Creating SolidWorks eDrawings Files

This information is specific to one or more CAD systems. See the SolidWorks eDrawings functionality matrix for availability information.

You can create eDrawings files from:

• SolidWorks eDrawings Viewer

• SolidWorks

• Other CAD applications

SolidWorks eDrawings Viewer

To create SolidWorks eDrawings files using the eDrawings Viewer:

1. Open a document of a type supported in SolidWorks eDrawings.

2. Click Save or File, Save As.

   In the Save As dialog box, Save as type automatically defaults to the correct eDrawings file type. You can save files as eDrawings Files (*.eprt, *.easm, or *.edrw) or as other file formats.

3. Select from the available options.

4. Browse to a file location, verify the File name, and click Save.

SolidWorks

SolidWorks Release. You can view any SolidWorks document from SolidWorks 97Plus and later.

Large Assembly Mode. If selected, high quality HLR/HLV views in assembly drawings do not contain shaded data in the published eDrawings (.edrw) file. If all views in the drawing are high quality, no shaded data is included in the eDrawings file and you cannot animate the drawing in eDrawings.

Review-enabled. If you have SolidWorks eDrawings Professional installed, eDrawings files are review-enabled when you create them from SolidWorks documents; if you have the complimentary eDrawings Viewer installed, the eDrawings files are not review-enabled.

Save As versus Publish

Create eDrawings files from SolidWorks by using Save As or Publish eDrawings file.

 If you save an assembly in SolidWorks with its SpeedPak configuration active and open the .sldasm file directly in eDrawings, faces and bodies not included in the SpeedPak are not visible in eDrawings. To ensure that the faces and bodies are visible, use the Save As or Publish methods described below.

Save As

To create eDrawings files using SolidWorks Save As:

1. In a SolidWorks document, click File, Save As.

   In the Save as type box, SolidWorks displays the corresponding eDrawings file type:

• Part document (*.sldprt). Save as eDrawings (*.eprt)

• Assembly document (*.sldasm). Save as eDrawings (*.easm)

• Drawing document (*.slddrw). Save as eDrawings (*.edrw)

2. If the document contains multiple configurations, display states, or drawing sheets, you can choose Current or All or select from a list, then click OK.

3. Click Options, select from the following options, then click OK:

• Okay to measure this eDrawings file. Enables measurement of this model by eDrawings Professional users and by all eDrawings users if the file is review-enabled.

• Allow export to STL for parts & assemblies. Allows recipients of the eDrawings file to save it as an STL file from the eDrawings Viewer. See also Saving Files as STL Files.

• Save shaded data in drawings. Saves the shaded and draft quality data from the drawing document in the published eDrawings file. When cleared, shaded and draft quality views are omitted from the eDrawings file.

You must also select Save tessellated data for drawings with shaded and draft quality views in Options , Drawings before you can export this data. When cleared, shaded and draft quality views cannot appear in the eDrawings file.

• Save Table Features to eDrawings file. If the part or assembly document you are saving includes a bill of materials, select to include this information in the exported eDrawings file.

• Save Motion Studies to eDrawings file. This option saves animations created in SolidWorks motion studies to the eDrawings file.

• Save each motion study in every configuration. The out of date motion studies are automatically recalculated before exporting to eDrawings.

• Save only in last calculated configuration. The configuration of the most recently calculated motion study is used. Select Recalculate the motion study if the results are out of date to recalculate any out of date motion studies in that configuration before exporting.

4. Click Save.

Publish

To create eDrawings files using SolidWorks Publish:

1. Click File, Publish to eDrawings ( in the Save flyout toolbar).

2. If the document contains multiple configurations, display states, or drawing sheets, you can choose Current or All or select from a list, then click OK.

The published SolidWorks content appears in the eDrawings Viewer.

3. In the eDrawings Viewer, click Save or File, Save.

4. In the Save As dialog box, select from available options.

5. Type a file name for File name, then click Save.

eDrawings Save Options

One or more options might be available depending on the document you save.

• Allow STL Export. Allows the recipient of the eDrawings file to export it as an STL file.

• Save with shaded data (drawings only). Includes shaded information in the eDrawings file.

• Enable measure. Enables measurement of the geometry in this eDrawings file. This option is not enabled by default.