What's New

This section describes recent changes in SOLIDWORKS Connected.

This page discusses:

R2022x FD01 (FP.2205)

Access to PartSupply and Make in SOLIDWORKS

You can access the 3DMarketplace PartSupply and Make apps directly from SOLIDWORKS.

For PartSupply, you can open and download components using:

  • the 3D Components - Part Supply command on the Design Library tab in the Task Pane.
  • the Insert from PartSupply command by clicking Insert Components (Assembly toolbar) or Insert > Components > Insert from PartSupply (Assembly CommandManager).

For Make, click the On Demand Manufacturing command from the Evaluate (Assembly toolbar) or Evaluate > On Demand Manufacturing (Assembly CommandManager).

Benefits: The improved access makes it easier for you to navigate to PartSupply and Make and integrate them in your workflow.

Backup/Recovery and Save File Location

You can specify the frequency and folders for auto-recovery, backup, and save notification.
Benefits: Auto-recovery, backup, and save locations are useful in case of unwanted interruptions during work when there is a possibility of losing data.

Checking Compatibility of Attribute Definition

While saving SOLIDWORKS data to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, the values of the mapped attributes are verified for the compatibility of their PLM attribute definition.
If there is any inconsistency, a warning message displays in the Status column of the Save dialog box. In most cases, you can save the data to the platform with inconsistencies. The only case where you cannot save data is when a mandatory attribute is missing.
Benefits: Detailed messaging helps you resolve inconsistencies with SOLIDWORKS properties and 3DEXPERIENCE attributes.

Create a Custom PropertyManager for Models with a Single Configuration

In Configuration Publisher, you can create a custom PropertyManager for models that have one configuration.
Benefits: For models with a single configuration, you can create rules to define configurations when you create the custom PropertyManager.

Custom Properties Tab

The Custom Properties tab is added in SOLIDWORKS Connected.
Benefits: You can access the Custom Properties tab in the Task Pane to add and edit properties.

Delegate CGR computation to Platform Resources

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform manages the CATIA Graphical Representation (CGR) computation instead of the client machine.
Benefits: This backend enhancement improves performance in the Save commands and the Batch Save to 3DEXPERIENCE add-in.

Editing Titles with Autonaming Enabled

In the Save As New dialog box, you can change the autonamed title to be more meaningful. If you enabled autonaming, the file name retains the original autogenerated name.
Benefits: You can give title names that are more readable and easier to remember than the automatic names.

Enterprise Item Number and Revision Display Options

In the Component Name and Description dialog box, you can select Enterprise Item Number and Revision to include in the component name displayed in the FeatureManager design tree.
You can access the dialog box by clicking Top Assembly > Tree Display > Component Name and Description.
Benefits: You can display more information in the component name.

Find References Dialog Box

You can use the Find References dialog box to find references by part, assembly, and drawing documents.
The dialog box shows the file title, folder location, collaborative space, and file name for the references.
Benefits: For assemblies, you can list the part and subassembly documents that are components of the active assembly. This is useful when you have several versions of component files.

Improved Workflow for Inserting 3DEXPERIENCE Components

For SOLIDWORKS assemblies, when you insert non-native components created by 3DEXPERIENCE apps such as xShape or xDesign, you can create SOLIDWORKS derived parts from the inserted 3DEXPERIENCE components.
Benefits: You can quickly insert and convert non-native 3DEXPERIENCE components into SOLIDWORKS derived parts in assemblies.

Improvements in MySession

New commands, columns, and tabs are added in the action bar and context menu of MySession.
  • The collaboration commands in the Lifecycle tab of the action bar moved to the Collaboration tab.
  • A Display Side Panel command is available in the View tab of action bar.
  • The Relations command is available in the context menu of a selected object.
  • The Component Name column displays the component information as available in the primary settings of the Component Name and Description dialog box.
Benefits: These enhancements improve usability in MySession.

For more information, see MySession.

Managing Revisions

Replace Latest Revision and Update Revisions is introduced in the action bar of MySession.
  • The Update Revisions command lets you select a revision for a single node or multiple nodes in an assembly. This feature is available only for the data that is saved in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
  • The Replace by Latest Revision command updates the revision of a selected object with the latest revision. When you replace a subcomponent, you may need to rebuild and save the parent assembly to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. This save ensures that changes propagate to the entire assembly. You can access the command from the action bar or context menu in MySession.
Benefits: These enhancements make it easier for the user to build the latest revision of their SOLIDWORKS models.

For more information, see MySession and Update Revisions.

Model Document Path Available in Component Properties Dialog Box

In the Component Properties dialog box, Model Document Path displays the path to the component document.
Benefits: You can view the component location from the Component Properties dialog box.

More Options and Faster Batch Processing for Batch Save to 3DEXPERIENCE Add-In

The batch processing in the Batch Save to 3DEXPERIENCE add-in has been optimized. The method automatically computes an optimal size of the transaction, depending on the number of files and configurations.
Additional options in the add-in are available:
  • You can change the order in which folders are managed by using the Move Up and Move Down controls.
  • You can bookmark folders and use the Bookmark Editor to classify the 3DEXPERIENCE data in a bookmark structure.
  • Before saving files to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you can upgrade them to the current SOLIDWORKS version. When you select this option, you can generate a backup of the files before performing the upgrade.
Benefits: The optimization of the Batch Save to 3DExperience add-in makes the process more efficient and reliable. The enhancements provide more capabilities to manage and retrieve files in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Pack and Go Replaces Export SOLIDWORKS Files Tool

Pack and Go replaces the Export SOLIDWORKS Files tool in the File menu.
This updated version stops the process when it detects duplicate filenames that refer to the same Title. Before you can proceed further, you must specify a unique file name for each duplicate. Pack and Go also displays a progress bar also when it gathers references, and lets you cancel the processing.
Benefits: Pack and Go provides you with the abilities to gather local files and files stored on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The Export SOLIDWORKS Files tool was limited to files stored on the platform.

Property Tab Builder

The Property Tab Builder is a stand-alone utility that lets you create a customized interface for entering properties into SOLIDWORKS files. When you install SOLIDWORKS Connected, the Property Tab Builder is installed.
Benefits: You can write and edit properties using templates to distribute or share on a network.

Removal of Convert Option in the Save to 3DEXPERIENCE Dialog Box

The Convert option is no longer available in the Save to 3DEXPERIENCE dialog box.
Administrators now manage the ability to generate derived output from the 3DSPACE Collaborative Spaces Configuration Center.
Benefits: Administrators have more flexibility in managing derived output generation.

Setting Business Logic for Maturity Changes of Drawings

Administrators can control the maturity change for SOLIDWORKS drawings by defining and deploying the Business Logic (BL).
This function applies to drawings referenced by physical products and not stand-alone drawings.
Benefits: This capability lets users promote the maturity change in drawings when the referenced physical products are not at the same maturity level.

Showing the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Version in Connected Apps

In the About SOLIDWORKS dialog box, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform version displays.
Benefits: You can quickly see the installed 3DEXPERIENCE version of the SOLIDWORKS Connected app.

Updating a Model for 3DEXPERIENCE Platform

For models that are not compatible with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, right-click the top item in the FeatureManager design tree, and click Update for 3DEXPERIENCE Compatibility.
Benefits: You can manually update models. For models that reference other components, you can choose to include those references in the update.

Welcome Dialog Box Updates

The Welcome dialog box is updated to restore functionality like Browse Recent Folders and Show in Folder. The Home and Recent tabs are modified. The Learn tab is restored.
When you save the active document to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, a cloud icon appears next to the file name in the top bar. Hover over the icon to display a tooltip showing the file name and the object's workspace.

Benefits: The user interface more closely resembles SOLIDWORKS, which improves usability.

R2022x GA

Support for SOLIDWORKS Parameters in 3DEXPERIENCE Simulation Apps

You can now access parameters created in SOLIDWORKS models in 3DEXPERIENCE Simulation apps.
You can define design parameters in the SOLIDWORKS model in the FeatureManager design tree by right-clicking Equations > Add/Edit Parameters. Before you run a parametric design improvement study, you must save the model to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

For more information, see 3D Modeling | 3DEXPERIENCE for SOLIDWORKS Users | 3DEXPERIENCE Simulation for SOLIDWORKS Users | Saving SOLIDWORKS Geometry and Initializing a 3DEXPERIENCE Simulation

Benefits: You can now run parametric design improvement studies using models and parameters that you created in SOLIDWORKS.

Terminology Changes

In the PropertyManagers for Split Feature, Save Bodies, and Insert Into New Part tools, there can be some terminology changes.
  • If the base part is stored on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, the term Title is used instead of File Name. The term Collaborative Space is used and indicates where on the platform new parts are saved. This functionality replaces browsing to a folder on the PC. New parts are saved on the platform in the selected collaborative space.
  • If the base part is stored locally on the PC, the user interface is the same as SOLIDWORKS. You can specify the File Names of new parts and browse to a folder where they are saved.
  • If autonaming is active, unique names are automatically generated for new files.

Terminology is changed as follows:

New terminology/Legacy terminology

  • Lock/Reserve
  • Unlock/Unreserve
  • Lock Status/Reservation
  • Locked/Reserved
  • Locked By/Reserved by or Reservation Owner
  • Not Locked/Not Reserved
Benefits: Terminology was changed to align the terms used across platforms.

Adding PLM Attributes to Custom Properties

You can add PLM attributes as properties of configurations for parts, assemblies, and drawings. Use the Configuration Properties tab of a part or assembly or the Custom tab of a drawing to select the PLM attribute. The syntax of a PLM attribute starts with $PLMPRP.

If you have not saved the file to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, the property indicates that status and does not evaluate.

To add PLM attributes to a file created before version 2018, you must upgrade the customer properties. In the FeatureManager design tree, right-click the part or assembly name and click Upgrade custom properties. When you upgrade the custom properties, you cannot revert them to the previous state.

Benefits: This enhancement gives you the flexibility to update PLM attributes for SOLIDWORKS parts, assemblies, and drawings in MySession.

Using the Component Name and Description Dialog Box

In SOLIDWORKS Connected, you can use the Component Name and Description dialog box to specify display options for the FeatureManager design tree.
To access the dialog box, right-click the part or assembly name in the FeatureManager design tree and click Tree Display > Component Name and Description.
Benefits: You can select multiple options for displaying component information in the same dialog box.