Contains

The Contains tab lists the items and files referenced by the selected item.

The list is generated from the vault database and does not reflect local changes that are not checked in.

Toolbar

Version The file or item version for which references are displayed.

The default is the most recent version.

Expand the control to select a different file version.

indicates a revision.

indicates the original version.
Configuration (Files only)

The configuration for which references are displayed.

The default is the active configuration.

Expand the control to select the configuration for which to list references.

If you select Do not show configurations, all files referenced by any configuration are shown.
Levels Displays file references for the entire file hierarchy (Show All Levels) or just the top level of the file hierarchy (Top Level Only).

The setting defaults to the most recent setting you used.

You can also expand or collapse the hierarchy using the and controls in the File name column.
Next Warning / Previous Warning Only shown when warnings are present in the Warnings column.

In the file list, changes the focus to the next file with a warning or the previous file with a warning.

Clicking a warning icon expands the hierarchy if it is collapsed and the warning is on a referenced file.
Open Opens the selected file in the application used to create it.

This icon represents SOLIDWORKS.
Properties Opens the selected file's or item's Properties dialog box.
Browse to Opens a new SOLIDWORKS PDM File Explorer window or Item Explorer window with the file or item you select on the Contains tab as the selected file in the top pane of the new window.
Export Export All exports the list of all files as a comma-separated .txt file.
Export Visible exports the list of visible files as a comma-separated .txt file.
Open as CSV Open All opens a list of files in Microsoft Excel.
Open Visible opens a list of visible files in Microsoft Excel.
Show or hide files (Items only)

Toggles display of links to files.
Edit user-defined references (Files only )

Displays the Edit User-Defined References dialog box.

Properties

To change the columns that are displayed, right-click any column heading and select columns to display them or clear columns to hide them. You can add up to 10 columns based on SOLIDWORKS PDM variables by clicking More and choosing variables from the Choose Columns dialog box.

You can sort the default and custom columns in tables in ascending, descending, or default order by clicking column headers. Column sorting is useful within large datasets. If you sort a column in ascending or descending order, the column is highlighted in green and an arrowhead appears. When you sort a column in a table, SOLIDWORKS PDM removes the file structure hierarchy. Sorting turns off Show Tree Lines and Show Reference Selection Control.

Drag a column head to change the position of a column.

File name Item ID or file name.
Warnings Displays The file is not rebuilt if the file needs to be rebuilt in SOLIDWORKS. Click the message to display a list of references that require a rebuild. Otherwise this column is blank.
To quickly locate files with warnings or errors, use the Next Warning and Previous Warning toolbar buttons or Ctrl + the up-arrow or down-arrow on the numeric keypad.
Configuration name Configuration of the CAD file, or a hyphen (-) for items or files without configurations.
Quantity BOM quantity.
Version Version of the selected file or item and the versions of the items and files to which it is linked.
Checked out by User who has the item or file checked out, or blank if not checked out.

If you hover over a user name, a pop-up window displays user information such as login status and files checked out, and provides a link so that you can email the user.
Checked out in Computer and local folder where the item or file is checked out, or blank if not checked out.
Found in Vault folder containing the item or file.
State Workflow state of the item or file, such as Under Editing or Waiting for approval.

Shortcut Menu

Right-click a file or item to access these options:

Open (Files only)

Opens the selected file in the appropriate application.
Browse to Changes the focus of the dialog box to the selected file without opening a new SOLIDWORKS PDM File Explorer window.
Browse to in a New Window (Items only)

Opens an Item Explorer window with the focus on the selected item.
Copy Tree (Files only)

Starts the Copy Tree function, which lets you copy selected files, including all references, to create a second instance that is unrelated to the original.
Properties Opens the selected file's or item's Properties dialog box.
Columns Lists column heads so you can display or hide columns.

Currently displayed columns are indicated by a check mark.

Click More to open the Choose Columns dialog box, where you can add up to 10 additional columns by selecting SOLIDWORKS PDM variables on which to base column heads.
Select All Selects all files in the list.
Select Files Opens the Select Files dialog box, where you can use wildcards to select files.
Show Tree Lines Toggles lines showing the tree hierarchy on and off
Change Thumbnail Preview Size Changes the size of thumbnail previews as Small, Medium, or Large. By default, Medium is selected.
When you select the size in one table, SOLIDWORKS PDM configured the same size in applicable tables and on tabs. The thumbnail previews for non-SOLIDWORKS files may not be clear when you select Medium or Large.