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SolidWorks Documents in Windows Explorer

Use Windows Explorer to see thumbnail images and to access custom property information for SolidWorks documents.

To see thumbnail images:

  1. In Windows Explorer, open a folder with SolidWorks documents.

  2. Click View, Thumbnails.

A thumbnail image of each SolidWorks document in the folder is displayed.

If you set up Windows Explorer to show preview images, a preview of the SolidWorks document also appears when the document is selected.

You can also view thumbnail icons of SolidWorks parts and assemblies in Windows Explorer. The graphic is displayed in an isometric view, zoomed to fit, with a white background. To enable this functionality, click Tools, Options, System Options, General, and select Show thumbnail graphics in Windows Explorer.

You may need to restart SolidWorks and Windows Explorer to see the thumbnail icons in these applications.

If you save custom property information in the Summary Information dialog box, the following properties appear in Windows Explorer:

  • Description

  • Revision

  • Status

Additionally, Type, Size, Last Saved By and Number of sheets are shown automatically. You cannot save this information in the Summary Information dialog box.

To view custom property information:

  1. In Windows Explorer, open a folder with SolidWorks documents.

  2. Move the pointer over a SolidWorks document.

The custom property information is displayed.

To open a SolidWorks document from Windows Explorer:

  • Double-click the document name.

  • Right-click the document name and select Open.

  • Drag any document supported by the SolidWorks software into an empty part of the SolidWorks graphics area.

 



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Web Help Content Version: SOLIDWORKS 2012 SP05

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