Multi-User Environment

Manage write access for shared documents in a multi-user environment.

The multi-user environment provides read/write access control and tracking for two or more users working with the same files concurrently. Users share a file when they have loaded the same file from the same location.

Tooltips in the FeatureManager design tree inform you if a part, assembly, subassembly, or component is read-only. If another user with write access has the document open, the tooltip names the user.

Files that are read-only appear in orange under Open in SOLIDWORKS on the File Explorer tab in the Task Pane.

Files that have been modified since they were last saved appear in bold under Open in SOLIDWORKS on the File Explorer tab in the Task Pane.

If you start to make changes to a read-only document, a message warns you that the document is read-only.

Options

In Tools > Options > System Options > Collaboration:
  • Enable the multi-user environment.
  • Enable Add shortcut menu items for multi-user environment menu items so that you can select options Make Read-Only and Get Write Access on shortcut menus.
  • Specify an interval for checking if files opened with read-only status have been modified by other users.

In Tools > Options > System Options > External References:

  • To allow other users to work on components while you have an assembly open, select Open referenced documents with read-only access.
  • To prevent a message box from appearing whenever you make a document read-only, select Don't prompt to save read-only referenced documents (discard changes).
When you select Don't prompt to save read-only referenced documents, read-only references are not displayed in the Save Modified Documents dialog box.

Read/Write Status

To set the status for a part or assembly document:

  • Click File > Make Read-Only or File > Get Write Access.

To set the status for an assembly component:

  • Right-click a component in the FeatureManager design tree or in the graphics area and select Make Read-Only or Get Write Access.
You can also set read/write status in the Reload dialog box.

Reload

Reload documents to get the latest version. For example, if you have a document open as read-only and another user modifies the document, you can reload to view the modified version.