SOLIDWORKS File Management Course Overview

The SOLIDWORKS File Management course is designed to equip SOLIDWORKS users with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage files within the SOLIDWORKS environment. This course is particularly beneficial for users who are not utilizing SOLIDWORKS PDM and serves as a prerequisite to any SOLIDWORKS PDM courses. It covers the SOLIDWORKS file structure, file references, file associativity, and strategies for managing files in a multi-user environment.

Skills Learned:

Understanding the SOLIDWORKS file structure and references
Utilizing Save, Save As, Save As Copy, and managing save references effectively
Copying and/or packaging files for sharing with the Pack and Go utility
Operating in a network collaborative environment and setting Toolbox options correctly

Course Duration

1 Days (7 hours/day)

Prerequisites

Experience with SOLIDWORKS

Experience with the Windows Operating System

Course Examples

Performance Evaluation

Optimize performance and manage file size

File Relationships

Build relationships and links between different file types and intelligently link and update

Open Options

Open in fully resolved, in lightweight, or large assembly mode to improve performance

File References

Review, manage, or break references between parts, assemblies, and drawings

Working in a Collaborative Environment

Learn how to effectively collaborate on designs with users working on the same files simultaneously

Auto-Recovery

Setup automatic saving of CAD files in the background to ensure data is not lost

SOLIDWORKS File Management Course Syllabus

Lesson 1: SOLIDWORKS File Structure

Understanding SOLIDWORKS Files
SOLIDWORKS File Structure

External References
File Associativity
SOLIDWORKS Files

Case Study: Reducing File Size
Methods for Reducing File Size

Suppress Features Method
The Block Method
Suppress Base Feature Method
Image Quality
Configurations
FeatureManager Design Tree
SOLIDWORKS File Types

Case Study: External References
File References

Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)

File Reference Example

Find References
List External References
File Names
Update Holders
Out of Context

SOLIDWORKS File Conversion

SOLIDWORKS Task Scheduler

Case Study: File Conversion
Opening Files

Case Study: RAM Resident

Reload

Open Modes
Read-only

Case Study: Quick View
Case Study: Read-only
Exercise 1: File Conversion

Lesson 2: Saving Files

Saving Files

Save
Save As
Save All

Case Study: Save Options
Editing References
Automatic File Backup

Backup
Auto-recover
Notification

Case Study: Backup/Recover
File Properties

Classes of File Properties
Creating File Properties
Uses of File Properties

Property Tab Builder
Case Study: File Properties
Additional Data

Design Binder
Comments
Tags

Exercise 2: Change a Reference

Lesson 3: File References

External Reference Search Order

Reference Options
File Names

Case Study: Searching for References

Internal ID
Resolving Renamed Documents

Recursive Searches

Copying References
Using Save As to Copy References

Changing References

In-context Features

Case Study: In-context Features
Locking and Breaking References
SOLIDWORKS File Utilities

Windows Explorer/Task Pane Access

Case Study: SOLIDWORKS File Utilitie

Renaming Files
FeatureManager Rename

Exercise 3: Change Document Names
Exercise 4: SOLIDWORKS File Utilities

Lesson 4: Shared Files

Working in a Collaborative Environment
Production Files

Read/Write Access
Updating Read-only Files
Open References Read-only

Case Study: Sharing Files

Reloading Files

Reload

Taking Write Access
Open Reference Files As Read-only
Make Read-only

Ancillary Files

Ancillary File Types
Specifying File Locations
Moving Ancillary Files
Separate Folders
What files should be shared?
Where should common files be stored?
Setting Shared File Locations
Forming Tools

Case Study: Shared File Locations
SOLIDWORKS Add-Ins
Toolbox

Master Part Files
Create Parts
Create Parts on Ctrl-Drag
Shared Master Parts
Shared Copies

Case Study: Toolbox Parts

Read-only Options in Toolbox
Toolbox Icon
Copy Parts

Exercise 5: Establish File Locations