Opening a Third-Party Native CAD File into SOLIDWORKS

You can use the Open dialog box to open a third-party native CAD file in the SOLIDWORKS software. When you open a third-party part, a new SOLIDWORKS part is created and the third-party file is inserted as a derived or a base part in it.

To open a third-party native CAD file into SOLIDWORKS:

  1. Click Open (Standard toolbar) or File > Open.
  2. In the dialog box, browse to drive letter:\Users\Public\Public Documents\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2017\whatsnew\import_export\Round Cover Plate_2.ipt.
  3. Make changes to the part using SOLIDWORKS features.
  4. Update the part with the second version of the part.
    Any modifications you made to the base part are updated in the SOLIDWORKS part without losing the downstream features.