How to Install Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS
Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS is an add-in inside SOLIDWORKS which allows the user to save data to and from the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, manage revisions, task management, and more. In other words, it is a connector add-in which connects SOLIDWORKS desktop to the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform and provides access to SOLIDWORKS CAD and all the 3DEXPERIENCE services and apps that you are entitled to use based on your role.
Note that this guide will focus on the Collaborative Designer add-in for SOLIDWORKS, though there are also Collaborative Designer apps/add-ins for DraftSight, Visualize, Inspection and more which install using the same steps when selecting those apps in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.
Licensing
The 3DEXPERIENCE platform uses named user licensing. A license is assigned when an administrator grants a role to you. A role determines what 3DEXPERIENCE services and apps you are entitled to use. You can use your license on any device. The license is not tied to a particular machine.
Prerequisites
- 3DEXPERIENCE platform credentials (a role which includes Design with SOLIDWORKS).
- Internet connection and a web browser to access 3DEXPERIENCE Platform and licensing.
- A full product installation of SOLIDWORKS 2019 SP0 or newer. For Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS Visualize, a full product installation of SOLIDWORKS Visualize Standard or Professional 2020 SP3 or newer is required.
If you have questions about prerequisites, feel free to reach out to MLC CAD Systems technical support prior to installing.
3DEXPERIENCE Launcher
When you install a Collaborative Designer app for the first time, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform prompts you to download and install the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher. The Launcher is a background service that helps native apps, such as SOLIDWORKS, access the platform. The Launcher icon 
shows in the Windows System Tray after it installs.
3DEXPERIENCE Cloud Eligibility Tool
Either prior to starting or when prompted during the installation, we highly recommend downloading and running the 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud Eligibility Tool to check the compatibility of your environment with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to ensure you are ready to run 3DEXPERIENCE platform on your computer.
Installing Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS
- Log into the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. You can log in with your existing SOLIDWORKS ID if it uses the same email address as the email address that your administrator used to invite you to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Otherwise, you need to create new 3DEXPERIENCE credentials.
- On the top bar of the 3DDashboard:
- Click the Compass
- Under Me, click Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS.
- Click Design with SOLIDWORKS.
- The platform will display Application is Not Installed. Click Install Now.
- Click the Compass
- In the Welcome to 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher dialog, click ‘Download 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher’.
Note, if 3DEXPERIENCE Experience Launcher is already installed, you can skip to step 5.
- Locate the downloaded file 3DEXPERIENCELauncher and double-click to install.
- Follow the prompts to complete the installation. We recommend that you leave the file locations as default (C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\3DEXPERIENCE Launcher). Click ‘Finish’ to close the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher Setup.
- In the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, click ‘Continue’ to proceed with installing Design with SOLIDWORKS.
- In the 3DEXPERIENCE Installation web dialog, choose which roles to install:
- Install All Granted Roles install all roles granted to the user, e.g., Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS, Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS Visualize, etc.
- Install All Roles Containing Design with SOLIDWORKS only installs the roles which contain Design with SOLIDWORKS.
- The 3DEXPERIENCE Installation web dialog will close, and Windows will display Launching installer message.
- Once the Windows installer for 3DEXPERIENCE opens, on the second screen of the installation, we highly recommend downloading and running the 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud Eligibility Tool to check the compatibility of your environment with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to ensure you are ready to run 3DEXPERIENCE platform on your computer.
- We recommend that you leave the file locations as default.
- Install directory C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B425xcadconnectors
Click Next to proceed with the installation.
- The Vault View Path is the location of your local cache when opting SOLIDWORKS data from the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. We recommend leaving the path set as the default location C:\3DEXPERIENCE
Click Next to proceed with the installation.
- Choose a language and then click Next to proceed with the installation.
- On the ‘Installation has enough information to start’, click ‘Install>’ to begin.
- The installation process will change from Executing Application to Downloading Files and Installing Files several times as each component is installed. At the time this guide was written, the installation does not display which component is being installed. So, you will notice the various status indicators complete and restart multiple times. This is normal and expected behavior.
- Once the installation program has finished on your computer, click Close.
- ‘Installation Success’ will now display in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform at the bottom of the screen.
- Return to the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, under Me, and select Design with SOLIDWORKS. This time the platform will recognize the app is installed and the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher will launch the software on your desktop. The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform status will display ‘Launching Design with SOLIDWORKS’ and then several seconds later you will see the SOLIDWORKS splash screen appear for the version of desktop SOLIDWORKS you have installed.
- Wait for SOLIDWORKS to open fully. In the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane for 3DEXPERIENCE, click the ‘Accept All’ button to accept all cookies.
- You are now ready to design in SOLIDWORKS with Collaborative Designer!
Learn to Use Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS
For detailed steps on using Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS, watch our vide Getting Started with Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS | 3DEXPERIENCE
Frequently Asked Questions
Collaborative Designer is a 3DEXPERIENCE add-in that connects your SOLIDWORKS Desktop environment to the cloud. It allows you to manage design data, revisions, and collaboration directly within SOLIDWORKS. This functionality is automatically included with the install of 3DExperience SOLIDWORKS (SOLIDWORKS Connected), but not with SOLIDWORKS Desktop.
Yes, an active 3DEXPERIENCE ID is required. You’ll also need the appropriate role or license assigned to access and use Collaborative Designer.
Currently, Collaborative Designer is compatible with SOLIDWORKS 2019 SP0 or newer. We recommend checking the exact version compatibility before installing.
You’ll need to install the 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher, verify your system with the Cloud Eligibility Tool, and confirm your role licenses before beginning installation.
We’ve outlined the update steps in our article here: mlc-cad.com/solidworks-help-center/how-to-update-solidworks-connected-and-other-apps/
For a breakdown of common model names and their usage inside the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, check out: mlc-cad.com/solidworks-help-center/understanding-the-3dexperience-model-names-within-the-solidworks-interface/
If the installer fails to launch or throws a connection error, make sure you’ve run the Cloud Eligibility Tool and that your firewall settings allow outbound connections to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. If issues persist, contact MLC technical support or check here: https://www.mlc-cad.com/solidworks-help-center/3dexperience-cloud-eligibility-tool/
Technical Support
Get help from our team by Calling us at 800-364-1652 x 2. You can also get assistance by clicking the Technical Support button or the Email Our Experts button below.