In this “Ask the Expert” webinar available to COE members, Marc Young of XLM Solutions walked attendees through the complexities of migrating and upgrade data from legacy systems — particularly Designer Central and Engineering Central — into the 3DEXPERIENCE base line environment based on Unified Product Structure (UPS) data model. The session offered a blend of strategic guidance, tools that can be used, recommendations and ended with Q&A. The session can be a resource for organizations planning or undergoing a PLM migration.

Members can access previously recorded COE webinars, including this one, by clicking the archives link at the end of the webinar page.

Understanding the UPS Model

Before undertaking any 3DX migration to UPS (Unified Product Structure) data model, users should have a good understanding of the data model works. Unlike legacy systems that separate CAD and engineering items, UPS consolidates them into a single product structure made up of “physical products.” This unified approach simplifies data management but requires careful planning to map legacy data structures into the new model.

Marc emphasized that there is no universal migration template. Each organization must tailor its approach based on its current data, business processes and future goals.

Migration Strategies: Two Paths Forward

Organizations can choose between two migration strategies:

1. Hybrid Environment: Retain Designer Central and apply the UPS model side-by-side. While technically possible, Marc does not recommend this approach due to complexity and limited support.
2. Clean Migration: Set up a new, out-of-the-box 3DEXPERIENCE environment and migrate legacy data into it. This is the preferred method, as it allows organizations to fully leverage modern features like dashboards, widgets and standardized roles.

Planning and Preparation

Before initiating a migration, Marc advised teams to:

• Define the migration scope: Will you migrate all data, only the latest versions or a mix of released and in-work data?
• Assess revision schemes: Consider how numeric, alpha and minor revisions will be handled.
• Evaluate infrastructure: Decide between on-premises and cloud deployment, especially if handling ITAR or sensitive data.
• Clean the data: Fix broken references, standardize file naming and validate CAD integrity to avoid issues during import.

Tools and Technologies

Several tools and formats are available to support the migration process:

• EDAT (Enterprise Developer Acceleration Toolkit): For on-premises migrations using XPDM XML.
• EIF (Enterprise Integration Framework): For cloud-based migrations.
• XTA (Transition Assistant): A prebuilt tool for cloud migrations, supporting incremental and delta modes.
• FBDI: For manual loading and conversion of CATIA V5 data to the CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE format.
• XPDM for custom On Premise migrations
• Custom Scripts: Using MQL, web services or Java for specialized needs.

Marc stressed the importance of orchestration — tracking migration status, handling errors and supporting parallel processing to ensure efficiency and reliability.

Testing and Validation

A successful migration hinges on thorough testing. Marc recommended:

• Testing both migrated and newly created data.
• Validating across large and small datasets.
• Simulating user load and testing security scenarios.
• Ensuring that processes like change actions and BOM creation function correctly.

Attendee Questions

The Q&A portion of the webinar addressed real-world migration challenges raised by attendees:

• Can you migrate V5 CAD from Windchill? Yes, you can. As there are various details involved, Marc suggested using XPDM XML (on-premise) or StepX + EIF (cloud) for such a migration.
• Is Creo data in UPS? Yes — supported as physical products.
• How best to maintain version integrity: Ensure clean extraction, good data cleaning and data is properly formatted to support migration use cases.
• Validating CAD quality: Some Dassault tools exist, but manual review may still be necessary.
• How can you handle dev vs. prod revisions? Use custom widgets such as a “change revision” widget developed by xLM Solutions or collaborative spaces to manage phase distinctions.
• Migrating between 3DEXPERIENCE environments: Use XPDM XML or 3DXML to support such migrations or transferring data between environments.

Marc concluded with a reminder that “the devil’s in the details.” While migrating to 3DEXPERIENCE is a complex undertaking, it is entirely achievable with the right planning, tools and expertise. He encouraged attendees to reach out for personalized guidance, noting that most migration scenarios can be solved — even if they require time and customization. Marc can be reached by email at myoung@xlmsolutions.com or via xLM’s website at www.xlmsolutions.com

Members can access previously recorded COE webinars, including this one, by clicking the archives link at the end of the webinar page.

Marc Young is the managing partner of xLM Solutions, which he founded in 2006. He is a recognized expert in enterprise software, with a focus on product lifecycle management (PLM), product data management (PDM) and computer-aided design (CAD).

For more than 20 years, Young has designed, integrated and accelerated technology solutions for manufacturers seeking to improve business processes. He has developed tools and methodologies for data migration and PLM/PDM integration projects, and has deep experience with systems including ENOVIA SmarTeam, ENOVIA, 3DEXPERIENCE, SOLIDWORKS PDM, Aras, Autodesk Vault, DBWorks, SharePoint and flat files.

Whether leading a full migration or helping companies streamline PLM-related processes, Young brings strategic insight and technical expertise to every project. He has customized PLM and PDM solutions for organizations ranging from small businesses to large enterprises across diverse industries.

Young earned an MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in electronics and electrical engineering from Michigan State University. He is an active blogger and enjoys spending time with his family, working out, reading about emerging technologies and traveling. He is especially passionate about supporting local schools and robotics competitions, including sponsoring the FIRST Robotics program at his son’s middle school.

Young enjoys collaborating with clients, exploring new technologies and developing creative solutions. He considers himself both a technical expert and a strategic thinker, committed to making PLM work as part of a broader enterprise vision.