Skip to main content
1-Visitor
February 25, 2020
Question

Windchill Extensions

  • February 25, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 6203 views

Hi,

 

just found https://windchill-extensions.ptc.com/

Are these extensions new? Anybody tried with Windchill 11.0?

 

The idea sounds nice and some coming soon extensions (depending on price) could be helpfull.

 

br Bernhard

2 replies

19-Tanzanite
February 25, 2020

@bmüller , they introduced this last year at LiveWorx.  No, I have not tried them.  I was going to try the one for Change Analysis, but probably not for another month or so and then for 11.2.  To me it seems a little pricey, especially since it is a subscription rate.

bmüller1-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
February 25, 2020

Looks like they acquired https://www.wincom-plm.com/

 

Yes, the price could be an "issue"...

19-Tanzanite
February 25, 2020

I don't believe that they acquired them, but entered into a partnership.  I do have a custom Windchill program that Wincom made for me a few years ago.  I haven't had any issues with it, but it was custom and we didn't roll it out until it met the requirements.

17-Peridot
February 26, 2020

I'm both exited and frustrated by these new 'PTC' Windchill Extensions. Wincom's Windchill Extensions seem great, easy to use, and solve some big and small headaches with Windchill. Plus they can be installed without having to upgrade Windchill. But they are exactly the fixes/enhancements PTC should have added to Windchill over the years from the money we spend on Windchill maintenance/subscription. What are other people's thoughts?

 

Also, Wincom has a ton more apps available: https://www.wincom-plm.com/app-center/

I might prefer to buy from Wincom rather than reward PTC for not fixing their software.

13-Aquamarine
February 26, 2020

Windchill Extensions are either free or subscribed.

For capabilities that would qualify for a general-purpose enhancement (like PDF Quick Access), the extensions are free.

For new capabilities that are either beyond maintenance release expectation (like Watermarking Advanced) or applicable to specialized workflows (like SiliconExpert Connect), the extensions are subscribed.

The development capacity for Windchill Extensions is an added resource that is funded by Windchill Extensions revenues.  It's unrelated to the core Windchill development capacity, but also coordinated.  For example:  we were going to make a BOM-redlining extension, but core development has this in their near-term backlog. 

Effectively, we invest this added Windchill Extension capacity to replace long-term customization and integration needs with extensions. 

17-Peridot
February 28, 2020

The initial list of what's considered general purpose enhancements (free) is REALLY small. The Change Notice and Promotion Request validate seem like anyone using these in Windchill would want them. One could probably argue the same about the Change Analysis. For the Quick Access, most people would also want to download other representations like STEP, DXF as well - never mind that admins can't push custom Windchill views to their users (related product idea).

 

According to my PTC rep, the PTC Windchill Extensions are exempt the annual remixing from other PTC PLM licenses (b/c PTC has to pay royalties to Wincom).

 

Side note: the Wincom Search looks super interesting but probably wouldn't be considered an extension.