About Preview Tab

When you select a file in Windows Explorer or within the file dialog boxes used in SOLIDWORKS, the Preview tab lets you view an image of the selected file.

By default, the image displayed is the bitmap stored with the SOLIDWORKS file. Toolbar buttons let you zoom in and out and pan the image.

If eDrawings is installed, you can also change to an eDrawings view of the image that includes enhancements like perspective and shading. A larger selection of toolbar buttons and more menu options give you more control over the image appearance.

There are two ways to change the view:

  • Using the eDrawings toolbar button, which is only active when SOLIDWORKS eDrawings is installed.

    The eDrawing button only changes the display for the current file.

  • Using the Commands menu, which has these options:
    • Show eDrawings for SOLIDWORKS files - This option displays the eDrawing file.
    • Show bitmap for SOLIDWORKS files - This option displays the thumbnail of the image of the file.
    • Always Download Missing Files - When you select a file that is not stored locally, the software automatically performs a Get operation so the system can display in the Preview. You can select this option with either the Show eDrawings for SOLIDWORKS files or Show bitmap for SOLIDWORKS files options.

Your Commands menu selections remain set across the selection of different files until you set different options in the Commands menu.