Creating an Archive File

You can create an archive file (.zip file) for an entire SOLIDWORKS assembly including reference parts, subassemblies, and drawings.

See Also
Copy Structure Dialog Box
Add Prefix Dialog Box
Add Suffix Dialog Box
Replace Dialog Box
  1. Perform one of the following:
    • To archive the assembly structure from inside of Connector for SOLIDWORKS, from the Windows Explorer:
      1. Select the assembly.
      2. Click Action > Copy Structure.
    • To archive the assembly structure from outside of Connector for SOLIDWORKS:
      1. Right-click the assembly.
      2. Click Copy Structure.
  2. From the Archive tab of the Copy Structure dialog box, perform one of the following:
    • In Archive, type the path of the archive file.
    • Click Browse and from the Select Compressed Archive dialog box, either:
      Browse to:Next Action(s)
      The .zip file that is to contain the archive filesClick Save.
      The folder that is to contain the .zip file
      1. In File Name, type the name of the .zip file.
      2. Click Save.
  3. Determine the iteration to copy as follows:
    • To copy the latest iteration, click Use latest iteration of referenced files.
    • To copy the file iteration used in the selected assembly, click Use referenced iteration of files.

    Note: Use referenced iteration of files is unavailable if you are archiving a structure that is located outside of Connector for SOLIDWORKS.

    The files list updates to reflect your selections.
  4. Determine how the system treats drawings within the structure.
    1. To include drawings in the archive, select the Include drawings check box.

      Clearing the check box does not affect the archiving if you select an assembly drawing as the structure to archive.

      If you select the check box, the file listing includes any drawings that are part of the structure.
    2. To have the system name drawings in the archive with their assembly or part names, select the Name drawings after their models check box.
  5. To apply file name changes to specific target (copied) files when you use the toolbar commands, select the files from the file list.
    For example, if you select three files from the file list and use Add Prefix, you have the option to apply your prefix only to those three files. If you do not select any files from the file list, the system only allows you to apply your prefix to all files in the list
    1. To add a prefix to the target file names, from the toolbar, click Add Prefix.

      From the Add Prefix dialog box:

      1. In Prefix, type the prefix to add to the file names.
      2. To apply the prefix to all files in the assembly, click All; otherwise, to apply the prefix to only the selected files in the Copy Structure dialog box, click Select files only.
      3. Click OK.

    2. To add a suffix to the target file names, click Add Suffix.

      From the Add suffix dialog box:

      1. In Add, type the suffix to add.
      2. To apply the suffix to all files in the file list, click All; otherwise, to apply the suffix to only the selected files in the Copy Structure dialog box, click Select files only.
      3. Click OK.

    3. To replace a string in the file names, click Replace.

      From the Replace dialog box:

      1. In Find, type the string to replace.
      2. In Replace, type the replacement string.
      3. To apply the replacement to all files in the file list, click All; otherwise to apply the replacement to the selected files in the Copy Structure dialog box, click Selected files only.
      4. To apply the replacement to file names, select the File name check box.
      5. To apply the replacement to folders, select the Folders check box.
      6. Click OK.

    4. To clear all changes from the target names:

      1. Click Reset.
      2. From the CopyTreeDig dialog box, click Yes.

  6. From the file list in the Copy Structure dialog box, select the check boxes of all files to include in the archive.

    To change the file list display, from the toolbar, click the View Mode flyout and select either Details or Content. Details displays the file name list in a maximum of seven columns, whereas Content displays the same data in fewer columns and includes a thumbnail of each file.

    Tip: To copy all the files in the file list, from the Details view, select the Copy check box.

    To view a thumbnail in a preview pane at the bottom of the dialog box, select the file. If you are unable to see the thumbnail, click Show Preview .

  7. Click Copy.

The system copies the selected assemblies, drawings, and parts to the specified archive file.