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 2018 file in SOLIDWORKS 2016 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.