How old is the template?

How old is the template?

If you use a part template older than 2013, then the part can fail. The reason is because the sheet metal architecture was change in version 2013. You can see that by noticing that the flat pattern features are not grouped inside a folder.

SolidWorks have made this macro to check the history of the part and drawing.

The macro (History_SWFiles_2020.swp) permits checking all versions involved in SOLIDWORKS files and useful to trace the version of templates used by the customer.

Download macro: History_SWFiles_2020.swp https://support.plmgroup.eu/hc/en-us/article_attachments/4402151349009/History_SWFiles_2020.swp 

On the part files, you can take right click one of the main Plane and Properties and see when the template was made.

In SW 2021 has this been changed. The name on the person that created the template is replaced by the person that created the part. The created date is still when the part template was created. For 2021 templates, will the date be when the template (2021) was installed on the computer. You do not get the history of the template. For 2021 will the macro will give you the template installation date. So if you install 2021 in the the future let say 2023, the date will be 2023. For older templates, will the macro still give you created date.

On the drawing, you can open one the Feature Manager: Sheet1 – Sheet Format1 – and on one of the features there right click, and  and Properties and see when the template was made.

In SW 2021 has this been changed. The name on the person that created the template is replaced by the person that created the drawing. And the created date is when the drawing was created. Both the created date of .drwdot and .slddrt are replaced. You do not get the history of the template. But the macro will give you the template created date.

Author

Jan Egil Bæver