SOLIDWORKS External References

Lock SOLIDWORKS External References to prevent design change

Lock external references

When working with an assembly that utilizes the SOLIDWORKS top down assembly design approach it is good practice to lock the external references for a design that is ready for release. This will help to ensure the design does not change unless the external references…

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How to fix Empty SOLIDWORKS Drawing Views

SOLIDWORKS drawing empty views

Are you seeing empty views when opening a SOLIDWORKS Drawing?  Where did the Views and Annotations go? In this tech tip I’ll describe the blank view problem and provide a solution. Why are my Drawing Views empty? If the urge to swear out loud is…

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Keeping track of External Relations in SOLIDWORKS 2019 is now easier than keeping track of your relatives?!

Keeping track of SOLIDWORKS External Relations in a model has been simplified in SOLIDWORKS 2019! It might be impossible to remember all the names of your cousins and what job they’re working, the links created between parts and features is clear and simple. Let’s take…

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Setting SOLIDWORKS PDM External References Search Paths

SOLIDWORKS PDM External References

SOLIDWORKS PDM will normally handle references, between components. If these references do not exist, then PDM will use search criteria used by the respective application, such as SOLIDWORKS. Through the SOLIDWORKS PDM External References tab, additional folders to be searched, can be specified. These folders…

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How to prevent broken references being checked into a SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault

Nobody enjoys being greeted by this error message when opening an assembly in SOLIDWORKS. It usually means there’s a broken reference… Yup definitely broken. Within a SOLIDWORKS PDM environment this can happen when migrating files via explorer into the vault.  When dragged into the vault,…

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Reduce SOLIDWORKS assembly open times by specifying external reference search locations

If there is one topic that repeatedly sends our customers to sleep, it’s file references. But what if I could tell you that could save time whenever you open an assembly? Where is this magic time saving switch you ask?   It is squarely located within…

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SOLIDWORKS 2017 is now more efficient at handling Externally Referenced files

SOLIDWORKS External References

If your typical workflow involves opening SOLIDWORKS files with any number of external references, you may have fallen victim to a common affliction — that all of the referenced files have opened in the background too! More than one instance of this happening with a…

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