service Pack 1 or DriveWorks 20 Service Pack 4 from the MyDriveWorks Community.

Here’s what you’ll need to download the latest release:

  • A MyDriveWorks Community Account.  Create an account if you don’t have one, or reset your password if you’ve forgotten it.
  • Pre-Requisites can be found in our Online Documentation.
  • DriveWorks 20 License Codes for 20 SP4 or DriveWorks 21 License Codes for 21 SP1

Resolved Issues

SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP1 and SP3 introduced issues with Linear Component Pattern Updates, and Instance-Specific Driving in Assemblies with Patterns.

SOLIDWORKS have isolated and fixed the issue with Linear Component Pattern Updates for SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP4.

We have been actively investigating the issue with Instance-Specific Driving in Assemblies with Patterns, and working closely with SOLIDWORKS to pin down the cause and work on a resolution. In doing this, we have also found a different approach that solves the problem for DriveWorks and which we can adopt independently of any change to SOLIDWORKS.

This solution is incorporated in the release of DriveWorks 21 SP1 and we have also made the decision to release an additional service pack of DriveWorks 20 – DriveWorks 20 SP4. This means that this solution will also be available to customers that haven’t yet adopted DriveWorks 21.

Important Information

  • We have tested the updates rigorously across Windows Operating Systems and the latest versions of SOLIDWORKS to test compatibility.
  • As with any upgrade, remember to take a backup of your data!
  • The download should take no more than 30 minutes.
  • If you are working in a multi-user environment make sure you upgrade all of the DriveWorks Modules e.g. DriveWorks Administrator, Autopilot, any DriveWorks User licenses, DriveWorks Live, and DriveWorks Pro Server.
  • Make sure you have your DriveWorks 20 license keys to hand.
  • More information is available in our Online Help File.