How to Open SolidWorks 2013 Files in SolidWorks 2012 SP5

Throughout the years, almost all of our customers have asked at one time or another, "Can I open files from the newest version of SolidWorks into a previous version?" The answer has always been, "No. The latest version of SolidWorks uses newer technology that is not compatible with the older technology of previous versions of SolidWorks." As a result, customers have had to be careful when they upgrade to make sure that they stay compatible with their customers, suppliers, and internal teams. Well, the most asked for enhancement is finally here!

Starting with SolidWorks 2013, SolidWorks files are backwards compatible! With previous release interoperability, you can collaborate using a mix of SolidWorks 2013 and SolidWorks 2012 (SP5). Files can be opened directly and associativity is maintained. That's right. You do not have to export and import files!

HOWEVER... You Always Have to Read the Fine Print

Future version files appear in read-only mode when opened in the previous release. However, once you upgrade to the next version of SolidWorks, all the FeatureManager design tree data is available. SolidWorks 2013 files have reduced functionality in SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5. SolidWorks 2013 files will not have most FeatureManager design tree data when opened in SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5. Any actions that require FeatureManager design tree data cannot be performed with a SolidWorks 2013 document open in SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5.

You can open SolidWorks 2013 parts and assemblies using SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5. Although this is a great step forward, there are some limitations to be aware of. Starting with SolidWorks 2012 SP5, you will be able to open a future version file. This will be the same for future releases as well. For example, you will be able to open SolidWorks 2014 files in SolidWorks 2013 Service Pack 5. But... Backwards compatibility is only supported between consecutive releases. So, you will not be able to a SolidWorks 2014 file in SolidWorks 2012 SP5.

Further, here are some things that YOU CAN and CANNOT do in SolidWorks 2012 SP5:

1. Once a SolidWorks 2013 part or assembly file is open in SolidWorks 2012 SP5, YOU CAN view configurations, use the Measure tool, view Mass Properties and Custom Properties, and view Materials. YOU CANNOT edit the SolidWorks 2013 part or assembly in SolidWorks 2012.

2. YOU CAN work with SolidWorks 2013 parts and subassemblies in a SolidWorks 2012 assembly. YOU CANNOT edit mates or components in the SolidWorks 2013 subassembly.

But, in a SolidWorks 2012 assembly, YOU CAN:

• Mate the SolidWorks 2013 component or subassembly to SolidWorks 2012 or SolidWorks 2013 components.

• Add a Bill of Materials that includes SolidWorks 2012 and SolidWorks 2013 components.

• Suppress and unsuppress SolidWorks 2013 components.

• Create a drawing of the SolidWorks 2012 assembly that includes both SolidWorks 2012 and SolidWorks 2013 components.

• Use interference detection when mating SolidWorks 2013 and SolidWorks 2012 parts.

• Mirror and pattern components from SolidWorks 2013.

• See and reference default planes and origins of the SolidWorks 2013 part or subassembly.

There are new options in SolidWorks 2013 for part and assembly models that contain configurations. Because of these new options, you must rebuild and save data for each configuration that you want to be available in SolidWorks 2012 SP5.

3. YOU CANNOT open SolidWorks 2013 drawings in SolidWorks 2012 SP5.

YOU CAN create drawings of SolidWorks 2013 parts and assemblies in SolidWorks 2012 with some limitations. YOU CANNOT insert model items or access FeatureManager design tree data such as weldment cut lists and weld beads.

In conclusion, SolidWorks has tried very hard to provide the functionality that its customers request. SolidWorks 2013 does allow backwards compatibility with SolidWorks 2012. Because this new feature certainly has its limitations, it is still going to be up to the individual user and company to decide when the best time to upgrade is. Hopefully, though, this will help everyone decide to upgrade much sooner and take advantage of the latest and greatest version of SolidWorks.

Neil Bucalo

Technical Analyst

Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

Why are some of my drawing files so large?

You may notice sometimes you come across a drawing that is
very large in size, Sometimes larger than the part or assembly it is referencing.
What is the cause? The main reason I have found is due to views
being draft quality…But isn’t draft quality lower than high quality? – The answer
is actually no.

The high quality drawing view image is a vector
graphics image, also known as SVG format (Scalable Vector Graphics).  The
draft quality drawing view image is a raster graphics image, which is just like
a regular Bitmap.  The Bitmap files are much larger in size because the
image consists of pixels.  The vector graphics are smaller because the
image consists of lines.  The only downside of the vector graphics is that
those lines have to be calculated in order to produce an image.  That's
why it takes a longer time to calculate the high quality vector graphics
drawing view.

Shaded views also increase the file size because they have to be
represented by raster graphics.



Examples of an SVG and Bitmap of the same image are attached.  The SVG is
only 4.19 KB and the Bitmap is 2.53 MB (2,590 KB) so there is a very big
difference. 

How do you tell if your view is draft quality? – Cursor over your view,
you will see the draft quality icon appear.

So why do you have draft quality views? It can be a few reasons. First,
make sure you have your system options set to high quality views

The other reason you may have draft quality is that is actually may be
due to bad model geometry. Check
on the model or assembly that the drawing is referencing.

This can be accomplished under the tools/check menu.

 Once the geometry issues have been corrected this will allow you to switch back to high quality views.

SolidWorks 2013 SP0.0 is Now Available for Download

While working in the SolidWorks Customer Portal today the CATI Support Techs noticed that as of 10/9/2012 SolidWorks 2013 SP0.0 is available for download.

If you have an active Subscription Service for SolidWorks all you need to do is Login to the SolidWorks Customer Portal and proceed to the Downloads page and set the Version to 2013.

Enjoy working with 2013 and you can get more information on SolidWorks 2013 from CATI's website.

Josh Altergott

CATI Support Manager

Modeling beyond the limitations

 

Let’s take a look at moving around a modeling roadblock. We
have all had a feature for whatever reason doesn’t work even though there seems
to be no reason why not. Some times SolidWorks models may have issues that seem
to be trivial, in this example there is an overlapping cut sweep that won’t calculate.

This message from SW was not helpful in any means:

 

The underlying issue here is that at some point the profiles
overlap at an exact tangency. As many of you know that even putting two holes
into a part that touch at an exact point of tangency will have an error.
SolidWorks can’t decide if there should or should not be material at that very
point. The result is a geometry error as seen here:

 

 

 

 

 

Or attempting with selected contours give this more familiar message:

 

 

 

 

So in this example we have the profile section changing
position along a helix that is changing pitch. This at a spot along the curve
will result in a tangency issue. Although the error message doesn’t tell us
what the error is, there is at least one way to still make this work knowing
what we do about the software.

Here we take the initial helix and duplicate it.

 

Then we duplicate the profile as well and split it into two
profile sketches that deal with only part of the cut at a time. SolidWorks
allows each cut to be created as separate features.

 

Even though they still touch, SolidWorks doesn’t error because it is only dealing with
one cut at a time and doesn’t create a geometry calculation issue with
self-intersecting passes.

 

Finished results:

I am sure there are other solutions but this is not too painful to figure out.

John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support

Upgrading from Driveworks7 - One very important step

Recently we had a couple of customer run into a major roadblock when trying to upgrade their network license of Driveworks 7 ot Driveworks 9.   Like all our our other Solidworks products, we expected this to be a nice easy process.  Well it is, if you know the proper steps.

We knew that the Driveworks help menu tells us to stop the server before uninstalling.  No problem here.  Inside the license manager is a button to stop the service.

We then figured we would just need to uninstall the old license manager and install the new lincese manager.  So we pull up the control panel and go the program and feature, and uninstall Driveworks 7.   We downloaded the new Driveworks 9 installation media, but to our supprise it error out telling us that we cannot install the service.

Troubleshooting begins, checking permissions on every registry we could find.  We were even logged in as the Domain Admin, but no dice!  Now as a Domain Admin we should be able to install anything we want.

After talking to the Driveworks techs, we discovered one little step that was overlooked.  Inside of the license manager, after you stop the service, you will see a second button that says Uninstall Service.

 

This little button will save you hours of trouble shooting (other than the fact that I now know of this step).   Apparently this uninstalls something in the services that the windows uninstaller will not.  The resulting screen will tell you that the service in not installed.  Once you see this message, now you can go thru the windows uninstall process to remove the program.

Now when you try to install the new verison of the Driveworks licesne manager, you should have no issues!

Hopes this saves you the headache of having to call in, just to upgrade you license manager.

Webinar: Introducing SolidWorks Electrical

Learn how the new SolidWorks Electrical packages enable true collaboration among electrical and mechanical design teams.

Event Dates and Times

October 15 : 9am CDT REGISTER

October 26 : 9am CDT REGISTER

When registering, be sure to list Computer Aided Technology, Inc(CATI) as your Solidworks Reseller.

We will demonstrate how easily electrical systems can be integrated into your SolidWorks models, resulting in shorter design cycles, fewer errors and efficient collaboration among your electrical and mechanical design teams.

With SolidWorks Electrical, you'll have the powerful and user-friendly tools that you need to complete electrical schematics, manage wires and cables, define harness/interconnect systems, as well as a massive and customizable library of manufacturer parts and symbols. 

SolidWorks Electrical 3D integrates the schematic design data into your SolidWorks models with real-time, bi-directional updates. Because updates are automatic and instantaneous for all users working on a project, design teams can collaborate more efficiently, faster and with fewer errors. Space is limited, so sign up today! 

Space is limited, so sign up today. When registering, be sure to list Computer Aided Technology, Inc(CATI) as your SolidWorks Reseller.

Jim TeDesco
Marketing Manager
Computer Aided Technology, Inc. 

SolidWorks 2013 - Varied Dimension Patterning

One of my favorite enhancements for SolidWorks 2013 is the new ability to vary dimensions when creating a pattern.  To do this first create a feature to pattern as in the image below.

Then Start a pattern command and specify the direction as usual. In this instance it has been done in two directions.

Once you have started the pattern you can turn on the options box for varied dimensions. With this option turned on we can vary the pattern spacing as seen below.

On top of varying the pattern spacing we can vary specific dimension. In the blue box of the varied pattern option box select the dimension to vary. Once selected, you can vary the dimension both positively and negatively as seen below.

And that’s not all. Not only can you vary the pattern spacing and vary dimension but you can edit each individual patterned instance individually. Simply click on the pink dot and chose modify instance to obtain the modify box, make your modification and your done.

All of this was done with one pattern command. On longer do you have create complex sketches to vary the dimension of pattern entities.

Enjoy

Nick Jansen   Applications Engineer, CSWP