SolidWorks Edrawings

[drawoh]

I am trying save a drawing as an Edrawing masked executable (*.ex_), and I am having difficulties getting our PDM department to recognize it. They keep asking me what application is linked to this file, and I keep trying to explain that no application is linked to this file, and that is what I like about it.

Problem:

I have created a paint instruction drawing, but I am not sure how well our painters read drawings. A rotatable, colour 3D model that can be displayed on the painter's computer would make things clearer, even to painters who are good at reading drawings.

Apparent Solution:

The SolidWorks Edrawing provides a rotatable, colour 3D model than runs on any Windows PC. It might run on a Linux PC with Wine. I'll try tonight.

Someone was claiming that SolidWorks is reducing its support for the Edrawings. Edrawings that require the free SolidWorks software are of limited use, since most users are not supposed to installed software on their computers. The executable file is an idea that solves problems, especially when you get outside the standard mechanical fabrication process.

Is anybody up on this?

JHG

 

[SBaugh]

Edrawings is going to take over SW Viewer. So I'm not sure where you heard that SW was reducing staff for Edrawings, but it's the other way around.

The *ex_ has to be renamed back to a *.exe before it will run.

SW doesn't support Linux, so I don't think it will run on a linux

I still don't understand your problem and solution? Since Edrawings is simply getting data from SW. It's a drawing, if they can't read the drawing, then what can SW do about it?

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[MElam]

You could try saving as a .zip instead. It will save as a zipped .exe file (which includes the viewer) and PDM may not have the same issues.

 

[ctopher]

I always send as .zip as Melam suggested, and the file is a .ex_. I also send a note with the file for the recipiant to save and rename as .exe as Scott suggested.
Most emails will not send .exe and most users do not understand they have to rename to .exe.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP1.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

 

[drawoh]

SBaugh,

Thanks. I knew something was being discontinued. I just could not remember what.

My paint drawing states that an Edrawing is available, and that you have to rename it. Wine is a Windows emulator that runs under Linux. The Edrawing might work, although I doubt it.

My actual problem is that our PDM software does not recognize the *.ex_ extension, therefore it will not check in my file. This probably is not a software problem, so much as a complete lack of flexibility in our system administration. I am trying to explain to them that the *.ex_ format is useful, and that our PDM ought to recognize miscellaneous files. PDM should not hold up work.

I generally do send zip files unless I am confident the recipient knows what to do with them. Lots of people do not, and lots of people are not allowed to install stuff like WINZIP, on their computers.

JHG

 

[ctopher]

I suggest not checking in .ex_ or .exe files into PDM.
Save the files as .eprt, .edrw or .easm then check in.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP1.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

 

[rporter]

drawoh,

Tell your IT department that the file is a drawing file that has a built in viewer.

But if your using Solidworks 2005 you would not have to do anything special to your files just install the Edrawings viewer onto there computer and it is able to read native Solidworks files.

The only time I bundle the viewer with the drawing is if im sending it offsight to someone that I know dosent have the viewer.

Hope this makes sense.
Roger

 

[drawoh]

rporter,

Thanks, but my problem with the drawing is that I am sending it offsight to someone that I know (or assume) does not have the viewer.

Our system will check in *.edrw, but this requires a viewer. Our drawings are sent out by the purchasing department. They do not know how to convert from *.edrw to *.ex_.

JHG

 

[ctopher]

Send them PDF.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP1.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site