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PDM: What to do when a file is checked out, but still read-only.

This issue is caused by a conflict between how SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS PDM each handle multi-user environments. 
SOLIDWORKS uses its built-in Collaboration features to mark a file as read-only, preventing two users from modifying it simultaneously. SOLIDWORKS PDM, however, manages this through a check-out/check-in method.
Sometimes both operations run at the same time, causing a file to be checked out by PDM but marked as read-only by SOLIDWORKS.

When a file is stuck in this state, follow these steps to resolve it:

  1. In SOLIDWORKS, go to Tools > Options, then select the Collaboration tab.
  2. Check the boxes marked "Enable multi-user environment" and "Add shortcut menu items for multi-user environment".
    SOLIDWORKS PDM interface showing a file that is checked out but marked as read-only.
  3. Close the Options dialog box.
  4. From the File menu, select Get Write Access. 
    SOLIDWORKS PDM interface with the file properties window highlighting the read-only status.


Once complete, the read-only indicator disappears from the title bar and you can continue editing and saving the file without issue.

If the steps above do not resolve the issue, it may be caused by a Windows file-system restriction. In that case, right-click the file in the Vault view and uncheck the Read-only attribute in its properties.

 

Last reviewed: 17/03/2023