SOLIDWORKS PDM Warning: ‘The file format of file is not recognized’

Have you ever encountered the error “The file format of file is not recognized”? When trying to open a SOLIDWORKS file in PDM? When checking in files that contain configurations, a SOLIDWORKS PDM user may receive a message show below.

‘The file format of file is not recognized. Do you want to check it in anyway?’

There are few possible reasons due to which “‘The file format of file is not recognized. Do you want to check it in anyway?’” warning message can pop-up.

1) DataCard Configuration name exceeding 255 characters:

This may result from the configuration name exceeding 255 characters, which is the maximum allowed in a SOLIDWORKS PDM database.

SOLIDWORKS Data Card

The file can be checked in, but without the configurations. In the data card, there will be no tab for the configurations.

2) Restore File Association:

If you are encountering issues with, SOLIDWORKS files not opening when you double click on them or it shows an warning pop-up “The File Format is not recognized”, then restoring the file associations may resolve these issues.

To restore file association please refer to the information provided in the article “Restore File Associations in SOLIDWORKS”

3) Registry Key Issues:

If you suspect that registry settings are contributing to the problem, you can manually edit the registry keys associated with the file extensions. This forces SOLIDWORKS to recreate them correctly when you try to open the file again after making the changes.

Important: Editing the Windows Registry can cause serious issues if done incorrectly. Always back up the registry before making changes.

Steps to recreate registery key:

In the steps below, we are using .slddrw as an example. If you encounter issues with other file types, apply the same steps to their corresponding registry keys.

1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit) as an administrator.
   
2. Navigate to the following keys:
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\Applications\PDMWorks Enterprise\FileFormats\.slddrw
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SolidWorks\Applications\PDMWorks Enterprise\FileFormats\.slddrw (for x64 systems)
3. Rename these keys (e.g., add _old to the end) to force SOLIDWORKS to recreate them correctly.
4. Restart your computer.

This will prompt SOLIDWORKS to recreate the registry entries correctly upon next launch, potentially resolving the issue.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “The file format not recognized” error and ensure that your files are properly managed within the SOLIDWORKS PDM system. If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your VAR for further assistance.