can you open 2001 plus files in 2001

[irian]

Need to open solidworks 2001 plus (i think its called ) file in solidworks 2001. Any ideas?

 

[MHendler]

Hi Irian,

Unfortunately, you cannot open SW2001+ files directly in SW2001. However, you can export this model in another extension, like Parasolid, IGES, STEP (3D Parts or assemblies) or DWG / DXF (drawings) and open it in an earlier version. In these cases you are going to loose the features of the model.

I recomend you use the Parasolid extension. It´s faster, smaller and safer.

Regards,

MHendler

 

[meintsi]

About this topic, out of curiosity,

Does anyone know what SW is thinking by not allowing any backwards capability?

Every answer I can think of comes down to the almighty $.

 

[MadMango]

The main reason that I can think of is that each new version of SW has new features and abilities. It would be nearly impossible to have an older version of any program recognize elements in a file that is was never programmed to recognize in the first place.

That is why most programs are able to be backwards compatible and hardly any are forward compatible. This covers not only CAD, but word processing, graphics design and other software. "Happy the Hare at morning for she is ignorant to the Hunter's waking thoughts."

 

[MHendler]

I think it's a litle difficult because there are a lot of new features in the later versions that are impossible to resolve in the earlier versions.

SolidWorks did it in all the versions.

I agree that there's a $$ question here.

 

[APPENG]

Well sure I agree that there is some $$ motivation there, but absolutely correct about the future versions having more functionality than the previous. For example all of the new surfacing and loft options, if I created a curvature continuous fillet in my part in plus, just what would 2001 do with it??

Its pretty much the standard of the industry, you cant open a Catia V.5 part in V 4.0... i guess its insurance on propagating new stuff Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[BBJT]

I have been told by SW that they tried with know luck. All of the above post , I am sure, accounts for why it is not possible. Another reason may be revenue. If this was an option what would drive the customer to upgrade to the next release? I would lean more towards the above post though. BBJT CSWP

 

[DetroitPickles]

Does any program do this?

If I create a M$ Word file in their latest version, will I be able to open it in Word 97? I don't think so. How about opening Autocad 2001 files in AutoCad 14? Nope.

It's all about upgrades...By the new version, that is what they want you to do.

 

[meintsi]

Yes, many programs do, you just don't have the new functionality.

I use MS XP at home and have no problems opening in MS'97 at work except that access will be "read-onlÿ".

MathCad and MatLab both open newer versions with no problems.


I understand how a CAD program, with new modeling techniques, won't have a convienent way to fully be opened correctly in an older version, but why can't a simple model/drawing be allowed to be opened?

Regards all,

Dave

 

[irian]

thanks people,

I used IGES, which worked well, as feature recognition was not required, but was available anyway. I tried it just for interest, and the file got quite large, and some features (like shell) were not recognised.
Will try Parasolid next time too,.

Regards

Irian

 

[APPENG]

Irian,

By ALL means, use IGES as a LAST RESORT!!!

PARASOLIDS are the new big kid on the block now! They are surprisingly compact as well. Much better translation than an IGES! Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[reswam]

Dear all
we can open simple models of later version to old version in ACAD.like ,open the file in actual version and save as to required old version.so it is possible in AUTO CAD.So with the same technique soliworks team can implement.if so it will be useful .
regards
reswam

 

It would be nice to have the option to "save as" a solidworks 2001+ file as a solidworks 99, solidworks 2000 or solidworks 2001 file. AutoCad does it. Microsoft Word does it.

 

[SBaugh]

My .02 worth here,

I guess if you do that then all new features of the latest SW will have to be dumb solids then? Kind of like exporting out to a parasolid or something. So if that is the case, then why don't you just export the entire file to a parasolid? It kind of seems pointless to me to go backwards. Because of you did a save to a SW99 file, most of all the features are going to become dumb solids or errors cause that feature doesn't exist in SW99.

Also something I have picked up along the way....Solidworks is Solidworks. It is not Microsoft Word, Excel or AutoCAD. Sooo just keep paying that mainteance fee and you shouldn't have a problem. If your Customer doesn't use the latest revision of SW. Then that should be something that is discussed before the design and either you would have to make it in a previous version of SW or they are going to need to update.

This post is not meant to offend anyone...just my opinion about backwards compatiability.

Best Regards, Scott Baugh, CSWP
credence69@REMOVEhotmail.com

http://home.insightbb.com/~scott.baugh/

 

[BBJT]

Well said Scott. BBJT CSWP

 

[meintsi]

It not that I was trying to say that I WANT to save in an older file format. That doesn't make sense, but in my case:

1)I work for a company using 2001+ that has decided not to renew this year. - Therefore have 2001+ at home also.

2)I consult for a company using 2001 who probally won't upgrade for a while.

3)Teach PT at an engineering college who keeps current as things come out - Will be going to 2002.

SW just doesn't make things any easier by only being able to do things at certain places.

 

[BBJT]

I hear you meintsi. We, as a large corporation, deal with many vendors, contract houses, suppliers, etc. We here are still on SW2000 and planning to move to 2001plus soon. One thing we have to make sure is that when we go to the next release everybody is on board, which is not an easy task. If we have sectors in a middle of a project they may not want to move to the next version in fear of jeopardizing the deadline. A save-as would be a huge benefit for us but I do not think we will ever see it. Like Scott mentioned, in the above, how can you save models with new functionality back to a version that does not support this technology?

If a company such as ours decides not to upgrade we have to live with the consequences. We do keep up with support but for reasons like I stated above we do not always jump to the next release.
BBJT CSWP

 

[SBaugh]

Meintsi,

1)I work for a company using 2001+ that has decided not to renew this year. - Therefore have 2001+ at home also

Sorry but I don't understand this? Are you saying since your company isn't upgrading your going to be stuck with SW01+? Well maybe you should try and find away to convince them that the upgrades and the maintenance is important for you to and maintain excellence in your work.

2)I consult for a company using 2001 who probally won't upgrade for a while.

Consulting is easy work. I do that as well...when I get work :-(. It would benefit you, and especially them if you could convince them into upgrading to SW01+.

3)Teach PT at an engineering college who keeps current as things come out - Will be going to 2002.

Most schools (from my understanding) are behind on all revisions of SW. So if we are using SW01+ they are prolly on SW01. (just checked out SW website and I'm right. The package being sold is SW01) If your school is getting the same copy as we are using then the VAR is dealing is a bit different from all other VAR's that I'm aware of.

Just a thought...


BBJT,

You can have multiple copies of SW on a single computer. So if you have a customer using SW2000 you could have that older version on your computer and you could use it exculsively for that customer only or customers that fit that profile or the opposite.

Now I wouldn't run both SW00 and SW01+ together at the same time, but this is away around issues like these. Ya I know this takes up space on your HD, but a good HD is decently priced these days. Plus if you Partition the drive, this is a good way of breaking the space for use.

Just a thought...

Best Regards to both of you Scott Baugh, CSWP
credence69@REMOVEhotmail.com

http://home.insightbb.com/~scott.baugh/

 

[meintsi]

Scott,

I wish I had a say in the decision around here...
But what done is done...our deadline is somewhere around "today" and nothing around here is going to change the powers to be mind. Especially when he plans to use the cash to upgrade the workstations - So we will be stuck - for who knows how long.

About colleges... your are right to a point, but MSOE is never that far behind industry. (They were up to SP6 when SP 14 came out.) True also for their other programs, COSMOSWORKS, SURFCAM, PRO-E and more... Students pay a lot to go there and they keep things very current.

 

[BBJT]

Scott,
With the amount of network licenses that we have spread across the USA, having mulitiple versions on each computer would be a support nightmare. Now throw the add-ins into the bucket. Where there are only a few people this probably would not be that big of an issue. However in my case I support miltiple networked people across the USA. BBJT CSWP