You can open SOLIDWORKS parts and assemblies using Service Pack 5 of the previous release.
From SOLIDWORKS 2012 on, you can open a future version file in Service Pack 5. For example, in SOLIDWORKS 2012 Service Pack 5, you can open SOLIDWORKS 2013 files. Version interoperability is only supported between consecutive releases. For example, you cannot open a SOLIDWORKS 2014 file in SOLIDWORKS 2012 Service Pack 5.
Future version files appear in read-only mode when opened in the previous release and have reduced functionality. The FeatureManager design tree contains limited data.
Any actions that require FeatureManager design tree data cannot be performed with a future version file open in the previous release Service Pack 5. However, once you upgrade to the next version of SOLIDWORKS, all the FeatureManager design tree data is available.
With a SOLIDWORKS part or assembly open in Service Pack 5 of the previous release you can:
- View configurations.
- Use the Measure tool.
- View Mass Properties and Custom Properties.
- View Materials.
You cannot edit future version SOLIDWORKS parts or assemblies in Service Pack 5 of the previous release. However, you can use future version parts and assemblies in drawings and assemblies of Service Pack 5 of the previous release.
Previous release interoperability does not work with SOLIDWORKS 2014. You cannot open files from SOLIDWORKS 2015 in SOLIDWORKS 2014 Service Pack 5.
Adding Future Version Files as Components in an Assembly
In SOLIDWORKS 2013 or later, you can use parts and assemblies from the current release of the SOLIDWORKS software as components of an assembly in Service Pack 5 of the previous release.
Interoperability is only supported between consecutive releases. For example, you cannot open a SOLIDWORKS 2014 file in SOLIDWORKS 2012 Service Pack 5.
In Service Pack 5 of the previous release, in an assembly, you can do the following:
- Mate the future version SOLIDWORKS component or subassembly to other components.
- Add a Bill of Materials that includes future and current version components.
- Suppress and unsuppress future version components.
- Create a drawing of the assembly that includes both future version and current version components.
- Use interference detection when mating future version and current version components.
- Mirror and pattern future version components.
- See and reference default planes and origins of the future version part or subassembly.
In multi-configuration models, for each configuration that you want to access in the older release, configuration data must first be generated and saved in the newer release.
Previous release interoperability does not work with SOLIDWORKS 2014. You cannot open files from SOLIDWORKS 2015 in SOLIDWORKS 2014 Service Pack 5.
Creating Drawings of Future Version Parts and Assemblies
You can create drawings of future version SOLIDWORKS parts and assemblies in Service Pack 5 of the previous release, with some limitations.
You cannot:
- Insert model items.
- Access FeatureManager design tree data such as weldment cut lists and weld beads.
You can also create drawings of assemblies that contain both current and future version components.
You cannot open future version drawings in Service Pack 5 of the previous release.
Interoperability is only supported between consecutive releases. For example, you cannot open a SOLIDWORKS 2014 file in SOLIDWORKS 2012 Service Pack 5.
Previous release interoperability does not work with SOLIDWORKS 2014. You cannot open files from SOLIDWORKS 2015 in SOLIDWORKS 2014 Service Pack 5.