David,
Yes this can be done but it's almost impossible to find in online help site.
You want to enable Backup copies in Tools Options. Unlike ProE Solidworks will rename the files in reverse order so the latest one will still be .PRT and the previous ones get a prepended Backup 1, 2, 3 of [Filename.EXT] so if you saved twice
[Filename.EXT, Backup 1 of Filename.EXT] first save (Filename.EXT.2, Filename.EXT.1)
Filename.EXT, Backup 1 of Filename.EXT, Backup 2 of Filename.EXT] (Filename.EXT.3, Filename.EXT.2, Filename.EXT.1)
[Solidworks name scheme Newest to oldest] (ProE name scheme Newest to oldest)
To achieve this when you save Solidworks renames all the backupfiles so
Backup 2 becomes Backup 3 of
Backup 1 becomes Backup 2 of
.sldPRT becomes Backup 1 of
The nice thing about this although a task for SolidWorks is you don't need to worry about categorizing all .1 .2 .3 files because windows thinks .# is a unique file type. Also the latest file always has the original name.
If I find it in online help I'll post their description of the backup/restore options.
Michael