# Solidworks PDM to ION

## Getting started

Follow the instructions below to automatically sync data from [Solidworks PDM](/apps/s/solidworks-pdm.md) to [ION](/apps/i/ion.md).

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### Create a <img src="/files/05IcXvfoX2QXkNGy06BC" alt="" data-size="line">Solidworks integration

First, connect Solidworks PDM and create your integration (instructions [here](/apps/s/solidworks-pdm.md)).

Violet fetches part and assembly data from Solidworks PDM by connecting directly to your PDM server's SQL database. Alternatively, you can manually upload a BOM in .csv format that's been exported from Solidworks.
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{% step %}

### Create an <img src="/files/MTUONq04qp7n1FJPmFek" alt="" data-size="line">ION integration

Next, set up an ION integration, following the instructions [here](/apps/i/ion/generate-api-credentials-in-ion.md). Configure your data fetch, specifying:

* The types of data you want to fetch (`parts`, `runs`, `purchase orders`, etc).
* Fetch frequency - this is either scheduled, eg. every 1 hour, 10 minutes, etc., or event-driven via webhooks.

Violet will need to fetch whichever data you wish to be synced from Solidworks (eg. `parts`).
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### Configure sync workflow

Head to [Workflows](/features/workflows.md) to configure your sync, including desired trigger, property mappings, business logic, etc.
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### One-time data syncs

Alternatively, you can push assemblies to ION on a one-off basis.

1. Navigate to the desired Solidworks PDM assembly in Violet. Under **Automations**, select your target app and click Push.
2. Once successful, you will now see this assembly in both Violet and ION. Any future pushes will update existing parts and/or create new parts intelligently (it will not duplicate data).

## Observability

To learn more about monitoring performance and health & status of your data syncs, head to [Observability](/features/workflows/observability.md).


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