Search Routine for Referenced Documents

When opening a referenced document, SOLIDWORKS performs a search to locate the document. For example, this search may occur when you open a drawing and the referenced assembly cannot be found or when you resolve a suppressed component in an assembly.

When a referenced document is found, the software updates the path to the referenced document in the parent document. When you save the parent document, the updated path is saved as well.

The Rules column below describes the search routine that the software uses to locate a missing referenced document.

The Examples column shows the paths that the software checks using the following scenario:

  • The assembly was last saved as C:\zz\a1.SLDASM. You move the assembly to D:\ss\tt\a1.SLDASM.
  • The first part in the assembly was last saved as C:\qq\p1.SLDPRT. You do not move this part.
  • The second part in the assembly was last saved as C:\zz\yy\xx\p2.SLDPRT. This part is missing either through deletion, renaming, or some other file management mistake.
  • There are two paths in the Folders list of the File Locations Options dialog box: D:\aa\bb\ and E:\cc\dd\.
  • The third part in the assembly is added as p3.SLDPRT from a Connected Design Library .
    This information applies to SOLIDWORKS if you enable the Design with SOLIDWORKS app.
  • You click File > Open to open a1.SLDASM in its new location.

    3DEXPERIENCE Users: If the Open from 3DEXPERIENCE dialog box appears, click This PC.

  Rules Examples
1. Uses any open document with the same name. If p2.SLDPRT is in another open document, SOLIDWORKS uses this version of p2.SLDPRT.
2. Searches the paths specified in the Referenced Documents Folders list in the File Locations Options dialog box. D:\aa\bb\p2.SLDPRT

E:\cc\dd\p2.SLDPRT
3. Searches the path of the active document, then recursively searches the path where the referenced document was last saved. D:\ss\tt\p2.SLDPRT

D:\ss\tt\xx\p2.SLDPRT

D:\ss\tt\yy\xx\p2.SLDPRT

D:\ss\tt\zz\yy\xx\p2.SLDPRT

D:\ss\xx\p2.SLDPRT

D:\ss\yy\xx\p2.SLDPRT

D:\ss\zz\yy\xx\p2.SLDPRT

D:\xx\p2.SLDPRT

D:\yy\xx\p2.SLDPRT

D:\zz\yy\xx\p2.SLDPRT

4. Searches the path where you last opened a document, then recursively searches the path where the referenced document was last saved.

In most cases, the path of the active document and the path where you last opened a document are the same.

The two paths are different if you click File > Open to open one document, then drag an assembly from File Explorer into that document. The path of the active document is the path from File Explorer and the path where you last opened a document is the path from File > Open.

Same as the previous step
5. Searches the path where the software last found a referenced document. C:\qq\p2.SLDPRT

This is the location of p1.SLDPRT.

6. Searches the full path where the document was last saved without a drive designation. \zz\yy\xx\p2.SLDPRT

This is useful if you save a part with a UNC path such as \\machine\folder\p2.SLDPRT.

7. Searches the full path where the document was last saved with its original drive designation. C:\zz\yy\xx\p2.SLDPRT
8. Searches Connected Design Libraries. C:\Users\Public\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\Tenant\ConnectedDesignLibrary

This is the location of p3.SLDPRT in the Connected Design Library.

This information applies to SOLIDWORKS if you enable the Design with SOLIDWORKS app.
9. Allows you to browse for the document yourself.