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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
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- SOLIDWORKS Individual Installation
- How to Modify Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- How to Repair Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- SOLIDWORKS Activation Wizard: How to Transfer SOLIDWORKS License
- Performing a Clean Uninstall
- How to Quickly Update SOLIDWORKS to a Newer Service Pack
- Install the 3DEXPERIENCE Add-in for SOLIDWORKS
- How to Transfer a Standalone License
- Install Multiple Versions
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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
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SOLIDWORKS Portal
- How to Create A Customer Portal Account
- How to Reset SOLIDWORKS Account Password
- The SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base – Help Resolve Your SOLIDWORKS Questions
- Enhancement Requests for SOLIDWORKS CAD Admin Users
- Enhancement Requests for SOLIDWORKS Users
- How to get FREE Certification Testing
- How To Unlock SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal
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SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Hardware Guide
- 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
- How to Store SOLIDWORKS Templates on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
- 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
- How to Collect CXPAs
- SOLIDWORKS Multi-sheet Custom Properties Source
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PDM
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- PDM How to Work in Off-line Mode
- Enhancement Requests for PDM Users
- 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
- Correcting foreign language characters in the FeatureManager Tree
- How to add Hydrostatic Load
- How to manually remove a disconnected PDM Vault View
- How to reset the SQL password for the PDM Vault SQL Server
- How to export search results from PDM
- What To Do When you get the “Excessive Displacement” Warning in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
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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 SOLIDWORKS PDM 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
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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
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM
- 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
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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
- Change SQL Server License
- 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
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Simulation
- Simulation Meshing Guide
- How to Duplicate and Reuse Simulation Study Data
- Setting Up Default Options for SOLIDWORKS Simulation Studies
- 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?
The SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base – Help Resolve Your SOLIDWORKS Questions
The SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base – Help Resolve Your SOLIDWORKS Questions
What is the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base?
The SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base is an online database of information about anything related to SOLIDWORKS. It contains extensive information related to warnings, errors, and functionality of different aspects of the software. While the Knowledge Base contains how-to articles and general information about the use of the software, it excels at giving detailed resolutions and troubleshooting techniques for specific messages that come up inside of SOLIDWORKS. SOLIDWORKS resellers search here first to learn more about error messages to benefit from the experiences and insight from the worldwide userbase. From solutions that explain what certain things do or what errors mean, to reports of bugs that the program has encountered (and if/when those bugs have been resolved), the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base can be used by users and resellers alike to find answers and insight. We suggest that regular SOLIDWORKS users and IT professionals that perform regular SOLIDWORKS Installations get familiar with the Knowledge Base and refer to it as needed.
How to Access the Knowledge Base
There are a couple prerequisites needed to gain access to the Customer Portal and Knowledge Base:
- • A SOLIDWORKS ID (Customer Portal Account)
- • A SOLIDWORKS license number registered to that account. The license must be on active subscription
If you don’t have a Customer Portal Account you can create one and register your license by following the instructions here: How to Create a SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal Account. Note: this login uses the same credentials as MySolidworks and the 3DExperience Platform. If you see locks on some links the registration process will remove them. If you have any problems registering your serial number and you purchased your license/subscription through MLC CAD Systems feel free to reach out to us at here: SOLIDWORKS Case Request.
To get to the knowledge base, click the user icon at the top right corner of SOLIDWORKS.com and choose Customer portal. Select the “Knowledge Base” link under the “My Support” section (see screenshot below).

Using the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base
Once you are in the Knowledge Base, you can type in keywords from error messages or describe key aspects of the behavior. It will pull up any articles related to those keywords. There is no spell check, so made sure to verify spelling. Try different combinations of terms to narrow or expand the results to find the information that is most relevant to you. The search results will include Solutions (Labeled as ‘S-0XXXXX’) and Bugs/Enhancements (labeled as ‘SPR XXXXXX’). An SPR is a Software Performance Report to allow you to track known issues or requested change to the software behavior. You can filter the results by selecting the boxes on the left side on the screen. The most common filters are “Document Type” where you filter by Solution or SPR and “Language”, but other filters can be used as needed. See the screenshot below for reference. If you are given a specific Solution or SPR number, you can type that into the search to pull up the exact information.

Additional information may be available to SOLIDWORKS and resellers regarding the scope, disposition, potential workarounds or known workflows to reproduce the issue. If you believe your issue matches an SPR, send the SPR and any information related to the issue you are experiencing to support for further investigation.
You can now use the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base to help resolve some of your SOLIDWORKS questions! As mentioned in the beginning, this Knowledge Base really excels at finding detailed solutions to specific error messages and can be an invaluable resource in your SOLIDWORKS use. Enjoy using SOLIDWORKS!