Creating a New SOLIDWORKS Document

New documents use templates as the basis for their format and properties.

Templates include user-defined document properties, such as units of measure or other detailing standards. Templates allow you to maintain different styles of documents. A document template can be a part, drawing, or assembly that you saved as a template.

There are two versions of the New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box:
Version Description
Novice Displays icons and explanations of part, assembly, and drawing documents.

The templates specified in Tools > Options > System Options > Default Templates are used when you create new documents from the Novice version.

In System Options > Default Templates, you can change the Default Templates to the 3DEXPERIENCE template for the Novice version of the dialog box.
Advanced Displays the template icons on various tabs.
You can:
  • See previews as you select templates.
  • Specify a Y-up or Z-up orientation for parts and assemblies.
  • Select the display types: Large Icons , List , or List Details .

To create a new SOLIDWORKS document with the Novice dialog box:

  1. Click New (Standard toolbar) or File > New.
  2. In the dialog box, click Novice.
  3. Select a document type and click OK.
You can create new documents from the Welcome dialog box. Like the Novice version of the New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box, the new documents use the templates specified in Tools > Options > System Options > Default Templates.

To create a new SOLIDWORKS document with the Advanced dialog box:

  1. Click New (Standard toolbar) or File > New.
  2. In the dialog box, click Advanced.
  3. Select a tab:
    Tab Description
    Templates Lists standard templates for parts, assemblies, and drawings. Select a template and click OK.
    3DEXPERIENCE Lists templates for creating physical products available on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. There are two sections:
    • Create new on 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Lets you fill in custom properties during file creation to streamline the workflow.
    • Select a template. Opens the selected document type.
  4. If you selected the 3DEXPERIENCE tab, select a template under a section and click OK.
    Section Description
    Create new on 3DEXPERIENCE platform In the New Part/New Assembly/New Drawing dialog box, on the Properties and Classifications tabs, specify custom properties for the file.

    After you click Create, an empty physical product is created on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform
    Select a template A new document opens. The document is not saved to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform until you click Save to 3DEXPERIENCE.