Multi-User Environment

You can 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 were 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

You can specify options for a multi-user environment.

To specify collaboration options:
  1. Click Tools > Options > System Options > Collaboration.
  2. Specify options.
Option Description
Enable multi-user environment Enables the other options.
Add shortcut menu items for multi-user environment Lets you select Make Read-Only and Get Write Access on shortcut menus.
Check if files opened read-only have been modified by other users Checks files that you opened as read-only at the interval specified in Check files every X minutes to see if other users have modified the files.
Don't prompt to save read-only referenced documents (discard changes) Prevents a dialog box from appearing when you make a document read-only.
To specify external references options:
  1. Click Tools > Options > System Options > External References.

Option Description
Open referenced documents with read-only access Lets other users work on components while you have an assembly open.
Don't prompt to save read-only referenced documents (discard changes) Specifies that when you save or close a parent document, no prompt appears to save the read-only, referenced documents..When selected, read-only references do not display in the Save Modified Documents dialog box.

Read/Write Status

To specify read/write status for a part or assembly:
  1. Click File > Make Read-Only or File > Get Write Access.
To specify the read/write status for an assembly component:
  1. Right-click a component in the FeatureManager design tree or in the graphics area and select Make Read-Only or Get Write Access.
  2. You can also specify read/write status in the Reload dialog box.

Reload

You can 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.