Lets say you have SOLIDWORKS 2017 installed on your machine, which also provides you access to eDrawings 2017; but you also need access to an older version of eDrawings such as eDrawings 2015.

To download older eDrawings versions follow the procedure below:

1. Log in to your SOLIDWORKS Customer portal account.

Customer Portal Log in

2. On the SUPPORT tab, in the Download section click on Downloads and Updates link.

Download and Updates

3. Select what version of eDrawings you would like to download. Under Free CAD Tools clicking on the eDrawings (32-bit) will download the file set.

Select eDrawings version to download

4. Extract and run the downloaded file. Now launch eDrawings 2015 from the start menu.

The post How do I download older versions of eDrawings? appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

In some cases, when you download and install SOLIDWORKS and try to launch eDrawings from the start menu, it doesn’t show up. This means that even though the latest version of SOLIDWORKS was installed you still need to install the latest release of eDrawings.

To download and install the same version of eDrawings as that of SOLIDWORKS follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager

Locate SOLIDWORKS 2017 installation file set > Select setup.exe > Right click on setup.exe > Select run as an administrator (for all admin rights).This will launch SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager can also be launched from Start > Control panel > Programs and Features > SOLIDWORKS 2017 > Right click  > Change.

Step 2: Modify Installation

Now, select Modify the individual installation and click next.

Modify the individual installation

STEP 3: Product Selection

Click Next on Serial Number page as you already have serial number added. On product selection page select eDrawings as shown.

Install eDrawings Product Selection

Step 4: Install eDrawings

Accept the terms and conditions on summary page and click Modify now. This will install eDrawings 2017 on your machine.

Accept the terms and conditions

Step 5: Launch eDrawings

Launch eDrawings 2017 from the start menu.

The post How do I install the same version of eDrawings as SOLIDWORKS? appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

In SOLIDWORKS 2017 the eDrawings tool went from being a SOLIDWORKS viewer to a full on CAD viewer, gaining capabilities to support more file formats, along with many more improvements in that upgrade!

We can import these following file formats:

• STEP AP242
• IGES
• CATIA^® V5
• Autodesk^® Inventor
• 3DXML

With eDrawings 2018, the capabilities grow even larger!

eDrawings 2018 Decals

Starting with decals, now SOLIDWORKS has the option to store decals with the file which in turn means that eDrawings files will open and accurately represent any decals on that part!

eDrawings Decal Example

eDrawings 2018 Performance

Along with the visuals, eDrawings gets new performance enhancements with graphics boost shown in the screenshot below:

eDrawings Options

eDrawings 2018 Attachments

eDrawings gains more capabilities with attachments allowing parts and assemblies to attach step files directly into eDrawings file making it convenient!

There are also other key enhancements to 2018 such as:

• Being able to view different configurations as well as the saved 3D views from MBD
• More security with passwords
• Opening STEP files with eDrawings
• More unit capabilities (Feet & Inches)

With these great new enhancements eDrawings 2018 will allow you to communicate your designs faster and collaborate with ease!

The post eDrawings is THE Tool for Viewing CAD Documents! appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

When exporting SOLIDWORKS parts and assemblies to the eDrawings filetypes (.eprt and .easm respectively), SOLIDWORKS 2018 can now automatically create and attach a STEP files of the model into the eDrawings file itself.  Everything is self-contained in a single file and you can extract the STEP files from the eDrawings file.

You will need to export the eDrawings file from within SOLIDWORKS.  Open the model and either choose File > Save As with the eDrawings filetype, or File > Publish to eDrawings.  The next pop-up window allows you to choose what configurations to save to the eDrawings file.  The second column allows you to select configurations to generate and attach a STEP file.  It can attach multiple STEP files (one for each configuration).  There are three supported STEP formats available: AP203, AP214 or AP242.

eDrawings 2018 create and attach STEP files

When the eDrawings file is opened, there is an Attachments pane showing all available STEP files attached to the file.  When you select one or more of the STEP files, you have 3 options.  The first is to View Attachment.  This will open the STEP file in its own window (as eDrawings can open STEP files directly).  This STEP file is still within the eDrawings file, but you have options to Extract or Delete from this view.

eDrawings 2018 View Attachments

eDrawings 2018 STEP File

Another option in the main eDrawings file is to Extract Attachments.  This will save out the attached STEP file to a location or your choice.

eDrawings 2018 Extract Attachment

The last option is to Delete the attachment(s).  This would be a permanent change if the eDrawings file is subsequently saved.  The model would need to be republished to an eDrawings file from SOLIDWORKS to include the attachment again.

eDrawings 2018 Delete Attachment

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