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Opening Files

Use the Open tool_Open.gif tool to open an existing file in the eDrawings Viewer.

This information is specific to one or more CAD systems. See the eDrawings Functionality Matrix for availability information.

If you open either a read-only file or a file that is already open in your CAD application or another eDrawings Viewer, a message box advises you of this. You can open the file as read-only, but if you try to save changes to it, a message box appears. Click OK to close the message box, and a Save As dialog box appears. You can then save the file with another name.

eDrawings detects when the graphics data for a component may not be in sync with a later version that was modified and saved in a SOLIDWORKS assembly. When you open a potentially outdated component, a watermark displays a warning and suggests that you rebuild the part in the SOLIDWORKS software. To control the visibility of the watermark, in the graphics area, right-click and click Show warning watermark for this document only.

The eDrawings Viewer does not display all information in detached drawing documents. To display all information in a detached drawing, publish an eDrawings drawing document from SOLIDWORKS, or re-save the drawing document as a regular (undetached) drawing.

To open a file:

  1. Click Open tool_Open.gif or File > Open .
    The Open dialog box displays previews of eDrawings, SOLIDWORKS, and published files if the files have been saved in 2008 or later applications. The previews display any changes to custom properties specified in Windows Explorer.
  2. Set the Files of type to one of the following:
    • eDrawings Files (*.eprt, *.easm, *.edrw)
    • SOLIDWORKS Files (*.sldprt, *.sldasm, *.slddrw)
      In the eDrawings Viewer, you can open any SOLIDWORKS document from SOLIDWORKS 97Plus and higher.
    • DXF/DWG Files (*.dxf, *.dwg). eDrawings supports the following:
      • DXF and DWG files version 2.5 through 2010.
      • AutoCAD fonts (SHX), if AutoCAD® is installed. Otherwise the text is rendered in a default Simplex font.
      • Images and OLE objects in DWG files.
    • 3DXML Files (*.3dxml)
    • CALS Files (*.cal, *ct1)
    • XML Paper Specification (XPS) Files (*.edrwx, *.eprtx, *.easmx)
      You generate XPS files in SOLIDWORKS with Save As and work with them in eDrawings the same as eDrawings files.

      XPS Viewer is included in the Vista operating system and is distributed with .NET Framework 3.0, which is installed with SOLIDWORKS on Windows XP and Server 2003 operating systems.

      If eDrawings is installed on a computer, double-clicking an XPS file opens it in eDrawings rather than in the XPS Viewer.

      You can distribute XPS files to users with either the XPS Viewer or the eDrawings Viewer.

    • Pro/E Files (*.prt, *.prt.*, *.xpr, *.asm, *.asm.*, *.xas)
      Pro/ENGINEER drawings cannot be imported.

      Pro/ENGINEER version 16 through Wildfire 5.0 are supported.

      If a model uses Pro/ENGINEER family table instances, then the XPR and XAS accelerator instance files must be included for correct results. Although these instance accelerator files are optional for Pro/ENGINEER, they are required in eDrawings. When the family table instance modifies the top level of an assembly, open the XAS file corresponding to that instance, rather than the ASM file.

      Colors in part files are recognized, but colors applied at the assembly level are not.

      Certain Pro/ENGINEER items, such as annotations, sketches, and layers, are not imported.

    • STL Files (*.stl)
    • SOLIDWORKS Template Files (*.prtdot, *.asmdot, *.drwdot)
    • All Files (*.*). Only the above supported files open in the eDrawings Viewer.
      eDrawings also supports display of SOLIDWORKS Simulation and SOLIDWORKS SimulationXpress data, when available, in eDrawings part or assembly files. For more information, see SOLIDWORKS Simulation Data.
  3. Select a file, then click Open.
    If you import a DXF/DWG file that has XREFs, eDrawings tries to automatically resolve the XREF. If the XREF cannot be resolved, the Resolve XRef dialog box appears. Click Skip file to import the DXF/DWG file without the XREF file, or navigate to the XREF file, select it, then click Open to open it. See DXF/DWG File XREFs for more information.

    See Review/Measure-Enabled Files for information about creating and using review-enabled files.

Opening Parts from Assemblies

You can open parts in separate windows from within assemblies.

Right-click a part in the graphics area or the Components pane and click New Part Document.
The part opens in a new eDrawings window as a new document.

Opening Subassemblies from Assemblies

You can open subassemblies in separate windows from within assemblies.

On the Components pane, right-click a subassembly and click New Assembly Document.
The subassembly opens in a new eDrawings window as a new document.

Viewing Rotational Exploded Steps

In the eDrawings software, you can view rotational exploded steps saved in assembly files created with SOLIDWORKS 2014 or later.

You can also view exploded steps that rotate a component with or without linear translation in the eDrawings software.

Viewing 3D ContentCentral on iPad

You can use eDrawings to view 3D ContentCentral® on an iPad. 3D ContentCentral is a free service for locating, configuring, downloading, and requesting 2D and 3D parts and assemblies, 2D blocks, library features, and macros.

Start eDrawings on your iPad, and click http://www.3dcontentcentral.com/.



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