You can open SolidWorks 2013 parts and assemblies using SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5.
From SolidWorks 2012 on, you can open a future version file in Service Pack 5 of the previous release. For example, in SolidWorks 2013 Service Pack 5 you will be able to open SolidWorks 2014 files. 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. However, once you upgrade to the next version of SolidWorks, all the FeatureManager design tree data is available.
SolidWorks 2013 files have reduced functionality in SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5. SolidWorks 2013 files will not have most FeatureManager design tree data when opened in SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5. Any actions that require FeatureManager design tree data cannot be performed with a SolidWorks 2013 document open in SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5.
The following table summarizes what you can and cannot do in SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5:
| Parts and Assemblies: |
Assemblies: |
Drawings: |
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With a SolidWorks 2013 part or assembly open in SolidWorks 2012 you can:
- View configurations.
- Use the Measure tool.
- View Mass Properties and Custom Properties.
- View Materials
You cannot edit SolidWorks 2013 parts or assemblies in SolidWorks 2012.
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You can work with SolidWorks 2013 parts and subassemblies in a SolidWorks 2012 assembly. In a SolidWorks 2012 assembly, you can:
- Mate the SolidWorks 2013 component or subassembly to SolidWorks 2012 or SolidWorks 2013 components.
- Add a Bill of Materials that includes SolidWorks 2012 and SolidWorks 2013 components.
- Suppress and unsuppress SolidWorks 2013 components.
- Create a drawing of the SolidWorks 2012 assembly that includes both SolidWorks 2012 and SolidWorks 2013 components.
- Use interference detection when mating SolidWorks 2013 and SolidWorks 2012 parts.
- Mirror and pattern components from SolidWorks 2013.
- See and reference default planes and origins of the SolidWorks 2013 part or subassembly.
You cannot edit mates or components in the SolidWorks 2013 subassembly.
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You can create drawings of SolidWorks 2013 parts and assemblies in SolidWorks 2012 with some limitations. You cannot:
- Insert model items.
- Access FeatureManager design tree data such as weldment cut lists and weld beads.
You cannot open 2013 drawings in SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5
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In SolidWorks 2013, you must rebuild and save data for each configuration that you want to be available in SolidWorks 2012 Service Pack 5. See
Managing Configuration Data.