Types of Files

In SolidWorks, you can open any number of part, assembly, or drawing documents at the same time:

SolidWorks gives the three basic file types their own extensions to facilitate finding and filtering files based on content.

From an active document, you can open related files as follows:

• Open a drawing from its associated part or assembly document

• Open a part or assembly document from a drawing view

• Open a part from the component in its assembly document

Typically, you begin in a part document, creating a part. When you have several parts, you can assemble them in an assembly document. You can create drawings from both parts and assemblies.