SOLIDWORKS API Getting Started Overview

The SOLIDWORKS API SDK contains all of the functionality you need to develop SOLIDWORKS API applications.

To install the SOLIDWORKS API SDK:

1. Ensure that Microsoft Visual Studio is installed in c:\Program Files.

2. Copy \api\SolidWorks API SDK.msi from the installation media to a local directory.

 - or -

 Download the SOLIDWORKS API SDK installer from the SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal:

1. Open www.solidworks.com.

2. Log into the SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal.

3. Click Downloads and Updates.

4. On the SOLIDWORKS tab:

   1. At the top, select the version of SOLIDWORKS whose API SDK you want to download.

   2. At the bottom, click the product link for the service pack whose API SDK you want to download.

5. In the SOLIDWORKS Download EULA page, click the English button and click Accept Agreement & Continue.

6. At the bottom of the Download and Install page, click the download, unzip, and install all the files link.

7. Select a version in the Upgrading from Service Pack list, select the product in the SOLIDWORKS Product list, and click Continue.

8. Click SOLIDWORKS API SDK in the Step 5 - Optional updates table to download apisdk.exe to a local directory.

3. Double-click apisdk.exe or SolidWorks API SDK.msi to run the API SDK InstallShield Wizard.

4. On the Select Type page, select the Custom option, select the API templates and examples, specifying their directories.

Prior to developing SOLIDWORKS API applications, you should be familiar with using the SOLIDWORKS software interactively and programming in the languages that you intend to use. If you are not, then you should:

• Complete the SOLIDWORKS online tutorials, including the SOLIDWORKS API tutorials. Click Help > SOLIDWORKS Tutorials to access the tutorials.

• Attend SOLIDWORKS training courses offered at SOLIDWORKS Authorized Training and Support Centers.

• Take courses in the programming languages that you intend to use.