> SolidWorks Fundamentals > Opening New and Existing Documents > SolidWorks Documents in Windows Explorer
Introduction
Administration
User Interface
SolidWorks Fundamentals
Basic Concepts
Help
SolidWorks Web Site
Search
Opening New and Existing Documents
New SolidWorks Document
Document Templates
Creating Additional Template Tabs
Default Templates
Recent Documents and Open Documents
Opening Existing Documents
Opening Documents from Part or Assembly Windows
SolidWorks Documents in Windows Explorer
Dragging Files
Opening Auto-Recovered Documents
Close
Close All
Saving Documents
Multi-user Environment
Printing
Send Mail
Options
Display
Selection Overview
File Properties
Measurement
Equations
Object Linking and Embedding
Industry-specific Design Tools
Add-Ins
Recording and Playing Macros
Previous Release Interoperability
SolidWorks API
Moving from 2D to 3D
Assemblies
CircuitWorks
Configurations
SolidWorks Costing
Design Checker
Design Studies in SolidWorks
Drawings and Detailing
DFMXpress
DriveWorksXpress
FloXpress
Import and Export
Large Scale Design
Model Display
Mold Design
Motion Studies
Parts and Features
Routing
Sheet Metal
Simulation
SimulationXpress
Sketching
Sustainability Products
SolidWorks Utilities
Tolerancing
Toolbox
Weldments
Workgroup PDM
Troubleshooting
Glossary
Hide Table of Contents Show Table of Contents

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.

 



Related SolidWorks Forum Content

Provide feedback on this topic

SolidWorks welcomes your feedback concerning the presentation, accuracy, and thoroughness of the documentation. Use the form below to send your comments and suggestions about this topic directly to our documentation team. The documentation team cannot answer technical support questions. Click here for information about technical support.

* Required

 
*Email:  
Subject:   Feedback on Help Topics
Page:   SolidWorks Documents in Windows Explorer
*Comment:  
x

We have detected you are using a browser version older than Internet Explorer 7. For optimized display, we suggest upgrading your browser to Internet Explorer 7 or newer.

 Never show this message again
x

Web Help Content Version: SolidWorks 2012 SP05

The search functionality within the web help is in a beta test phase and you may experience periodic delays or interruptions in its performance. These are the normal and ordinary features of a beta test and shall not under any circumstances give rise to any liability on the part of DS SolidWorks or its licensors. The topics within the Web-based help are not beta topics; they document SolidWorks 2012 SP05.

To disable Web help from within SolidWorks and use local help instead, click Help > Use SolidWorks Web Help.

To report problems encountered with the Web help interface and search, contact your local support representative. To provide feedback on individual help topics, use the “Feedback on this topic” link on the individual topic page.