SOLIDWORKS Settings (DriveWorks Documentation)

SOLIDWORKS Settings

Paths

Flat pattern DXF output folder

Any DXF file created automatically as part of the generation process can be stored in a single location. This is useful for CAM applications that monitor a single folder for any new additions and produce NC code from the file.

To choose the DXF location:

Click the "Browse" button located at the end of the Flat pattern DXF output folder field
Select the folder where the files are to be stored from the Browse for Folder dialog
Click "OK"

If the Specify DXF Output Folder is blank any DXF Files created will be stored in the same location as its parent SOLIDWORKS model or drawing.

SOLIDWORKS path

DriveWorks Administrator has the ability to launch SOLIDWORKS in certain areas such as Specification Test or to view CAD Data. DriveWorks Server controls SOLIDWORKS in order to generate models.

To allow for this DriveWorks needs to know the location of the local machines executable file for the required version of SOLIDWORKS.

To browse for the SOLIDWORKS executable:

Click the Browse button at the end of the SOLIDWORKS path field.
Browse to the location of the SOLIDWORKS.exe file – this is usually installed at "C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS"

For users with more than one version of SOLIDWORKS Installed

The executable must be the version the DriveWorks master files have been created or saved with, and the clones are required to be saved as.

If the SOLIDWORKS path is left blank then DriveWorks will use the last opened version of SOLIDWORKS.

Model generation Options

Drive custom properties in all configurations

With this option checked DriveWorks will drive all configuration custom properties. With this option unchecked only the custom properties in the main file will be driven.

Create HTML Files of all eDrawings

With this option checked DriveWorks will save all eDrawings in HTML format. This will enable users to view an eDrawing in a web browser (eDrawings will still need to be installed).

Automatically zoom to fit

With this option checked all generated models will be zoomed to fit the graphics area of SOLIDWORKS prior to saving.

Images exported from a SOLIDWORKS model will be created from this final view.

This will impact model generation time. Only use when exporting image files from the model.

Feature Parameters behavior

This setting controls the units that will be used to drive Hole Wizard feature parameters.

The available options are listed in the table below:

Option	Meaning
Hole Wizards use user units (recommended)	The values to be driven into the dimensions, captured from the hole wizard parameters, will be in the units native to the document, e.g. 15 (for a part where the units are set to mm) or 0.590551 (for a part where the units are set to inch)
Hole Wizards use meters	The values to be driven into the dimensions, captured from the hole wizard parameters, will be in meters, e.g. 0.015 (15mm)

Reporting level

This sets the level of reporting for Model Generation.

There are three levels of reporting:

Minimal - Only model generation errors will be reported.
Normal (Default)- Model generation errors and warnings on the actions performed on each captured parameter will be reported.
Verbose - Model generation errors, warnings and information about the success of the actions performed on each captured parameter will be reported.

By default Normal level reporting will be applied.

During On Demand Model Generation reports are created as individual files.

During Queued Generation the reporting information is stored in the DriveWorks Group (database).

We recommend using Normal or Verbose reporting during testing only. Once in production please set the reporting level to minimal.

This will avoid large reports being produced and excessive amounts of data being stored in the DriveWorks Group file.

Batch delete instances and components

With this option checked instances and components will be deleted as a group. This will improve model generation performance in a production environment. If the option is unchecked instances and components will be deleted individually.

This option should be unchecked if using Model Insight as you may wish to view the individual deletions of instances and components.

Include configuration names in 3D exports

With this option checked configuration names will be included in all exported DriveWorks 3D files from SOLIDWORKS. This applies to models that are exported using the DriveWorks 3D Export Add-In.

Checking this settings will use the active SOLIDWORKS Configuration in the saved DriveWorks 3D file. The Configuration name will be used in Geometry name to ensure they are unique. This means that the same SOLIDWORKS file can be saved in two separate configurations and each DriveWorks 3D file will be unique. Each drive3d file will need to have a unique name.

The DriveWorks 3D Geometry name will be saved as SOLIDWORKSFileName-ConfigurationName.

Automatically export additional file formats

With this option checked DriveWorks will export any sheets of a Drawing that have been renamed (with a file extension) as an additional file format.

See File Formats for information on renaming sheets and file extensions.

It may be necessary to uncheck this option to avoid conflicts with similar functionality in SOLIDWORKS PDM.

Add-In License

These setting apply when Network Licenses are in use.

These settings allow the preferred license for the DriveWorks add-in in SOLIDWORKS to be selected.

Default License Type

Sets the default license type to be used for the add-in.

Select from:

Any - Will take any available license
Administrator - Will use an Administrator license
User - Will use a User license

Disallow Other License Types

When checked this will restrict other license types from being used if the default license type is not available.

DriveWorks Pro 22 SOLIDWORKS Settings