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.

If you create a new document when in a SOLIDWORKS tutorial, a tutorial template is used. The tutorial template uses the appropriate units, view orientations, and other properties for the tutorial lesson.

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.
  • Access the tutorial templates on the Tutorial tab.
  • 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.
    MBD Lists templates for creating MBD parts and assemblies. Select a template and click OK.