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Installation
- SOLIDWORKS and SW PDM System Requirements
- Preparing for Installation
- How to Download SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager (.exe)
- How to Request a Manual Download for SOLIDWORKS
- How To Order A SOLIDWORKS Media Kit
- Installing – A Complete Overview to Managing a CAD Environment
- SOLIDWORKS Hardware Guide
- Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS Installation Issues
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- SOLIDWORKS Individual Installation
- How to Modify Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- How to Repair Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- Performing a Clean Uninstall
- How to Quickly Update SOLIDWORKS to a Newer Service Pack
- How to Transfer a Standalone License
- Install Multiple Versions
- SOLIDWORKS Activation Wizard: How to Transfer SOLIDWORKS License
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- SOLIDWORKS Network Licensing
- How to Upgrade SolidNetWork License Manager
- Moving from SOLIDWORKS Standalone to Network Licenses
- Adding License to an Existing SolidNetwork License Manager
- Use Options File to Reserve Licenses for Specific Users
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Order Guide
- How to Reactivate SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses
- How to Move the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager to a New Server
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetwork License Manager Overview
- How to Install the SolidNetwork License Manager
- Reserve Licenses with Options File
- How to add or remove network serial numbers
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SOLIDWORKS Portal
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SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Keyboard Shortcuts
- SOLIDWORKS Copy Settings Wizard
- Accessing Xpress Tools
- How To Tell Who Has a SOLIDWORKS File Open
- How to Use SOLIDWORKS Pack and Go
- SOLIDWORKS Administration Overview
- Rebuild Types and How They Work
- Understanding SOLIDWORKS Settings and Templates
- How to create SOLIDWORKS Part, Assembly, and Drawing Templates
- Utilizing Cloud Storage with SOLIDWORKS
- Automate File Exports with Task Scheduler
- Troubleshooting Weldment Cut List Consolidation
- SOLIDWORKS Multi-sheet Custom Properties Source
- How to Use Save As with References
- How to Troubleshoot Graphical Issues
- How to Enable or Disable SOLIDWORKS Add-ins
- PDM Branch and Merge Overview
- Copy and Paste as Reference in PDM
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PDM
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- PDM How to Work in Off-line Mode
- How to Use PDM Move Tree
- How to Use PDM Copy Tree
- PDM - What are Private State Files?
- PDM Search Operators
- How to Set PDM to Details View in Windows File Explorer
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Search Results – Which Configuration’s Variables are Displayed?
- PDM Automatic Login Options
- Preview Tab Options
- How To Overwrite Latest PDM Version
- Difference Between Versions and Revisions
- How to export search results from PDM
- Selecting Child References Automatically in SOLIDWORKS PDM 1/3
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- PDM Administrators: Roles and Responsibilities
- PDM License Type Matrix
- PDM Server Recommendations
- PDM Backup Procedures
- How to Reset Your SOLIDWORKS PDM Admin Password
- How to Control Get Version Commands
- Adding a PDM Vault View with a Windows Azure Active Directory Account
- PDM Major Minor Revisions
- How to Set Revision Manually in PDM
- How to Set Up Revision Tables
- PDM - What are Version Free Variables?
- PDM How to Rollback a File to a Previous Version
- PDM Setting Cache Options Automatically
- How to Change PDM Date Formatting
- How to Delete a PDM User Completely
- How to Reset Web2 Authentication in IIS
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Connectivity Test Tool
- How to Configure the Local HOSTS file to Resolve Server Name
- Create Local Vault View Shortcut
- How to Configure a Computer to be a PDM Task Host
- How to Setup a Dedicated Unattended Task Host
- How to use PDM Database Upgrade Tool
- Collect Support Information for PDM
- Update Credentials for PDM Archive Server
- Update Credentials for PDM Database Server
- Creating and Using PDM Labels
- Troubleshooting PDM Notifications
- PDM Cold Storage and How To Use It
- How to set the PDM Preview Tab Viewer
- How to reset the SQL password for the PDM Vault SQL Server
- SOLIDWORKS Strategies for Using the File Version Upgrade Tool (FVUT)
- How To Relocate An Existing SOLIDWORKS Vault View To Another Drive
- How to manually remove a disconnected PDM Vault View
- How To Relocate Vault Archive Folders To Another Drive
- How to Setup Toolbox in PDM - SOLIDWORKS
- How to Resolve “Workflow States Exceeds Permissible Limit” - SOLIDWORKS
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- Create Local Vault View
- How to Delete or Recreate a Local Vault View
- Create Local PDM Vault View Using .cvs File
- How to Change PDM Client License Type after Installation
- PDM File Version Upgrade Tool
- PDM Upgrade Checklist
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS PDM Add-ins
- SOLIDWORKS PDM: Moving Server Components - Checklist
- How to Install SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
- SOLIDWORKS PDM / Manage Installation Guide (PDF)
- Install Microsoft SQL 2019 for PDM Professional
- How to Install PDM Client Software
- Change SQL Server License
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM - AUTOMATICALLY
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM - MANUALLY
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Known Solutions
- Windows Firewall Exceptions for SOLIDWORKS Network Based Products
- Why Users Need Local Admin Rights to Install SOLIDWORKS
- How to Run SOLIDWORKS with Administrator Permissions
- Blank SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager - Resolution
- SOLIDWORKS RX - The Ultimate CAD Diagnostic Tool
- SOLIDWORKS Safe Modes
- How to Force SOLIDWORKS to Use Your Graphics Card
- How to Ensure that You are Running a SOLIDWORKS Certified Graphics Card Driver
- Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS Installation Issues
- Resolution to Common File Location Errors
- Non-Matching Internal ID
- Could not obtain a license for SOLIDWORKS CAM. Invalid (inconsistent) license key
- “The Source Folder Is Not Versioned Properly…” Error when Modifying Serial Number
- “A Newer Version of This Product is Already Installed” Error when Installing SOLIDWORKS
- "Error obtaining License (-85, 147, 0)"
- SOLIDWORKS Search Routine Order
- How to Restore Dismissed SOLIDWORKS Messages
- Viewing SOLIDWORKS Configurations in eDrawings
- How to Modify the Reference/Update Dialog Dismissal Time
- SOLIDWORKS Educational Resources
- How to Change the SOLIDWORKS Language
- Restore Your File Associations
- How To Reset SOLIDWORKS Registry
- Resolve "Sheet Format Could Not Be Located"
- How To Correct The "Default Templates Are Not Valid" Error
- Correcting foreign language characters in the FeatureManager Tree
- How to Collect CXPAs
- Show all articles ( 12 ) Collapse Articles
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Simulation
- Simulation Meshing Guide
- How to Duplicate and Reuse Simulation Study Data
- Setting Up Default Options for SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- Which Type of Elements Should I Use?
- Is SOLIDWORKS Simulation Accurate?
- Getting Started with Simulation
- The Basics of Setting Up a Study in Simulation
- Do I Need Non-linear Simulation?
- Submodeling Studies – The What, Why, & How of Using Them in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- What To Do When you get the “Excessive Displacement” Warning in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- How to Create Temperature Dependent Custom Materials in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- How to Export Flow Simulation Results to Import into FEA
- How to Add a Hydrostatic Load
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3DEXPERIENCE
- How to Create a 3DEXPERIENCE ID
- 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud Eligibility Tool
- Cloud Services Activation
- Invite Users & Assign Roles
- How to Install Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS
- Install the 3DEXPERIENCE Add-in for SOLIDWORKS
- How to Install 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Connected
- How to Update SOLIDWORKS Connected and other Apps
- Storing SOLIDWORKS Templates on 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
- Work Offline in 3DEXPERIENCE
- How to uninstall 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Connected
SOLIDWORKS Search Routine Order
SOLIDWORKS Search Routine Order
When working in an assembly or drawing in a collaborative environment with multiple users sharing/editing the same files, chances are you may have seen the message below ‘Unable to locate the file…’ when file references cannot be found.
This message means a reference file has been moved, renamed, or deleted and now SOLIDWORKS cannot locate the file. Understanding the search routine SOLIDWORKS performs to find files may help explain why your file opened with this message or opened with a completely different file reference than expected.
The search routine listed below for SOLIDWORKS is followed every time a file is opened which contains references to another file:
- Search in memory (the computer’s RAM) for an open document.
- Search in the specified locations which have been added to Tools > Options > System Options > File Locations > Referenced Documents.
- Searches the path of the active document, then recursively searches the path where the referenced document was last saved.
- Searches the path where you last opened a document, then recursively searches the path where the referenced document was last saved.
- Searches the path where the software last found a referenced document.
- Search the full path where the document was last saved without a drive designation.
- Searches the full path where the document was last saved with its original drive designation.
- Allows user to browse to the document manually or suppress the missing reference and continue opening.
The sections below further define the general search routine steps in more detail.
Search in memory
The first place SOLIDWORKS searched for a reference document is within the computer’s RAM for files that are already opened with the same name. If files are named using generic names, this may cause problems if a file is opened with the same name as the one being referenced.
Example: If an assembly is opened that references a file named HOUSING.SLDPRT, and you currently have a part with the same name opened, used for another assembly or project, then SOLIDWORKS will display ‘Referenced document has non-matching internal ID. Would you like to use it?’ You can then choose to replace the HOUSING.SLDPRT being referenced with the file opened or continue to open the correctly referenced ones.
Follow this guide to learn more about the message ‘Referenced document has non-matching internal ID’
Search in Specified File Locations
The next place SOLIDWORKS will search for a file is in whatever folder that’s listed as a Referenced Documents folder in Tools > Options > System Options > File Locations > Referenced Documents. Click ‘Add’ to browse to a folder and add it as a Referenced Documents folder.
Once the assembly is opened and saved with the updated references, the component properties will automatically update and the Referenced Documents folder is no longer required the next time the file is opened.
Note, be sure to enable the options for ‘Search file locations for external references’ in Tools > Options > Systems Options > External References.
Recursively Search
If you changed the name of the upper-level folder, you would only need to add the upper–level renamed folder and then the system will automatically search subfolders for the same sub-folder path and filename. For example, if your mapped network drive changed from ‘T:\Renamed Folder’ to ‘Z:\Renamed Folder’, then you can add ‘Z:\Renamed Folder’ to the Referenced Documents list to recursively search for references in that location.
Last Known/Saved Location
Searches the last saved location of the reference file. The last saved location of a component in an assembly can be viewed by right clicking the file in the FeatureManager Design Tree and then selecting Component Properties.
Browse for file
After the system has completed all the other search steps in the search routine, the user is prompted with the message ‘Unable to locate the file…’ with 3 choices to either browse to a new file, suppress the missing file, or suppress all missing files and continue opening.
Example: The HOUSING.SLDPRT file was renamed (not moved) to HOUSING_BELL.SLDPRT. The next time an assembly opens which references the HOUSING.SLDPRT file, the system will not be able to locate the file and then it will prompt the user to browse to the file. The user can select the HOUSING_BELL.SLDPRT file, save the assembly, and now SOLIDWORKS has updated the file references and “knows” where to find HOUSING_BELL.SLDPRT for that assembly.
Technical support
If you have any questions regarding the SOLIDWORKS search routine or missing file references when opening files, feel free to reach out to MLC CAD Systems technical support. MLC CAD Systems can also provide services to assist with reviewing and possibly repairing/recovering larger data sets if file references are incorrect or missing.