Bills of Materials

You can view bills of materials (BOMs) for drawings, parts, and assemblies. You can display BOMs in native SOLIDWORKS documents, as well as in eDrawings files saved from the SOLIDWORKS software.

Using BOMs in parts and assemblies, you can control how components are displayed in the graphics area. You can also select component rows in the BOM to highlight them in the components tree and the graphics area.

When you print a part or assembly containing a BOM, the BOM settings control what eDrawings prints. For example, if you use the BOM to hide an object, that object is not printed.

Viewing BOM Data in eDrawings

To view BOM data in eDrawings, do one of the following:

  • Save the BOM data when you create an eDrawings file in SOLIDWORKS.
  • Publish to eDrawings from SOLIDWORKS, making sure the BOM is displayed.

Saving SOLIDWORKS Documents Containing BOM Data as eDrawings Files

To save a SOLIDWORKS document containing BOM data as an eDrawings file:

  1. In a SOLIDWORKS document, make sure the BOM is currently displayed and click Save As (Standard toolbar) or File > Save As.
  2. In the Save As dialog box, select eDrawings (*.eprt or *.easm) for Save as type.
  3. Click Save.
  4. In the Save Configurations to eDrawings file dialog box, click Options.
  5. In the System Options - EDRW/EPRT/EASM dialog box, select Save table features to eDrawings file and click OK.
  6. In the Save Configurations to eDrawings file dialog box, click OK.
  7. Open the generated file in eDrawings to access the BOM.

Publishing SOLIDWORKS Parts or Assemblies Containing BOM Data to eDrawings

To publish a SOLIDWORKS part or assembly containing BOM data to eDrawings:

  1. In a SOLIDWORKS document, make sure the BOM is currently displayed and click Publish to eDrawings (Standard toolbar) or File > Publish to eDrawings.
  2. In the Save Configurations to eDrawings file dialog box, click Options.
  3. In the System Options - EDRW/EPRT/EASM dialog box, select Save table features to eDrawings file and click OK.
  4. In the Save Configurations to eDrawings file dialog box, click OK.
    eDrawings displays the SOLIDWORKS document containing the BOM.

Accessing BOMs from the Components Panel

To access a BOM from the Components panel:

  1. In the Components panel, expand the top node.
  2. Expand Tables and select a BOM.
    The BOM is selected and the drag icon Drag_icon.gif appears above the upper left corner of the BOM.

Highlighting Assembly Components Using BOMs

To highlight components of assemblies using the BOM:

In the BOM, click a component row.
The component is highlighted in the graphics area and the components tree.

Positioning BOMs

To position a BOM:

  1. In the graphics area, move the pointer over a BOM.
    The drag icon Drag_icon.gif appears above the upper left corner of the BOM.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Left-click the drag icon and drag to a new position.
    • Hold down the Alt key, left-click the BOM, and drag to a new position.

Hiding BOMs

To hide a BOM:

Right-click the top row of the BOM and click Hide.

Showing Hidden BOMs

To show a hidden BOM:

Right-click an empty area in the graphics area and click Show.

Controlling Objects Using BOMs

To control objects using the BOM:

In a BOM, right-click in a component row, and do one of the following:
Click . . . To . . .
Hide Hide the component in the graphics area.
Show Display a hidden component.
Make Transparent Make a solid component transparent.
Make Solid Make a transparent component solid again.
Hide Others Show only the selected component.

The BOM is hidden as well.
Show All Redisplay all hidden objects.
New Part Document Open the component.

You can then save it as an eDrawings part file.