Differences between SOLIDWORKS Desktop and Connected versions

There are two different types of SOLIDWORKS software that are installed locally on your computer. There are some key differences between these two software, that you as a user should be aware of. This article presents the differences from the viewpoint of SOLIDWORKS Connected, so SOLIDWORKS Connected version is compared to the more known desktop version of SOLIDWORKS.

Installation, Updating, and Licensing

The first key difference between the software is the method of installation for SOLIDWORKS Connected, this is something that especially might confuse an old SOLIDWORKS desktop user. While SOLIDWORKS desktop requires the user to download an installed software and have a serial number, SOLIDWORKS Connected installation is controlled by the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, and the license to software is tied to your user account on the platform.

To start the installation of SOLIDWORKS Connected, you have two create an account and connect to your 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, there is a good video for doing this on PLM Group's Youtube Channel

When you have connected to the platform, you can proceed with the second video, which describes how to install SOLIDWORKS Connected from the platform.

You might notice that there is no desktop shortcut created automatically for SOLIDWORKS Connected after installation, this is also one difference between the versions, the desktop icon for SOLIDWORKS Connected is created from the platform via the arrow menu from SOLIDWORKS Connected icon on the compass:

Differences in User Interface

There is a video on PLM Group's Youtube Channel that shows the main differences in User Interface on SOLIDWORKS Connected

There is also a key difference in how saving files is handled with SOLIDWORKS Connected, fortunately, there is also a descriptive video about this available on our Youtube Channel.

Local Files

SOLIDWORKS Connected is the cloud connected version of SOLIDWORKS, saving of SOLIDWORKS files is done to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. SOLIDWORKS Connected treats all local files as a file cache.

If the SOLIDWORKS file you are saving to platform is already to saved to your PC, SOLIDWORKS Connected will first save your file to platform and then create an connection to this file. Then SOLIDWORKS will know that it is already saved to the platform, if you move the file locally or make a copy to a new folder in your machine from the file the link will be broken so be careful with that. For new files, SOLIDWORKS Connected first saves them to a default path in your machine and then creates a copy of the file on the platform.

All files are always loaded locally to your machine while you work with them, SOLIDWORKS will inform you if your files are outdated or newer than the ones that are saved to the platform.

You can browse and manage your local files straight from SOLIDWORKS Connected from the “3DEXPERIENCE Files on This PC” Application.

Standalone Software tool differences

SOLIDWORKS Desktop comes with several different standalone tools that most users are at least somewhat familiar with. There are some differences between these tools on SOLIDWORKS Connected and Desktop-versions.

SOLIDWORKS Task Scheduler

SOLIDWORKS Task Scheduler can be usually found separately installed on your machine, however, this is not the case with SOLIDWORKS Connected. In SOLIDWORKS Connected, this tool can only be accessed from inside SOLIDWORKS Application through the Tools menu.

SOLIDWORKS RX

Similar to SOLIDWORKS Task Scheduler, SOLIDWORKS RX can usually be found separately installed on your machine, and similarly to Task Scheduler this tool can only be accessed within SOLIDWORKS Connected in this version.

eDrawings

In SOLIDWORKS Connected the eDrawings application is replaced with 3DPlay, this is an application that is available for every user via 3DEXPERIENCE, it is also possible to share copies of CAD files in 3DDrive with external stakeholders, this enables them to view the shared files in 3DPlay.

SOLIDWORKS Visualize

SOLIDWORKS Visualize is available in SOLIDWORKS Connected as a separate installation with Professional- and Premium-packaging. This installation might be needed to be launched separately from the application in the platform. The application can be found under your SOLIDWORKS Connected role.

Add-Ins

SOLIDWORKS Connected has a lot smaller Add-in support compared to SOLIDWORKS Desktop-version, no third-party add-Ins are supported and only a small list of add-ins are actually added in terms of support to SOLIDWORKS Connected, if your add-in is not on the following list, it cannot be used with SOLIDWORKS Connected.

FeatureWorks
Design Checker
TolAnalyst
Task Scheduler
Utilities
ScanTo3D
CircuitWorks
Routing
Toolbox

Simulation

SOLIDWORKS Connected has built-in support for the Simulation Standard packaging (Simulation and Simulation Packaging), higher level simulations require different types of cloud simulation roles or Standalone licences for SOLIDWORKS Simulation (Professional, Premium, Motion).

Working offline with SOLIDWORKS Connected

Sometimes you need to go work offline for a certain time period, this is no issue in SOLIDWORKS Connected, check this guide to find out how to work offline with SOLIDWORKS Connected.