3DExperience guidelines for SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE MySession settings, templates and file creation

1 - SOLIDWORKS System Options

Open SOLIDWORKS and go to ‘Tools -> Options…’ and make sure the following settings are set:

• 3DEXPERIENCE Integration
  • Check the box for ‘Update SOLIDWORKS files for compatibility with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform’.

Save above changes to System Options by clicking OK.

2 - 3DEXPERIENCE MySession App Options

Open the 3DEXPERIENCE Task Pane tab, in the MySession App go to the Tools tab and click Options and make sure the following settings are set:

• Save
  • Check ‘Save graphical properties’.
  • Check ‘Replace current revision automatically when creating a new revision’.
  • Check ‘Use part or assembly title as new drawing title’ and choose ‘On every save or update’.
  • Check ‘Activate asynchronous save’.

• Open
  • Check ‘Refresh MySession after opening files’.
  • Check ‘Warn if there is a revision conflict’.

Save above changes to Options by clicking OK.

3 - Setting up Document Templates and Sheet Formats

Open System Options inside SOLIDWORKS.

From the ‘Default Templates’ menu set the default Part, Assembly and Drawing templates by following the numbered steps in the three images below:

To set the path for the Sheet Formats go to the File Locations menu, and in the dropdown list under Show folders for: navigate to Sheet Formats, and delete the existing folder path.

Now, click ‘Add…’ and in the Choose Folder dialog that appears, click Select from 3DEXPERIENCE[JK3] :

This will open the Select a Bookmark dialog. Navigate to the Bookmark named ‘Sheet Formats’ and select it. Confirm the selection by clicking Select.

The title of the Bookmark will appear in [ ] in the locations list. Click OK to finish adding the location. 

Click Yes on the following prompt to make changes to your search paths.

Now the Sheet Formats can be selected when creating new Drawings using the PLMG Onboarding template.

Do the same steps for BOM Tables, Revision Tables, Weldment Cut list and Custom Property files.

4 - Precautions when creating SOLIDWORKS files

Please follow the following guidelines when creating SOLIDWORKS files and saving to the platform:

• Collaborative Space
  • All files should be created in the Collaborative Space called “Common Space”
• Templates
  • All files should be created from the Templates in the tab called 3DEXPERIENCE:

• In-context and External References
  • DON’T use In-context references outside the Part or Assembly!
• Lightweight mode, Large Assembly Settings and Large Design Review mode
  • DON’t use Lightweight mode, Large Assembly Settings and Large Design Review mode on any file being saved to the platform (to ensure that all model data is being loaded).
• Unique Identifier
  • Upon upload/save to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, an attribute/property (Name) is automatically created and assigned to the file. This attribute/property is the platforms Unique Identifier and cannot be changed after creation. This attribute will be used as the main identifier on a drawing, together with the Revision.