future version conversion 1

[biff44]

I am using the student version 2009 sp3.0 to learn and evaluate solidworks. Someone just sent me a file apparently done in 2010 solidworks, and my version can not open it. Doing some google searches, I see some old posts (2004) saying there is no way to save files from one year's version into the previous year's version. Is this still true? There are no 3rd party converters, etc??? In other words, If I have the 2009 version, can someone working in 2010 version send me a readable file?

Seems like a real limitation to me!!!

http://www.MaguffinMicrowave.com

Maguffin Microwave wireless design consulting

 

[TheTick]

Still not possible.

As far as limitations go, using a student version for commercial purposes doesn't really put one in a position to complain.

 

[biff44]

I am not. I have someone teaching me solidworks, and she sent me a file from her newer version. It is not an easy program to learn, especially for an EE. Every time I try to do something, there is some extra icon I forgot to click, etc. Please just answer the question, is there someway to view it, or does she have to drive all the way over here to show me it?

Is there a viewer available that I can download.

http://www.MaguffinMicrowave.com

Maguffin Microwave wireless design consulting

 

[Updraft]

SWX09 cannot open a file from SWX2010. Question has already been answered.

If you are trying to learn then go through the tutorials. SWX has one of the best built-in training info of any CAD system. If you are still having trouble then might I suggest you look into the PEBKAC issue.

- - -Updraft

 

[biff44]

Nevermind. I was able to find a viewer on the SW website.


Seriously, though, is there no way to share files unless all users are on the same version of solidworks?

Can a newer version of solidworks open older files, or is that a limitation too? In other words, if she sent me a 2090 file and I had the 2010 software, could I open it?

http://www.MaguffinMicrowave.com

Maguffin Microwave wireless design consulting

 

[Eltron]

2090 is in the future so you'd have the same problem. If all you want to do is view the file then there are a multitude of ways to do that, but you will lose the Feature Manager for the file unless you attempt to recreate it with Feature Works. Honestly, in your state I wouldn't even mess with it. SW is backwards compatible just not forwards compatible. It's a minor pain sometimes, but if you know what you're doing you can always get around it. Live with it, learn the software, or drop it.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

"Please just answer the question"
The question has been answered ... "Still not possible". And for marketing reasons, probably never will be.

Your 'teacher' should know that the file would have to be converted to a 'dumb solid' format (like Parasolid) which will be featureless when re-opened, and I get the impression that is not what you want. If your teacher didn't know this, you need a new teacher.

is there someway to view it

Yes. Use the eDrawing viewer.

https://www.solidworks.com/sw/products/free-cad-software-downloads.htm

does she have to drive all the way over here to show me it?

No. You could use Remote Access or a similar utility (like LogMeIn) or Skype or email or phone ... or you could drive to her place.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Almost forgot to mention faq559-1345

 

[ctopher]

Dan,
"SW is backwards compatible just not forwards compatible"

Reverse of this isn't it?

Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP4.1
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[TheTick]

Sorry, biff. 99% of the time that's where these complaints come from.

SW always keeps their edumacational version one release behind.

It's more than just making people buy new licenses (though I'm sure that's part of it). 3D CAD isn't the same as 2D etch-a-sketch like AutoCrayon. There's a lot more that goes into the building of features and structure of file data. There are always new things introduced that simply don't have an analogue in the previous version.

 

[fcsuper]

SolidWorks Corp frequently discusses version capability with customers, but as of yet, they have done nothing about it. At this point, it does look like they've tabled the idea in favor of trying to get everyone to buy into CAD on a cloud concept (in which the subscribing user is theoretically always up to date because versions are maintained on a SolidWorks owned server).

Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper

 

[ShaggyPE]

Not sure what initiated all of the ball busting in this thread... but ask your teacher to send the model as a parasolid. The unfortunate thing is you will not be able to see how the part was generated and thus you will get little educational value from receiving this model. This is because the model will import as a generic solid file and will not have a feature tree.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
Certified COSMOSWorks Designer Specialist
Certified SolidWorks Advanced Sheet Metal Specialist

 

[mjcole]

Anyone who has a version of 2010 installed will also have access to and probably still use 2009 or an earlier version. With all the different companies using SolidWorks not all are on the latest version due to internal company rules. Many companies like to use a version that has had many of it's kinks worked out and that they find stable. Most companies like to have several users or one power user test out the new version to make sure it's stable enough for new project work or need to keep older versions so they can work on the same version as their manufacturers or other companies they work with.

eDrawings is a great way to view and measure the 2010 model and Configurations can be used to show steps in the creation process. Feature Statistics can also be used to copy and paste the feature information into word or plain text.

I wish my Insurance could be exported into an earlier version so I can get it for cheap.


Michael

 

[rollupswx]

Students can download Inventor 2011 for free from

http://www.autodesk.com/edcommunity

that you could use to open the SWx 2010 file and save in a neutral format like STEP to open in SWx 2009.

 

[fcsuper]

Actually we all are asked this question so often, we tend to forget the obvious. Use, the SW2010 file can be saved using SW2010 into a neutral format that can be opened in SW2009.

Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper