INSTALLATION AND

ADMINISTRATION
SOLIDWORKS 2023

/ Visualize
Contents

1 SOLIDWORKS Installation and Administration......................................................6

Individual Installation or Administrative Image...............................................................................7
Check System and Software Requirements...................................................................................8
Download Installation Media...........................................................................................................8
Installing 3DEXPERIENCE Apps...................................................................................................9

2 Individual Installations..........................................................................................10
Installation on Individual Computers............................................................................................10
Administration of Individual Installations......................................................................................12
Modifying an Installation..........................................................................................................12
Repairing an Installation..........................................................................................................13
Rolling Back an Individual Installation to a Previous Service Pack.........................................13
Removing an Installation.........................................................................................................14
Upgrading to a New Release..................................................................................................14
Product Coexistence Rules.....................................................................................................15

3 Multiple Installations.............................................................................................17
Deploying to Multiple Clients........................................................................................................17
Using Administrative Images........................................................................................................17
Types of Administrative Images..............................................................................................18
Creating an Administrative Image from SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager........................19
Administrative Image Option Editor.........................................................................................20
Settings Administrator Tool.....................................................................................................33
Command-Line Deployment.........................................................................................................36
Preparing Clients for Command-Line Installation from an Administrative Image....................36
Installing from the Administrative Image Using the Command Line........................................41
Command-Line Properties......................................................................................................42
Deploying an Administrative Image Using Microsoft Active Directory.....................................53
Administration of Multiple Installations.........................................................................................54
Upgrading Administrative Images to a New Release..............................................................54
Service Pack Product Update Administration..........................................................................56
Removing an Installation.........................................................................................................57

4 SOLIDWORKS PDM and SOLIDWORKS Manage.............................................59

Listing of PDM Server Components.............................................................................................60
Understanding Differences between PDM Clients.......................................................................61
Before Installing PDM Server.......................................................................................................62
Installing a PDM Server with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.......................................63
Modifying a SOLIDWORKS PDM Server Installation..............................................................64

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Contents

Installing a PDM Client with SLDIM..............................................................................................65

5 SOLIDWORKS PCB............................................................................................66
Prerequisites.................................................................................................................................67
Installing PCB Services with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager........................................67
Installing PCB with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.......................................................67
Changing the Default Admin Login...............................................................................................68
Installing SOLIDWORKS PCB Viewer .........................................................................................68
Installing the PCB Connector for Altium Designer........................................................................68
Post Installation............................................................................................................................69
Adding a User to PCB Services..............................................................................................69
Logging into a PCB Repository...............................................................................................70
Upgrading PCB Services..............................................................................................................70
Uninstalling PCB Services............................................................................................................71

6 SOLIDWORKS Electrical.....................................................................................72
Requirements for Installing SOLIDWORKS Electrical..................................................................73
Standalone or Client/Server Installation.......................................................................................73
Configuring the Collaborative Server...........................................................................................74
Configuring Microsoft SQL Server................................................................................................75
Specifying the Data Location........................................................................................................76

7 SOLIDWORKS Visualize and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost...........................77

System Requirements for SOLIDWORKS Visualize ...................................................................78
Installing SOLIDWORKS Visualize with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager......................78
Post Installation Tasks............................................................................................................79
Installing Visualize Boost with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.....................................81
Activating the Visualize Boost License....................................................................................81
Configuring Visualize Boost....................................................................................................81

8 License Administration.........................................................................................84
Administering Individual Licenses................................................................................................84
Switching from Individual Licensing to SolidNetWork Licensing..................................................86
Administering Licenses Using a SolidNetWork License Manager................................................87
Installing SolidNetWork Licensing Overview...........................................................................88
Starting the SolidNetWork License Manager..........................................................................99
Upgrading the SolidNetWork License Manager......................................................................99
Moving a SolidNetWork License.............................................................................................99
Deleting SolidNetWork License Files....................................................................................100
Borrowing and Returning SolidNetWork Licenses................................................................100
Managing Access to SOLIDWORKS Versions......................................................................101
Monitoring License Idle Time................................................................................................103
Using a Temporary License..................................................................................................103
Using SolidNetWork Licenses with Add-in Products.............................................................104
Selecting a SOLIDWORKS Simulation License with a SolidNetWork License ....................104
Loading Flow Simulation Modules.........................................................................................105

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Contents

Using the Same Computer for the License Manager and Administrative Image
Installations ......................................................................................................................106
Uninstalling the SolidNetWork License Manager..................................................................106
FlexNet Publisher License Management...............................................................................107

9 Troubleshooting.................................................................................................108
Network License Usage..............................................................................................................108
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Log Files..........................................................................108
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Download Folder.............................................................109
Troubleshooting SolidNetWork Licenses...................................................................................111
Troubleshooting Upgrades.........................................................................................................112
Validating Your Graphics Card When Installing or Upgrading...................................................112

10 SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Application Help....................................113

SOLIDWORKS Background Downloader...................................................................................114
Specifying Options for the Installation Manager.........................................................................116
Check for Updates Results.........................................................................................................116
Administrative Image Location...................................................................................................117
Download Options......................................................................................................................117
Download Options for SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Files.............................................120
Download Product Installation Files...........................................................................................121
Download Progress....................................................................................................................121
Download Results.......................................................................................................................122
Installation Errors/Installation Cancelled....................................................................................122
Recovering from a Failed or Canceled Installation................................................................123
Repairing an Installation........................................................................................................124
Contacting the SOLIDWORKS Reseller................................................................................124
Installation Is Complete..............................................................................................................125
Checking for Updates to SOLIDWORKS..............................................................................126
SOLIDWORKS Customer Experience Improvement Program..............................................126
Installation Location....................................................................................................................126
Upgrade Options........................................................................................................................128
Installation Progress...................................................................................................................129
Installation Type.........................................................................................................................129
Installing and Managing Multiple Computers.............................................................................131
Manual Download.......................................................................................................................131
Newer Version Available............................................................................................................132
No New Versions Available........................................................................................................133
Processes Detected...................................................................................................................133
Product Selection.......................................................................................................................133
Products to Download................................................................................................................135
Products to Repair......................................................................................................................136
Serial Numbers...........................................................................................................................136
Server Installation.......................................................................................................................137
SolidNetWork License Manager Server.....................................................................................137
Summary ....................................................................................................................................138

4
Contents

System Check Warnings............................................................................................................138

Hole Wizard/Toolbox Options.....................................................................................................140
Notes About Configuring SOLIDWORKS Toolbox................................................................142
UNC Format..........................................................................................................................144
Uninstall Products.......................................................................................................................144

11 SOLIDWORKS Product Activation Help..........................................................146

Activate/Deactivate Your SOLIDWORKS Product.....................................................................146
Manual Activation.......................................................................................................................148
SOLIDWORKS Product Activation Results................................................................................148
SolidNetWork Licensing and SOLIDWORKS Product Activation...............................................149
SolidNetWork License Server Information.................................................................................150

5
1
SOLIDWORKS Installation and Administration

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Individual Installation or Administrative Image

• Check System and Software Requirements
• Download Installation Media
• Installing 3DEXPERIENCE Apps

This guide describes installation, licensing, upgrading, and administration of SOLIDWORKS

products for both individual installations and multiple installations.

Individual Installations Deploying Multiple Installations

Installation Installation
Installation on one or a few computers. Creation of an administrative image that is
deployed to a number of client computers.

Licensing Licensing
Machine activation or network licensing. Machine activation or network licensing.

Upgrades Upgrades
Moving individual computers to a new release. Moving multiple computers to a new release
by updating the administrative image used to
install on those computers.

Administration Administration
Modifying, repairing, and removing Upgrading administrative images and clients,
installations, upgrading to new releases. and network licensing administration.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager enables you to configure settings for SOLIDWORKS product
components, including SOLIDWORKS, SOLIDWORKS Toolbox, PhotoView 360, SOLIDWORKS
Electrical, SOLIDWORKS Manage, SOLIDWORKS PDM, SOLIDWORKS PCB, SOLIDWORKS
Visualize, and SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager.
SolidNetWork License Manager supports multiple license clients by distributing licenses to
clients on the network. This allows the number of users to exceed the number of licenses by
using floating licenses.

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SOLIDWORKS Installation and Administration

Individual Installation or Administrative Image

Should you install SOLIDWORKS products on each computer individually, or should you
create an administrative image and deploy the installation to all clients with one command?
If you are installing on only one computer, or if you manage dozens or hundreds of
computers, the choice is obvious. For situations in between, consider the following
comparisons.

Individual installation Administrative image

Users can do their own SOLIDWORKS The system administrator can customize
administration. multiple installations using the Option
Editor, specifying installation options such
as creating a new installation or updating
an existing one, running the installation as
an administrative user, running external
commands before or after the installation,
different product groupings, and so on.

The computers must be physically accessible Client computers can be distantly located
to the person performing the installation. as long as they are accessible from the
same network.

You can install different versions, service Using the Option Editor, administrative
packs, or products on different computers, images can maintain consistency in
with independent settings. versions, service packs, products, and
settings for multiple installations.

The computers must have network or email A local network connection is required to
access. A network or email connection is deploy the application; media drives are not
required to activate SOLIDWORKS and required on client computers.
download files. Network access is also
Clients can be updated automatically. All
required when collecting licenses from a
clients deployed from the same
network license server.
administrative image are at the same
service pack. To maintain multiple versions,
you can create multiple administrative
images.
License activation can be automated.
An administrative image requires additional
disk space on the server; clients require the
same space as individual installations.

7
SOLIDWORKS Installation and Administration

Check System and Software Requirements

Before installation, verify that your system meets hardware, operating system, and
Microsoft products requirements. Add-ins, such as SOLIDWORKS Electrical, SOLIDWORKS
Visualize, and eDrawings have additional requirements.
To ensure successful installation and optimum performance, see System Requirements.

Download Installation Media

All your installation media is available from the SOLIDWORKS Downloads Page.
If you cannot access the SOLIDWORKS Downloads Page, contact your Value Added Reseller
to obtain DVDs.
To download the installation media from the Customer Portal:
1. Log in to the SOLIDWORKS Downloads Page as a Subscription Service Customer,
using your email address and password, or your SOLIDWORKS serial number.
2. In the Downloads Page, for Select Version, select the year.
3. Select the SOLIDWORKS tab for SOLIDWORKS products.
4. In the Product area, select a service pack.
For the latest major release, select SOLIDWORKS Products version 0.0.
5. Click Accept Agreement and Continue in the CLOSA page.
6. Click Download.
The Installation Manager downloads SolidworksSetup.exe to the default location
C:\Users\Username\Downloads.

7. Unzip SolidworksSetup.exe to the Downloads folder.

You can also unzip SolidworksSetup.exe to your preferred location.
8. Run setup.exe with administrative permissions.
9. In Installation Manager, click Download and share all files.
Create individual installs or administrative images on multiple machines with a single
download and then follow the prompts to complete the process.
The Installation Manager downloads the installation media for you.
This option is useful for:
• Installing the software on a small number of machines
• Downloading using a portable drive or a network drive
• Installing service packs

To download the installation files selectively, follow the prompts to select the manual
download method.

8
SOLIDWORKS Installation and Administration

Installing 3DEXPERIENCE Apps

If you manage data using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you can purchase the
Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS role to connect your Desktop environment
to the platform.
The Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS role grants access to 3DEXPERIENCE
apps, which allow SOLIDWORKS Desktop products to save, search, and manage data
stored on the platform.
You install and license these apps from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, not the SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager. For installation instructions, in the SOLIDWORKS Help, see Working
with the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform and 3DEXPERIENCE Apps > Installing the
3DEXPERIENCE Apps.

9
2
Individual Installations

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Installation on Individual Computers

• Administration of Individual Installations

Installation on Individual Computers

You can install SOLIDWORKS on an individual computer using several installation methods.
The SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager performs the installation, tailoring the installation
to the products you have purchased. Before you start the installation:
• If you are installing a standalone seat of SOLIDWORKS, have your SOLIDWORKS
serial numbers available.
• Verify that you have a working internet connection. The connection is required for
checking entitlement.
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager requires various Microsoft components, including
Microsoft Windows Installer, Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Applications, Visual Basic,
and .NET Framework. If the correct versions of all Windows prerequisite components are
not installed on the computer, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager installs them
automatically before installing SOLIDWORKS products.
Additional required components include the Bonjour service for Windows and the
SOLIDWORKS Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF), which is used to show content for
the SOLIDWORKS Apps and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

10
Individual Installations

Installation Method Summary of the Process

Downloading from the All your installation media is available from the
SOLIDWORKS Downloads SOLIDWORKS Downloads Page.
Page
1. Browse to the SOLIDWORKS Downloads Page.
2. Log in as a Subscription Service Customer, using your
email address and password, or your SOLIDWORKS
serial number.
3. In the Downloads page, for Select Version, select the
year.
4. Select the SOLIDWORKS tab for SOLIDWORKS
products and under Product, select a service pack.
5. Click Accept Agreement and Continue in the EULA
page.
6. Click Download.

You must have a working internet connection and you

must be a Subscription Service Customer with login
access to the Downloads Page.
If you cannot access the Downloads Page, contact your
Value Added Reseller to obtain DVDs.

Using a download directory In the download directory, double-click setup.exe.

on a server
The download directory must be accessible from the
computer on which you are installing SOLIDWORKS
products, and it must contain all the SOLIDWORKS
installation files before installation can begin. SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager can help you find missing files if you
have internet access and write access to the download
directory.

Updating an existing Do one of the following:

SOLIDWORKS installation • In SOLIDWORKS, click > Check for Updates.
using Check for Updates
• In Windows, click Start > SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager > Check for Updates.

You must have a working internet connection and

administrator privileges on the machine.

In the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager, you can also choose the option to Download
and share all files, including the prerequisite software. This option is useful if you are
installing the software on a few machines and you want to copy the download using a
portable drive or a network drive. It is also helpful for installing service packs because
the full version and service pack are contained in one install.
When the installation is complete, start the SOLIDWORKS application and activate the
license.

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Individual Installations

To display a listing of products that are licensed on your machine, from the SOLIDWORKS
main menu, click > My Products. The check marks in the dialog box indicate
products, that you or your organization own based on your activation and network
licenses. You can also learn more about SOLIDWORKS products by clicking the link at
the top of each product category.
To see what licenses are in use, in Windows, click Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools
<version> > SolidNetWork License Manager Client > License Usage tab.

Administration of Individual Installations

Typically, administration of individual installations consists of modifying, repairing,
removing, and upgrading installations.

Modifying an Installation
You can modify an installation to install products that have not been installed or to remove
products, provided that the previous installation was completed with a full set of installation
files. This option is not available if you upgraded the previous installation with a service
pack.
If you installed SOLIDWORKS and purchased an add-in later, you can modify the
installation to include the new add-in. You must install the add-in on each individual
machine.
1. Make sure that no SOLIDWORKS sessions are active.
2. Open the Windows Control Panel and click Programs and Features.
3. Select the SOLIDWORKS installation you want to modify and then click Change.
4. On the Welcome to the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager screen, click Modify your
installation.
5. On the Serial Number screen, verify that the appropriate serial numbers are specified.

12
Individual Installations

6. On the Product Selection screen, select the products to install or remove.

When modifying an installation:
• No products are installed or removed by default, even if you specify a new serial
number. You must change the installation action of each product or feature
component.
• To view the projected action for a particular component, click the component name
(but not the check box). The intended installation action appears in the information
field below the product listing.
• You can click the check box next to the product component to change the installation
action for that component. (For example, if you are installing or removing
components, selecting the check box specifies that the component is to be installed
or removed and clearing the check box specifies that the component is not to be
installed or removed.)
• When you change a component installation action from the initial specification, an
asterisk (*) appears next to that component in the listing.
• If a component has optional installation subcomponents in it, a + icon appears
next to the component. To see the available subcomponents for a component, click
the + icon.
• If a component has been expanded to show optional subcomponents, a - icon
appears next to the component. To collapse the subcomponent listing, click the -
icon.

7. On the Summary screen, click Modify Now.

8. On the Installation is Complete screen, click Finish.

Repairing an Installation
If you encounter problems with an installed SOLIDWORKS product, you can use the
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to repair the installation.
To repair an installation, your machine must have all the source files from the previous
installation and any applied service packs, in the location where they were originally
installed.

You can repair an individual installation. You cannot repair an administrative image;
you must uninstall and then reinstall the administrative image.

1. Open the Windows Control Panel and click Programs and Features.
2. Select the SOLIDWORKS version that you want to repair and click Change.
3. On the Welcome to SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager screen, click Repair your
installation.
4. On the Products to Repair screen, select the product to repair.
5. Clear the rest of the products on the screen.
6. Click Repair.

Rolling Back an Individual Installation to a Previous Service Pack

To roll back an individual installation to a previous service pack release in the current
major release family, uninstall the service pack version currently installed on the computer
and then re-install the earlier version.

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Individual Installations

Removing an Installation
You can remove an installation on an individual computer or in a client/server environment.
1. Make sure that no SOLIDWORKS sessions are active.
2. If you want to move the SOLIDWORKS license to another computer, deactivate the
license to that computer before removing the SOLIDWORKS installation on this
computer.

For more information, see Moving a License on page 86.

3. Open the Windows Control Panel and click Programs and Features.
4. Select the product component to remove and click Uninstall.

In some cases, you might find multiple SOLIDWORKS Service Pack components
for a given major release version. To remove a SOLIDWORKS major release, remove
all Service Pack elements for that major release.

5. On the Uninstall screen:

a) Select the products to remove. By default, all product components are selected.
b) Clear the products that you do not want to remove.
c) Choose whether to perform a custom or complete uninstall. By default, the
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager performs a standard uninstall and removes
the Program Files and Folders.
1. Click Change in Advanced Options.
The Advanced Options screen appears and the Program Files and Folders
option is selected
2. Select one or more options to perform a custom uninstall, or select all options
to perform a complete uninstall.
3. Click Back to Summary.
4. On the Summary screen, expand Advanced Options to display the uninstall
method and entries.
d) Click Remove Items.

Upgrading to a New Release

There are several methods for upgrading an individual installation to a new SOLIDWORKS
release.
You can upgrade to a new release when you:
• Receive new installation media
• Are notified of upgrades when starting SOLIDWORKS
• Check for updates manually
• Start a new instance of SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
When installing a new major release, you can upgrade a previously installed major release
or install the new release in parallel. If you are installing a Service Pack release for a
previously installed major release, that release is updated automatically.

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Individual Installations

Checking for Updates Manually

If you have administrator privileges on the machine, you can check for updates for an
installed SOLIDWORKS release using one of these methods.

• In SOLIDWORKS, click > Check for Updates.

• In Windows, click Start > SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager > Check for
Updates.

Upgrade Caveats

Products that can have multiple installations with different major versions do not always
support major upgrades, or the ability to upgrade between major versions as a single
operation.
In this case, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager simulates the upgrade by first installing
the new version, then removing the old one. At this time, the core SOLIDWORKS product
supports major upgrades, while the other products do not.
The consequences of this are:
• When upgrading the core SOLIDWORKS product between major versions:
• Your existing installed location does not change.
• The upgrade can be rolled back if an error occurs or you cancel during the upgrade.
• When other products are upgraded between major versions:
• Each product is first installed as a new product to a new location, then the original
installation is removed.
• Once started, the upgrade cannot be rolled back if an error occurs or if you cancel
during the upgrade.

Product Coexistence Rules

These product coexistence rules determine how new products are installed and existing
products are upgraded.

Rule Examples

Multiple major release versions of the core SOLIDWORKS 2022 SP3.0 and
SOLIDWORKS product are allowed, except SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP0.0 can coexist on
for the products mentioned below. the same computer.

Multiple service packs from the same major SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP0.0 and 2023 SP1.0
release version are not allowed. cannot coexist on the same computer. If
you install SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP1.0 on a
computer where SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP0.0
is already installed, SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager replaces SP0.0 with
SP1.0.

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Individual Installations

Rule Examples

Only one version of the following products If SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP0.0 is installed,
is allowed on the computer: SolidNetWork License Manager upgrades to
• SolidNetWork License Manager 2023 SP0.0, even if an earlier major release
of SOLIDWORKS remains on the computer.

Only one version of the following product is If you create a new installation of
allowed on the computer: SOLIDWORKS Electrical 2023 SP1.0, the
• SOLIDWORKS Electrical SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
automatically removes earlier versions of
SOLIDWORKS Electrical from the machine.
Back up your SOLIDWORKS Electrical
environment before upgrading.

Only one version of the following products If you install SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP0.0 or
is allowed on the computer: SP1.0, you should also upgrade to
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Client SOLIDWORKS 2023 PDM Server and PDM
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Server Client.
If you install SOLIDWORKS 2023 PDM
Server, you should use the PDM Server
installation process to install the
SOLIDWORKS PDM Client. Do not install the
SOLIDWORKS PDM Client separately with
the client installation process.
SOLIDWORKS PDM Client must be the same
release version and service pack as
SOLIDWORKS PDM Server on the same
machine.
See SOLIDWORKS PDM and
SOLIDWORKS Manage on page 59 for
more information.

Only one version of an included product can If SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP0.0 is upgraded to
be installed for any major release version 2023 SP1.0, SOLIDWORKS Composer 2023
of SOLIDWORKS. However, versions of SP0.0 automatically upgrades to 2023
included products from different major SP1.0. However, SOLIDWORKS Composer
release versions of SOLIDWORKS can 2022 SP4.0 can coexist with SOLIDWORKS
coexist. Composer 2023 SP0.0 or with SOLIDWORKS
Composer 2023 SP1.0.

16
3
Multiple Installations

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Deploying to Multiple Clients

• Using Administrative Images
• Command-Line Deployment
• Administration of Multiple Installations

Deploying to Multiple Clients

You can install the SOLIDWORKS product on multiple clients by creating an administrative
image and then deploying the installation to clients.
The process for deploying to multiple clients is:
1. Create an administrative image.
• Creating an Administrative Image from SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
on page 19
2. Deploy the administrative image to clients.
• Deploying an Administrative Image to Clients Through Email
• Installing from the Administrative Image Using the Command Line on page
41
3. Implement licensing.
• Administering Individual Licenses on page 84
• Administering Licenses Using a SolidNetWork License Manager on page 87

Using Administrative Images

An administrative image allows configurable installations of SOLIDWORKS products from
a single network location.
You can install the administrative image from any computer on the network, including a
client computer.
• The administrative image must be in a shared folder.
• If you include all products, the administrative image disk space requirements can be
7GB or more.

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Multiple Installations

• If you update the share name when you upgrade the administrative image, the client
upgrades automatically the next time the application is started. For details, see
Upgrading an Administrative Image on page 55.
• When deploying an administrative image, the path to the image must be fewer than
58 characters.
• Clients must have administrative privileges on their computers. If a client has insufficient
privileges, a client can run an installation as a different user. This option is useful when
an individual user does not have local administrative permissions on the machine,
which is required to install SOLIDWORKS products.
See Deploying Installations from the Option Editor on page 28. It also describes
an alternate method for installing images, when a client has insufficient privileges.
• If Windows logging is enabled or if you use the status functionality in the Administrative
Image Option Editor, you must have read/write permissions to this folder:
{Administrative image directory}\x64\Logs.
Once you have created an administrative image, the Administrative Image Option Editor
can manage installation option settings for users and groups installing from that image.
For details, see Administrative Image Option Editor on page 20.

Types of Administrative Images

You can use the Administrative Image Option Editor to create several types of images
for remote users and for those on your network.

Administrative Description
Image Type

Standard This image is the default for all new administrative images.
It is a standard Windows Installer Administrative image ideal for
users who have reliable access to the company network. It stores
all the files required to install the selected SOLIDWORKS products
in a shared image folder.
When users upgrade to a new service pack, they can download and
apply patch files and do not need to download the entire image.

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Multiple Installations

Administrative Description
Image Type

Remote Client This image is designed for remote users who do not have reliable
access to the company network.
When installing this type of image, remote users inherit all the
installation options you specify, such as the serial number and the
products to install.
Users download the required files over the internet from the
Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Downloads site. Accessing
and installing these files from the internet is more reliable than
downloading them from the company network and may reduce the
load on the networks.
Remote users install this image using the same techniques supported
by the standard administrative image. You can still script installations
using the sldim.exe and startwinstall.exe files.
Installation files download to a path specified in the Administrative
Image Option Editor before they install. Users must access the
administrative image folder to start the installation and run any
batch or settings files hosted there.

Remote users must have enough available disk space to store all
the files in the image, although users can delete the image after
the installation completes.

Compressed The compressed administrative image is for organizations that need

to copy administrative images to multiple sites or client machines
and want to minimize the impact on the network.
This image is 60% smaller than a standard administrative image,
but it installs in the same amount of time. It supports all install
operations, such as modify and repair.
Compressed administrative images also have short file paths. This
avoids problems when images are stored in deep folder structures.

When users upgrade to a new service pack, they must download

the entire image, not only patches.

Creating an Administrative Image from SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager

If you are installing SOLIDWORKS on multiple computers, you can create an administrative
image and then deploy the application to other computers.
1. Start SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
See Download Installation Media on page 8.

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Multiple Installations

2. On the Welcome screen, select Create an administrative image to deploy to

multiple computers and select one of the following options:

Option Description

Create a new image using Create the image using the default configuration
default settings. settings (that is, not based on the settings
established for an existing administrative image at
your site.)

Create a new image using Create the image using configuration settings
settings and files from an specified for an existing administrative image at your
existing image. site. Click Browse to specify the installation
directory for the existing administrative image.

3. Enter SOLIDWORKS Serial Numbers.

4. Click Change to modify products or default options that include:
• Administrative Image Location
• Administrative Image Type

5. Accept the license agreement and click Create Now.

6. Click Customize Image to open and display settings in the Administrative Image
Option Editor.
7. Optional: Click Create desktop shortcut to access the image on your desktop.

Administrative Image Option Editor

The Administrative Image Option Editor lets you customize installation parameter settings
in an administrative image for individual machines and for groups of machines.
After creating an administrative image, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager asks you to
start the Option Editor. You can also start the Option Editor by double-clicking
sldAdminOptionEditor.exe in the administrative image folder.
To specify different installation configurations for groups of machines or individual
machines, in the Option Editor, select machines by specifying any of the following:
• machine name
• IP address
• IP address range
Then specify the installation options for those machines.

All dialog boxes, that prompt for a file or folder path, include an option where you can
assign a selected folder to an environment variable. For example, if you select
C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp, the file path is mapped to
%ProgramFiles%\SOLIDWORKS Corp . The most common variables are %ProgramFiles%
and %SystemDrive%. Also, you cannot convert all paths into environment variables.
For example, Z:\SOLIDWORKS Data cannot be mapped to an environment variable.

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Multiple Installations

Adding and Deleting Groups and Machines

The Administrative Image Option Editor lets you specify different installation configurations
for groups of machines and for individual machines.
For example, you can configure several machines to use a subset of the product
components available in the image while another group might use a different subset of
components. Even though you are using one administrative image, the Option Editor
group settings enable you to install different product subsets to different groups of
machines. You can move settings between groups and edit groups of machines.
You can also divide groups of machines into subgroups. The subgroups inherit settings
from the parent group, but you can change individual settings for each subgroup.

To add a group:
1. Right-click Global Settings and then click Add Group.
2. Enter the group name.

To add machines:
1. Right-click an existing group or Global Settings and then
click Add Machine.

If you right-click an existing group, machines are added to

that group. Otherwise, they are added at the top level.

2. Do one of the following:

• Select By Machine Name and enter a machine name.
• Select By IP Address and enter the IP address of a
machine.
• Select By IP Address Range and enter the starting IP
address and the ending IP address of the range.
• Click Add Multiple Machines to enter the machine names.
You can separate machine names by a line break, space,
tab, comma, period, colon, or semicolon. You can also copy
and paste a list of machine names from a delimited file,
such as an *.xls or *.cvs file into the dialog box.

A machine name cannot include a domain qualifier. For

example, pluto.solidworks.com is invalid.

To move an existing Drag the machine onto the group or subgroup.

machine to a group
or subgroup:

To move a machine Drag the machine onto Global Settings or onto a different group
out of a group or or subgroup.
subgroup:

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Multiple Installations

To delete a group, Right-click the group, subgroup, or machine and then click Delete
subgroup, or Group or Delete Machine.
machine:
If you delete a group, all machines within that group are deleted.

To delete all groups Right-click Global Settings and then click Delete All.
and machines:

Viewing and Editing Option Settings

SOLIDWORKS Administrative Image Option Editor enables you to view and change option
settings for groups and machines specified for the image.
• When you first start the Option Editor, option settings are displayed in read-only mode.
The Change icon is not shaded.
Clicking on Global Settings, a group, or a machine displays a summary of option
settings for that item:

Scope Option Settings Displayed

Global Settings All option settings specified for the administrative image

Group Changes in the group settings relative to the Global Settings

Machine Changes in the machine settings relative to the group

• To make changes to option settings, click Change . The icon becomes shaded and
a more detailed option settings listing appears.
Clicking on Global Settings, a group, or a machine lets you change option settings
for that item. When you make a change in an option setting that differs from the
inherited Global Settings or group settings, that option setting highlights.

If you click Change again, the display reverts to read-only mode.

If you make changes, the Option Editor prompts you to save or discard them when
you exit.

Specifying Option Settings for Groups and Machines

You can specify option settings for all machines (Global Settings), groups of machines,
and individual machines.
1. In the Option Editor, click the object to modify (Global Settings, a group, or a
machine).
2. On the right, click Change .
The icon becomes shaded and a more detailed option settings listing appears.

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Multiple Installations

3. Make option setting changes by clicking option settings on the right for the item
selected on the left.
Changes in option settings that override Global Settings or group settings are
highlighted.
4. Click OK or Close to save your changes.

Option Description

OK The Option Editor saves your changes and exits.

Close The Option Editor asks if you want to save your changes and
then exits.

Administrative Image Option Settings

The Option Editor enables you to specify option settings for individual clients or groups,
including serial numbers, client installation options, which software components to install,
and toolbox location.

Serial Numbers
Enter the serial numbers to install products on client machines.

Because there are multiple ways to purchase SOLIDWORKS products, some serial
numbers can cover two or more products. For example, a SOLIDWORKS serial number
might enable you to install SOLIDWORKS Simulation without entering a separate
SOLIDWORKS Simulation serial number. In addition, some products do not require a
serial number. If you have any questions about your serial numbers, contact your Value
Added Reseller (VAR).

If you are managing licensing using SolidNetWork Licensing:

• In the first serial number field, enter the SolidNetWork serial number.
• In the SNL Server port@server field, enter the SolidNetWork License Manager server
name and port in the form nnnnn@servername. Separate multiple entries using
semicolons.
For details about SolidNetWork licensing, see Installing SolidNetWork Licensing
Overview on page 88.

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Client Installation Options

How do you want to You can specify how client installations handle an existing prior
perform client major version installation:
installations of major • Upgrade an existing major version (if one exists).
versions?
Specify this option to replace the prior major version installation
with the new version installation.
• Create a new major version.
Specify this option to keep the prior major version and create
a new installation for the new major version. To specify a
location for the new version installation, click Browse.

Do you want to You can specify whether to uninstall the existing prior major
uninstall the most version installation:
recent previous • Do not uninstall.
version before
Specify this option to retain the prior major version installation.
installing a new
major version? • Uninstall the most recent version.
• Uninstall all versions.

How do you want to You can specify a settings file when starting the software. Client
apply SOLIDWORKS installations reference a settings file. Store the settings
settings? (*.sldsettings) file on a shared UNC path that is visible to all
installations. Specify a *.sldsettings path before installing
SOLIDWORKS. Client installations detect the *.sldsettings file
path during the installation.

Secure the *.sldsettings file by specifying Windows file

permissions to allow write access to designated users only.

To create or edit a *.sldsettings, click Launch Settings

Administrator. The SOLIDWORKS Settings Administrator tool
lets you define which SOLIDWORKS system options to apply and
optionally lock for end users. You can also define how and when
to apply the settings to individual installations, and you can modify
the *.sldsettings file at any time by running the Settings
Administrator tool and overwriting the existing file.
You can use different *.sldsettings files for different machines
or groups.
The path to *.sldsettings sets at install time. Once deployed,
do not rename or move the *.sldsettings file.

You must have an existing SOLIDWORKS [current major version]

installation to run the Settings Administrator tool.

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How do you want to You can specify whether to complete product activation
activate client automatically after running the installation, or require that the
installations? user perform product activation manually after installation.
• Activate automatically when each client installation
completes.
Selecting this option setting specifies that product activation
runs automatically. Enter the email address that will be supplied
when activation runs on the client computer.
• Do not activate automatically.
Selecting this option setting specifies that no automated product
activation occurs. The client user performs product activation
after installation.

Administrative Options

Create a diagnostic log A client installation can create a diagnostic log to

during each installation. troubleshoot installation problems. Creating this log can
make the client installation run slower. The log file is stored
in Administrative image
directory}\x64\Logs\<machine_name>.

Run the installation as a A client installation can run as a different user. This option
different user. is useful when individual users do not have local
administrative permissions on their machines, which are
required to install SOLIDWORKS products.

An alternate method of deployment and installation is

available when clients do not have administrative
privileges. See Deploying Installations from the
Option Editor on page 28.

Run a program before or You can specify that a custom program runs before or after
after installation. the client installation.

Do you want clients to You can specify that client machines participate in the
participate in the SOLIDWORKS Customer Experience Program. Performance
SOLIDWORKS Customer information is sent to SOLIDWORKS Corporation to help
Experience Program? improve the product. The process is transparent and
confidential. For details, see Customer Experience
Improvement Program Website.

Limitations on the Run a Program Before and After Installation Options

These options let you run other installation programs or scripts on the client machines
before or after deploying SOLIDWORKS, for example a script that installs Microsoft Office.

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There is a limitation on using these options. A failure occurs if you use either
option to deploy an installation program or script that displays a user
interface, for example, a script that displays dialog boxes. When the automatic
deployment of SOLIDWORKS runs, it fails to install SOLIDWORKS on the
target machines.

To use the Run a program before installation and Run a program after installation
options, select only programs that can be installed in silent mode.

Software to Install
You can specify what SOLIDWORKS product components to install.
• Selecting the check box next to the product component specifies that the component
installs during the client installation.
• Clearing the check box specifies that the component does not install.
• If a component has optional installation subcomponents in it, a + icon appears next
to the component. To see the available subcomponents for a component, click the +
icon.
• If a component has been expanded to show optional subcomponents, a - icon appears
next to the component. To collapse the subcomponent listing, click the - icon.

The Languages specification limits the languages that are installed for the SOLIDWORKS
product only. Other product installations are not affected by this specification. For
example, eDrawings® installs all languages.

Toolbox Options
You can specify which standards to support and the default Toolbox location for client
installations.
It is common to have multiple users accessing a shared Toolbox, typically through a
network location (for example, a UNC path, a shared folder, or a common network drive
specification).
If the location contains an older major version of Toolbox, the client installation upgrades
that Toolbox to the new major version. The files are no longer be compatible with previous
major versions of SOLIDWORKS.

If some clients continue to use an older version of SOLIDWORKS, you must

specify a different Toolbox network location for clients that are upgrading
to the newer version.

For details about SOLIDWORKS Toolbox administration, see the Toolbox information in
SOLIDWORKS Help.

Installing Toolbox Software Without Installing Toolbox Data

If your environment has a PDM or shared Toolbox/Hole Wizard location, you can specify
client installations to not install or upgrade Toolbox data in that location.

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Do this if:
• You did not yet specify the SOLIDWORKS PDM local view before installing SOLIDWORKS.
• The files in the location are in use and could block SOLIDWORKS installations from
completing.
• The location is unavailable and could block SOLIDWORKS installations from completing.
When you specify client installations to not install Toolbox data, the SOLIDWORKS software
and settings point to the Toolbox/Hole Wizard location, but you must install the data in
a central location later.
To install the SOLIDWORKS software without including Toolbox/Hole Wizard data:
• When asked if you want this client to install/upgrade the Toolbox files, select No,
install the Toolbox software without including the data files.
At least one person, typically the CAD Administrator, must install or upgrade the
Toolbox/Hole Wizard data in the central location or the software does not function properly.
Anyone in the organization can handle this task with a single manual installation of the
SOLIDWORKS software. If you manage Toolbox inside of SOLIDWORKS PDM, follow the
steps outlined in the Toolbox section of the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administrator Guide to
install or upgrade the Toolbox data.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Client Options

You can select the following options for deploying SOLIDWORKS PDM clients and add-ins:
• PDM product type
• PDM client type
• Features
• Vault View

To open the View Setup Wizard, you must run the Administrative Image Option
Editor on a machine that has the SOLIDWORKS PDM client installed.
To create the vault view on the client machine, you need a Conisio View Setup (.cvs)
file that defines the parameters for configuring the vault view on the client machine.
You can reference an existing .cvs file or create it from the Administrative Image
Option Editor.

See the section on SOLIDWORKS PDM in SOLIDWORKS Help for more information about
these clients and add-ins.

Electrical Options
You can specify the following parameters for the administrative components of
SOLIDWORKS Electrical:
• Data path
• Collaborative Server machine name and port number
• SQL Server machine name and password
See SOLIDWORKS Electrical on page 72 for more information about these components.

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Inheritance of Global and Group Option Settings

Option settings for Global Settings or groups are inherited by items underneath them.
For example:
• Settings defined for Global Settings are inherited by all groups and machines.
• Settings defined for a group are inherited by all subgroups and machines within that
group.
You can change option settings for a group, subgroup, or machine to override default or
inherited settings. When you change an option setting from the default or its inherited
value, that option is highlighted.

To revert option settings to the original inherited values, right-click the group, subgroup,
or machine and then click one of the following:
• Revert to Global Settings (for a group, subgroup, or machine that is not a group
member)
• Revert to Group Settings (for a machine that is a group member)
• Revert All Members to Group Settings (for all the members of that group at
once)

Customize Settings for Each Machine

You can also modify settings that you have applied to specific machines by right-clicking
the machine name.
From the shortcut menu, you can do the following tasks for each machine:
• Rename
• Delete machine
• Revert To Global Settings
• Edit Notes
• Edit Options
Edit options let you modify all the options for the machine, such as the client installation
options and the administrative options.

Deploying Installations from the Option Editor

You can deploy installations directly from the Option Editor by using either a manual or
a push method.
• Use the Deploy Manually page of the Option Editor to email instructions to users on
how to start the installation. Use this method when users have administrative privileges
for their client machines.

Under Administrative Options, you can assign administrative permissions to users

by selecting Run the installation as a different user.

• Use the Deploy Automatically page of the Option Editor to push installations
automatically to target machines. Use this method when users do not have
administrative privileges to install software on their systems. You can also perform
custom installs with this method.

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To deploy manually or automatically, you must store the administrative image installation
directory to a Windows shared directory, so it is available through a network location, for
example \\machine\shared_directory. You can also make the image available by
copying it to a local directory on each machine, such as C:\SOLIDWORKS
Admin\SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP0.

Using StartSWInstall.exe to Deploy an Administrative Image

You can install or uninstall an administrative image on clients by running the command
admin_image_install_dir\StartSWInstall.exe. This method installs SOLIDWORKS using
the options, machines and groups defined in the Administrative Image Option Editor.
You can append the following switches to the StartSWInstall.exe command:

Switch Description

/install Installs the administrative image on client

machines.

/uninstall Uninstalls the software from client

machines, with two optional switches:
/removedata Available for uninstall only.
Removes SOLIDWORKS data
files and folders during
uninstall.
/removeregistry Available for uninstall
only. Removes
SOLIDWORKS registry
entries during uninstall.

/showui Displays a progress window for the

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
Otherwise the SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager is hidden from the user.

/now Starts the install or uninstall immediately.

The 5 minute warning dialog box does not
appear.

StartSWInstall.exe is preferred to using StartSWInstall.hta in cases where you

want the installation to proceed without any user interaction, but do not want to use
automatic deployment from the Administrative Image Option Editor.

Deploying Manually

You can use this method if users have the privileges required to install on their systems.
To deploy installations manually using email:
1. In the Option Editor, click Deploy.
Installation availability and status for each machine appears.

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2. Click Send Email.

3. Specify the network path to the administrative image installation directory.
Typically, the directory path to the administrative image installation directory is shown
initially as a Windows file path (for example, C:\SOLIDWORKS Admin\SOLIDWORKS
2023 SP0). The dialog box indicates This path is not a network path.
a) Click Browse to specify the network location for this administrative image
installation directory.
b) Navigate to the computer where the administrative image is installed, and select
the Windows shared directory specified for the administrative image installation
directory.

Do not navigate inside the administrative image shared directory (for

example, into the 64bit subdirectories).

c) Click OK.
The dialog box indicates This path is a network path.

An email is created to instruct the machine owner how to install from the administrative
image using the network location for the StartSWInstall.hta file in the
administrative image.

4. Send the email to the users responsible for installing SOLIDWORKS.

Users can double-click the link to the network location for StartSWInstall.hta in the
email to install SOLIDWORKS from the administrative image.
In the Option Editor, Installation Status shows:
Pending The user has not yet run the installation on this machine.
Successful The user successfully completed the installation on this machine.
Failed The user ran the installation on this machine, but it failed.

Other status messages that might display are: Installed Successfully, Uninstalled
Successfully, Installing, Uninstalling, Requires Reboot, Install Failed, and Uninstall Failed.

Prerequisites for Deploying Automatically

With automatic deployment, installation tasks are pushed to target machines and carried
out by the Microsoft Task Scheduler on each system, without requiring any actions by
users. You can use this method when users do not have administrative privileges to install
software on their systems.
With a push installation, the Task Scheduler runs a task that starts the SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager on a client machine using credentials specified by an administrator
in the Options Editor. The Task Scheduler runs under the computer's LocalSystem account.
This account is represented on the network as a computer security principle. The computer
security principle must have the following access:
• Read access to the Admin Images folder.
• Read and write access to the Admin Images folder\x64\logs folder.
In Active Directory, when you add a computer to a group of a Shared Folder, select Object
Types and Computers.

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In addition, the computer serving the administrative image and the target client machines
must be members of the same Active Directory domain.

Deploying Automatically

To deploy automatically by pushing installations to user systems:

1. In the Option Editor, click the Deploy Automatically tab.
Installation availability and status for each machine appears.

2. Under the Deploy column, select the target client machines, and groups in the Deploy
column.

Select one or more machines or groups under the Deploy column before starting
the deployment process.

3. Under Install Time, select Now to deploy immediately or Later to schedule a specific
date and time for the deployment.
4. Under Client Options, select the following:
• Install or Upgrade SOLIDWORKS 2023
• Uninstall SOLIDWORKS 2023

If you select to uninstall, you can specify whether to uninstall registry entries
and data files and folders along with the program files and folders.

5. Select Reboot computer automatically if you want one or more target machines
to reboot if required during or after the deployment.
6. Enter the Client Credentials of one or more target machines.
7. Click Deploy to start the deployment process.
In the Option Editor, Installation Status shows:
Pending The installation has not yet run on this machine.
Successful The installation successfully completed on this machine.
Failed The installation on this machine failed.

Other status messages that might display are: Installed Successfully, Uninstalled
Successfully, Scheduling, Connecting, Installing, Uninstalling, Requires Reboot, Install
Scheduled, Uninstall Scheduled, Install Failed, Uninstall Failed, Connection Failed, and
Scheduling Failed.

Testing a Setup for a Push Deployment

The Deploy Automatically tab in the Administrative Image Option Editor contains a test
feature.
You can run a mock installation that exercises the systems used for the deployment, such
as:
• Connecting to the target computer.
• Creating an install task on that computer.
• Completing the install task on that computer.

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• Updating the status and logs on the administrative image.

• Detecting a program to run before or after the installation.
The test verifies file paths, validates permissions, and reports that the installation ended
successfully. It does not install any software or modify the registry on the target system.
If any one of the systems fails on any of the target computers, the test indicates which
system failed.
Tooltips provide more information about failures. You can export the results to an .xml
spreadsheet (or .csv), which is helpful for reviewing multiple failures or sharing results
with other support personnel.
To test a setup for a push deployment:
1. Using the Installation Manager, create an Administrative image.
2. Start the Administrative Image Option Editor.
You can start the option after the Installation Manager completes creating the
administrative image or double-click sldAdminOptionEditor.exe in the
administrative image folder.

3. On the Setup tab, add one or more computers.

4. Click Deploy Automatically:
a) Supply a domain administrator's username and password.
b) Select one or more computers to test.
c) Click Test.
5. When the Setup Test appears, click Run Test.
6. Allow several minutes for the test to complete or click Cancel Test at any time.
7. Review and correct any setup problems.

Exiting the Option Editor

You can click OK or Close to exit the Option Editor.

Click OK, Close, or use the Windows application Close button to apply changes and exit
the Option Editor.
• Click OK to apply any option setting changes and exit the Option Editor.
• Click Close to exit the Option Editor.
If there are changes to be applied, you are asked whether you want to save those
changes.
• Click the Windows application Close button (X). If there are changes to be applied,
you are asked whether you want to save those changes.

Creating a Desktop Shortcut to the Option Editor

You can create a Windows desktop shortcut to the Option Editor for a particular
Administrative Image from within the application.
1. Start the Option Editor.
For example, in File Explorer, navigate to the administrative image installation directory
and double-click sldAdminOptionEditor.exe.

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2. Click Create Desktop Shortcut to this Option Editor.

A shortcut to the Option Editor for the administrative image appears on the Windows
desktop.

Deploying an Administrative Image to Clients Through Email

Once you have created a shared administrative image directory, you can notify clients
by email.
Configure the administrative image directory to be shared on a machine that is accessible
to other computers (for example, through a UNC path).
You can send an email containing a link to
admin_image_install_dir\StartSWInstall.hta to all clients. Clients then can click
this link and then click Install SOLIDWORKS products now to start the installation
from the administrative image.

If you are upgrading an administrative image to a new SOLIDWORKS version, you can
configure your administrative image location and share properties so that any clients
that installed previously using that image will upgrade automatically. For details, see
Upgrading Clients from Administrative Images.

Settings Administrator Tool

You can use the Settings Administrator Tool to set system options that are applied when
deploying or upgrading the SOLIDWORKS software, and to prevent users from changing
those options. This tool replaces the SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard for deploying settings,
although that wizard is still available for copying settings.
There are three steps to using the Settings Administrator Tool:
1. Create an administrative image to access the tool.
2. Use the Settings Administrator to generate an *.sldsettings file which contains
your selected SOLIDWORKS options.
3. Include the *.sldsettings file in SOLIDWORKS installations.

Accessing the Settings Administrator Tool

To access the Settings Administrator Tool, you must create an administrative image first.
You can start the Settings Administrator Tool from within an administrative image.
To access the Settings Administrator Tool:
1. Run sldAdminOptionEditor.exe in the administrative image folder.
2. In the Administration Image Option Editor, click Change .

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3. In the Client Installation Options section, do the following:

a) Click Use a settings file exported from the SOLIDWORKS Settings
Administrator.
b) Click Edit Path to browse to an .sldsettings file.

If you do not have an .sldsettings file, create a text document and rename
the file extension to.sldsettings. Store the .sldsettings file in a shared
UNC path, for example \\server\folder\name.sldsettings.

c) Click Launch Settings Administrator.

Using the Settings Administrator Tool

To use the Settings Administrator Tool:

1. On the Welcome tab, select the following options:
• Default set of options to start for this release of SOLIDWORKS.
• Import SOLIDWORKS 2023 options from this computer.
• Browse to an existing .sldreg file.
• Browse to an existing .sldsettings file.

The *.sldreg file is generated by the SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard, and the
*.sldsettings file is generated by the Settings Administrator Tool.

2. Click Next.

Applying and Locking Options

In the System Options tab, two columns of check boxes let you select which of these
options to apply, and which of the applied options to lock so users cannot change them.
When users access the System Options dialog box in the SOLIDWORKS software, the
locked options appear unavailable with a lock icon . However, you can create a password
that allows users to unlock options. When users hover over a locked option, a tooltip
displays your name and email, so they can contact you and request that password.
To apply and lock options:
1. In the System Options tab, do the following:
a) To apply a system option, select the option and check the corresponding box in
the Apply column.
b) To lock a system option, select the option and check the corresponding boxes in
both the Apply and Lock columns.
When users access the System Options tab, these options display with a lock
.

2. Depending on the option, you might have to specify additional parameters for the
option.

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3. You can also block users from dismissing messages by applying controls for
Messages/Errors/Warnings.
a) Click Messages/Errors/Warnings.
b) Select Apply and optionally select Lock for the messages you want to manage.
c) Set the message to Show or Don't Show.
If you select Show, the message is removed from a user's dismissed message
list, and displays to the user at the appropriate time. If you select Don't Show,
the message is automatically added to a user's dismissed messages list, and does
not display when the user is working on a model.
This table describes the behavior in the software:

Apply Lock Show Don't Behavior

Show

X X Force the message to show.

Dismisses the message and adds the

X X message to the dismissed message
list.

Forces the message to show and

X X X disables the option to Don't show
again in the message box.

Dismisses the message and bars user

X X X from enabling it in Tools > Options
> Messages/Errors/Warnings.

4. In the System Options tab, click Next.

Finish Setting Options

To finish setting options:

1. On the Finish tab, select when system options apply:
• the first time a user starts the software.
• every time the software starts.
• and whether customizations apply at the same time.

2. You can choose to apply locked options when users are off the network, and
allow the API to override locked options.
3. For locked system options, you must provide your Name and Email address. The
SOLIDWORKS software displays this information in a tooltip when users hover over
a locked option.
4. You can also allow users to override locked options. You must then specify a
Password that you can supply to users.
5. Click Save to generate an .sldsettings file for deployment.

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Including an .sldsettings File in SOLIDWORKS Installations

To include an *.sldsettings file in your installation:

1. Double click sldAdminOptionEditor.exe in the administrative image folder.
2. In the Administration Image Option Editor, click Change.
3. In the Client Installation Options section, do the following:
a) Click Use a settings file exported from the SOLIDWORKS Settings
Administrator.
b) Click Edit Path and browse to the *.sldsettings file.

You can create and apply different *.sldsettings file for different groups or
machines.

4. Deploy and install the SOLIDWORKS software.

After deployment, you can repeat step 2 to modify an existing *.sldsettings at any
time. The SOLIDWORKS software reads the modified *.sldsettings the next time it
starts.

Command-Line Deployment
You can automatically deploy an administrative image using a command prompt or batch
file (silent installation).

To deploy an administrative image using the command line for SOLIDWORKS PDM
clients, see the SOLIDWORKS PDM Installation Guide.

Preparing Clients for Command-Line Installation from an Administrative Image

After creating the administrative image and before notifying clients, you must install
Microsoft Windows components that cannot be installed by administrative images created
using the command line or Microsoft Active Directory.

Installing these Windows components manually is required only if you are installing
from an administrative image using the command line or through Microsoft Active
Directory. If you use the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to create and install the
administrative image, these Windows components are installed automatically.

Here is a summary of the files required by SOLIDWORKS in the Windows components:

Windows Performance Toolkit Enables extended logging in SOLIDWORKS

Rx.

Visual C++ 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2019 Contains runtime components for Microsoft
Redistributable Package Visual C++.

The 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2019 versions

must be installed.

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Visual Basic for Applications 7.1 Provides support for Visual Basic macros.

Visual Studio Tools for Application 2019 Optional. Contains a toolset supporting
Visual Studio 2019 applications (VSTA16).

.NET Framework 4.8 Contains the common language runtime and

.NET Framework components that are
required to run .NET Framework 4.8
applications.

Bonjour service for Windows Provides the ability to discover services on

a local area network.

SWCEF Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) is

used to show 3DEXPERIENCE platform
content.

Microsoft Edge Web View2 Required to show web content for

SOLIDWORKS PDM.

Visual C++ Redistributable Package and .NET Framework 4.8 are required for all
SOLIDWORKS products, not only the core SOLIDWORKS product.

These components must be included in subdirectories of the administrative image directory.

The following tables identify the specific files that are required for each supported operating
system.

Operating System: Windows Server 2016 64-bit and Windows Server 2019
64-bit

Installation on Windows Server 2016 and 2019 is supported for SOLIDWORKS PDM
Server and SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager.

Windows Performance Toolkit: WPTx64-x86_en-us.msi

Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package: vc_redist_x86.exe

vc_redist_x64.exe

Both must be installed.

Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable Package: vc_redist_x86.exe

vc_redist_x64.exe

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Operating System: Windows Server 2016 64-bit and Windows Server 2019
64-bit

Both must be installed.

Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable Package: vc_redist_x86.exe

vc_redist_x64.exe

Both must be installed.

Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package: vc_redist.x86.exe

vc_redist.x64.exe

Both must be installed.

Visual Basic 7.1: vba71_1033.msi

Plus an optional language pack.

.NET Framework 4.8: ndp48-x86-x64-allos-enu.exe

Bonjour service for Windows: Bonjour64.msi

SWCEF CEF for SOLIDWORKS Applications.msi

Microsoft Edge Web View2 for SOLIDWORKS MicrosoftEdgeWebView2RuntimeInstallerX64.exe

PDM

Operating System: Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit

Windows Performance Toolkit: WPTx64-x86_en-us.msi

Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package: vc_redist_x86.exe

vc_redist_x64.exe

Both must be installed.

Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable Package: vc_redist_x86.exe

vc_redist_x64.exe

Both must be installed.

Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable Package: vc_redist_x86.exe

vc_redist_x64.exe

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Operating System: Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit

Both must be installed.

Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package: vc_redist.x86.exe

vc_redist.x64.exe

Both must be installed.

Visual Basic 7.1: vba71_1033.msi

Plus an optional language pack.

.NET Framework 4.8: .NET 4.8 is part of the operating system,

which fulfills this requirement.

Bonjour service for Windows: Bonjour64.msi

SWCEF CEF for SOLIDWORKS Applications.msi

Microsoft Edge Web View2 for SOLIDWORKS MicrosoftEdgeWebView2RuntimeInstallerX64.exe

PDM

Installing Windows Prerequisites from the Command Line on 64-bit Operating Systems

You can follow this process to install the Windows prerequisites for administrative image
installation using the command line on 64-bit versions of Windows.
To install multiple components in one install operation, create a batch file with the
commands provided in the following procedures and use it to push the components to
the client computers.
1. Ensure that the target computer has at least 620 MB of available disk space and a
valid TEMP directory.
2. Install the Visual C++ RELEASE Redistributable Packages. You must install the 32-bit
and the 64-bit versions of each package.

Install the package for RELEASE = 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2019,

administrative_image_directory\Microsoft_C++_RELEASE_Redistributable_(x64)\vcredist_x64.exe
/Q
administrative_image_directory\Microsoft_C++_RELEASE_Redistributable\vcredist_x86.exe
/Q
For example, to install the Visual C++2010 Redistributable Package, use:
• administrative_image_directory\Microsoft_C++_2010_Redistributable_(x64)\vcredist_x64.exe
/Q
• administrative_image_directory\Microsoft_C++_2010_Redistributable\vcredist_x86.exe
/Q

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3. Install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8:

administrative_image_directory\.Net_Framework_4.8\ndp48-x86-x64-allos-enu.exe
4. Install the Visual Studio Tools for Applications 2019:
administrative_image_directory\Microsoft_VSTA16\vsta_setup.exe
5. Install Visual Basic 7.1:
administrative_image_directory\Microsoft_VBA\vba71.msi and
administrative_image_directory\Microsoft_VBA\vba71_1033.msi are required for
all languages.

Only the 64-bit version of this package must be installed.

In addition, install the following package for the desired language:

vba71_1028.msi Chinese

vba71_1031.msi German

vba71_1036.msi French

vba71_1040.msi Italian

vba71_1041.msi Japanese

vba71_1042.msi Korean

vba71_1046.msi Portuguese-Brazilian

vba71_2052.msi Chinese-Simplified

vba71_3082.msi Spanish

English, Czech, Polish, Russian, and Turkish do not require additional language
packages.

Install an additional prerequisite: Msiexec.exe /p vba71-kb27832-x64.msp.

6. Install the Bonjour service for Windows:

administrative_image_directory\Bonjour\Bonjour64.msi
7. Install SOLIDWORKS Chromium Embedded Framework (SWCEF):
administrative_image_directory\swcef\CEF for SOLIDWORKS
Applications.msi.

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Installing from the Administrative Image Using the Command Line

You can deploy installations from an administrative image using the command line.
To install silently:
1. Open a Command Prompt window (in Windows, click Start > Run.)
2. Type the msiexec.exe command with the /i and /qb switches and specify the
properties for any options that are not the default values as shown below.
msiexec /i "64-bit_admin_image_path\SWFileUtilities\SOLIDWORKS File
Utilities.msi" INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\your_folder /qb

Individual installation component command-line properties include:

• Command-Line Feature Properties on page 42
• Command-Line Global Properties on page 43
• eDrawings Command Line Properties on page 47
• SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation Command Line Properties on page 49
Use the following examples as templates for silent installation.

SOLIDWORKS Client
• SOLIDWORKS core (English)
• Toolbox add-in
• Participation in the feedback program
• French language
SOLIDWORKS:
msiexec /i "64-bit_admin_image_path\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS.Msi"
INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\your_folder" SOLIDWORKSSERIALNUMBER="xxxx
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx" ENABLEPERFORMANCE=1 OFFICEOPTION=3
ADDLOCAL=SolidWorks, SolidWorksToolbox="toolbox path for example
C:\SolidWorks Data\" /qb
The SOLIDWORKS French language installation component must be installed separately:
msiexec /i "64-bit_admin_image_path\SOLIDWORKS French\french.msi" /qb

When specifying SOLIDWORKS language component installation commands, do not

specify command-line arguments.

eDrawings Client
• All features
msiexec /i "admin_image_path\eDrawings\eDrawings.msi"
INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\your_folder" SNLSERVER=eDrawings_SNL_server
TRANSFORMS=1040.mst ADDLOCAL=All /qb

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SOLIDWORKS Electrical
Due to the technical complexity of installing SOLIDWORKS Electrical with Microsoft SQL
Server, command line examples for SOLIDWORKS Electrical are excluded from the
documentation.

SOLIDWORKS PCB
msiexec /i “admin_image_path\SOLIDWORKS PCB.msi”
ACTIVSERIALNUMBER=”1234123412341234ABCDEFGH” INSTALLDIR=”C:\Program
Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS PCB” /qb

SOLIDWORKS Visualize and Visualize Boost

For SOLIDWORKS Visualize:
msiexec. /i “admin_image_path\SOLIDWORKS Visualize.msi”
ACTIVSERIALNUMBER=”1234123412341234ABCDEFGH” INSTALLDIR=”C:\Program
Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS Visualize” /qb
For SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost:
msiexec /i “admin_image_path\SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost.msi”
ACTVISERIALNUMBER=”1234123412341234ABCDEFGH” INSTALLDIR=”C:\Program
Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost” /qb

Command-Line Properties
Command-line properties describe here include feature properties, global properties,
product-specific properties and Windows location conventions.

Command-Line Feature Properties

SOLIDWORKS installation supports these ADDLOCAL properties for command-line

deployment.
• CircuitWorks
• CoreSolidWorksTaskScheduler
• ExampleFiles
• FeatureWorks
• HelpFiles
• Manuals
• Motion
• PhotoView
• ScanTo3D
• Simulation
• SolidWorksCosting
• SolidWorksDesignChecker
• SolidWorksRoutedsystems
• SolidWorksToolbox
• SolidWorksUtilities
• TolAnalyst

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When specifying properties for command-line installation:

• SOLIDWORKS does not support product installation using the ADDSOURCE option.
• Properties are case sensitive, cannot contain spaces or dashes, and must be separated
by commas.

Command-Line Global Properties

Each property is defined for administrative or individual installations, unless otherwise

noted. Serial numbers can be passed to both an administrative installation and an individual
installation using global properties.

Property Description

ENABLEPERFORMANCE Whether the application should automatically

send performance data to SOLIDWORKS
Corporation.
1 To send performance data.
0 Do not send performance data.

INSTALLDIR Installation folder for SOLIDWORKS.

MBDSERIALNUMBER Serial number for the SOLIDWORKS Model Based

Definition product.

MOTIONSERIALNUMBER Serial number for the SOLIDWORKS Motion

product.

OFFICEOPTION Specify product package to install:

0 SOLIDWORKS Standard
1 SOLIDWORKS Office
2 SOLIDWORKS Professional
3 SOLIDWORKS Premium

REINSTALL Specify ALL to update all features currently

installed.

Specify this property only when updating to a

Service Pack release within an existing major
release (for example, updating an existing
SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP01 installation to
SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP02).

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Property Description

REINSTALLMODE Microsoft Installer re-installation options.

For example, when upgrading an installation from
one Service Pack release to another within the
same major release, you should specify
REINSTALLMODE=vomus.
For details about REINSTALLMODE settings, see
the Windows Installer documentation at
www.microsoft.com.

Specify this property only when updating to a

Service Pack release within an existing major
release (for example, updating an existing
SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP01 installation to
SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP02). Do not specify this
property the first time you are installing a new
major release of SOLIDWORKS.

SERVERLIST SolidNetWork server list.

The SolidNetWork server list is a delimited list

of strings, each of which refers to a port
number on a server with the format:
• Triad (comma delimited)
=xxxxx@server_name1,yyyyy@server_name2,zzzzz@server_name3
• Non-Triad (semi-colon delimited) =
xxxxx@server_name1;yyyyy@server_name2;zzzzz@server_name3
X and Y are single digits. After the last server
in the list, do not put a delimiter.

SIMULATIONSERIALNUMBER Serial number for the SOLIDWORKS Simulation

product.

SOLIDWORKSSERIALNUMBER Serial number for the SOLIDWORKS product,

which includes all add-ins.

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Property Description

SWMIGRATE SOLIDWORKS version to upgrade as it would be

shown in the list in the SOLIDWORKS Install
Choice dialog box. For example:
SWMIGRATE="SOLIDWORKS 2023 x64 Edition
SP01"

Specify this property only when installing a

new major release while there is a prior major
release currently installed. Do not specify this
property when upgrading from one Service
Pack release to another within the same major
release.

TOOLBOXFOLDER Installation folder for SOLIDWORKS Toolbox files.

For example: TOOLBOXFOLDER =
"C:\SOLIDWORKS Data"
If your environment has a PDM or shared
Toolbox/Hole Wizard location, you can specify a
client installation to not install or upgrade Toolbox
data in that location using the
NOTTOOLBOXSETUP property. Specify:
0 Install Toolbox files.
1 Not install Toolbox files.

TRANSFORMS Contains language-specific items of the form:

TRANSFORMS number.mst
• Chinese (1028)
• Chinese-Simplified (2052)
• Czech (1029)
• English (1033)
• French (1036)
• German (1031)
• Italian (1040)
• Japanese (1041)
• Korean (1042)
• Polish (1045)
• Portuguese-Brazilian (1046)
• Russian (1049)
• Spanish (1034)
• Turkish (1055)

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Property Description

UPGRADESWINSTALL Specify whether to upgrade an existing version

of SOLIDWORKS to the current version.
0 New installation, do not update.
1 Update

Specify this property only when installing a

new major release while there is a prior major
release currently installed. Do not specify this
property when upgrading from one service
pack release to another within the same major
release.

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eDrawings Command Line Properties

These command-line properties are specific to eDrawings®.

Property Description

ADDLOCAL Specifies which portion of the eDrawings application to install.

All is the recommended option.

Command Line Syntax Feature

All Installs all the features. The

eDrawings application searches
for installed SOLIDWORKS and
AutoCAD publisher applications
to validate the install.

CALS View CAL files in the eDrawings

Viewer

Inventor Create eDrawings files from the

Autodesk Inventor application.

eDrawingsViewer View eDrawings and other files.

ProE View ProE files using the

eDrawings Viewer

DXFDWGTranslator View DXF/DWG files in the

eDrawings Viewer.

Shortcuts Install desktop shortcut.

XML3D View 3DXML files in the

eDrawings Viewer.

INSTALLDIR Specifies the installation folder for eDrawings

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Property Description

SNLSERVER Enter the port@servername for your SolidNetWork License server.

Use semi-colons to separate multiple port@servername
combinations.
A port server name for SNLSERVER is only required for the
SOLIDWORKS SNL server configuration.
list_of_port@server_strings is a list of strings delimited by
semi-colons, each of which refers to a port number on a server
with the format:
xxxxx@server_name1; yyyyy@server_name2;
where x and y are single digits. After the last server in the list, do
not put a semi-colon.

SOLIDWORKS Composer/Composer Player Command-Line Properties

These command-line properties are specific to SOLIDWORKS Composer and SOLIDWORKS

Composer Player.
For SOLIDWORKS Composer:

Property Description

ACTIVSERIALNUMBER SOLIDWORKS Composer serial number.

ACTIVSERIALNUMBERPLAYERPRO Optional. SOLIDWORKS Composer Player

Pro serial number.

ADDLOCAL Optional. If you install the complete

application, you do not need to specify the
ADDLOCAL property.
For a custom installation, use ADDLOCAL
with the following required items:
• Licensing
• Eula
• InterOps
• LicenseSupportFiles
• PlugIns
• SWComposerCommon
• SWPlayer
You can also use ADDLOCAL with
Sync3Dvia, but it is not required.

INSTALLDIR Specifies the installation folder for the

SOLIDWORKS Composer software.

For SOLIDWORKS Composer Player:

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Property Description

ACTIVSERIALNUMBERPLAYERPRO Optional. SOLIDWORKS Composer Player

Pro serial number.

INSTALLDIR Specifies the installation folder for the

SOLIDWORKS Composer Player software.

On machines that do not have SOLIDWORKS installed, you must use SOLIDWORKS
Translator to import SOLIDWORKS files into SOLIDWORKS Composer. To deploy
SOLIDWORKS Translator, you must use the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager; you
cannot use the command line.

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation Command Line Properties

These command-line properties are specific to SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation.

Property Description

ACTIVSERIALNUMBER SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation standalone

serial number.
(Individual installations and client
installations from an administrative image)

CWUPGRADEINSTALL Upgrades an existing version of a particular

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation application
software.
1 Update
2 New installation; install in a new
directory

(Individual installations and client

installations from an administrative image)

INSTALLDIR Specifies the installation for a particular

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation application
software.
(Individual installations only)

SERVERLIST List of strings delimited by semi-colons,

each of which refers to a port number on a
server with the format:
xxxxx@server_name1;
yyyyy@server_name2;& where x and y are
single digits. After the last server in the list,
do not put a semi-colon.

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Multiple Installations

Property Description

SOLIDWORKSPATH Specifies the folder where the SOLIDWORKS

software is installed.
(Individual installations and client
installations from an administrative image)

SOLIDWORKS Inspection Command Line Properties

These command-line properties are specific to SOLIDWORKS Inspection.

Property Description

ACTIVSERIALNUMBER SOLIDWORKS Inspection serial number.

(Individual installations and client
installations from an administrative image)

INSTALLDIR Specifies the installation for the

SOLIDWORKS Inspection application
software.
(Individual installations only)

SERVERLIST List of strings delimited by semi-colons,

each of which refers to a port number on a
server with the format:
xxxxx@server_name1;
yyyyy@server_name2;& where x and y are
single digits. After the last server in the list,
do not put a semi-colon.

SOLIDWORKS Visualize Command Line Properties

These command-line properties are specific to SOLIDWORKS Visualize.

Property Description

ACTIVSERIALNUMBER SOLIDWORKS Visualize serial number.

(Individual installations and client
installations from an administrative image)

INSTALLDIR Specifies the installation for the

SOLIDWORKS Visualize application software.
(Individual installations only)

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Property Description

SERVERLIST List of strings delimited by semi-colons,

each of which refers to a port number on a
server with the format:
xxxxx@server_name1;
yyyyy@server_name2;& where x and y are
single digits. After the last server in the list,
do not put a semi-colon.

MSI File Locations for Administrative Images

To create administrative images from the command line, the product component .msi
files are stored in these locations on the SOLIDWORKS media.

SOLIDWORKS (core product, English)

swwi\data\SOLIDWORKS.msi

SOLIDWORKS (non-English language components)

Traditional swwi\lang\chinese\chinese.msi
Chinese

Simplified swwi\lang\chinese-simplified\chinese-simplified.msi
Chinese

Czech swwi\lang\czech\czech.msi

French swwi\lang\french\french.msi

German swwi\lang\german\german.msi

Italian swwi\lang\italian\italian.msi

Japanese swwi\lang\japanese\japanese.msi

Korean swwi\lang\korean\korean.msi

Polish swwi\lang\polish\polish.msi

Portuguese swwi\lang\portuguese-brazilian\portuguese-brazilian.msi
(Brazilian)

Russian swwi\lang\russian\russian.msi

Spanish swwi\lang\spanish\spanish.msi

Turkish swwi\lang\turkish\turkish.msi

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DocManager APIs
swdocmgr\SOLIDWORKS Document Manager API.msi

eDrawings
eDrawings\eDrawings.msi

eDrawingsAPI SDK
eDrwAPISDK\eDrawings API SDK.msi

Flow Simulation
Flow Simulation\SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation.msi

3DExperience Marketplace for SOLIDWORKS

marketplace\3dexperiencemarketplace.msi

PhotoView 360 Network Render

pvnetworkrender\pvnetrender.msi

SolidNetWork License Manager

swlicmgr\SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager.msi

SOLIDWORKS API SDK

apisdk\SOLIDWORKS API SDK.msi

SOLIDWORKS CAM
cam\SOLIDWORKS CAM.msi

SOLIDWORKS Composer
swComposer\SOLIDWORKS Composer.msi

SOLIDWORKS Composer Player

swComposer\SOLIDWORKS Composer Player.msi

SOLIDWORKS Electrical
swelectric\SOLIDWORKS Electrical.msi

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SOLIDWORKS File Utilities

SWFileUtilities\SOLIDWORKS File Utilities.msi

SOLIDWORKS Inspection
Inspection\SOLIDWORKS Inspection.msi

SOLIDWORKS Manage Client

SWManageClient\SOLIDWORKS Manage Client.msi

SOLIDWORKS PCB
PCB\SOLIDWORKS PCB.msi

SOLIDWORKS PCB Viewer

PCBViewer\SOLIDWORKS PCB Viewer.msi

SOLIDWORKS PDM
SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional provides an API, but it is available only for the Client and
is not available in an .msi file. For information, see the API guide in the SOLIDWORKS
PDM Client install\API directory.

SOLIDWORKS Plastics
plastics\SOLIDWORKS Plastics.msi

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Worker Agent

SIMWorkerAgent\SOLIDWORKS Simulation Worker Agent.msi

SOLIDWORKS Visualize
visualize\SOLIDWORKS Visualize.msi

SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost

visualizeboost\SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost.msi

Deploying an Administrative Image Using Microsoft Active Directory

Microsoft Active Directory Deployment is supported for deployment of the core
SOLIDWORKS product to clients.
Microsoft Active Directory is a directory service for managing clients and servers in network
environments. It simplifies management, migration, and deployment.

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For information on installing SOLIDWORKS through Microsoft Active Directory, contact

your reseller.

Administration of Multiple Installations

For multiple installations, administrative tasks include upgrading administrative images
to new releases, applying service pack updates, and removing installations.

Upgrading Administrative Images to a New Release

To update clients who installed from an administrative image, first update the
administrative image and then configure the clients to reference the new copy of the
image.
Run SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager from the Internet so that the correct files are
referenced. SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager will redirect itself to do this, or you can
run the update directly from the SOLIDWORKS Downloads Web site
(http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/downloads.htm).
Once you have updated the administrative image (which creates a new copy of the image),
you can update clients by having them reference the new copy of the administrative
image.

If clients referenced the previous version of the administrative image using a shared
directory, you could redefine that shared directory using the location of the updated
copy of the administrative image.

Downloading Updated Installation Files for Administrative Images

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager can detect when you need updated installation files
when upgrading an administrative image.
1. Start SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
2. On the Welcome screen, select Administrative image.
3. On the Serial Number screen, enter the SOLIDWORKS serial number.
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager checks the SOLIDWORKS Web site for your licensed
products and available service packs.
4. If the Newer Version Available screen appears, select Yes, download and install a
newer version: version.
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager starts a new session to install the newer version.

5. If there is a problem with the download folder, Download Options might appear, in
which case, accept the default directory for the new installation files or enter a new
directory name.

If you see a message that the directory does not exist, click Yes to create it.

6. On the Download Complete screen, click Close to close the current installer and start
the installer for the new version.

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Upgrading an Administrative Image

To upgrade an administrative image, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager creates a new

image directory. You then direct clients to use the new administrative image directory to
upgrade to that product version.
This process assumes you have downloaded any updated installation files for the
administrative image. For details, see Downloading Updated Installation Files for
Administrative Images.
1. Start SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
2. On the Welcome screen, select Administrative image.
Administrative image creation options appear.

Option Description

Create a new image using Create the image using the default configuration
default settings. settings (that is, not based on the settings
established for an existing administrative image at
your site.)

Create a new image using Create the image using configuration settings
settings and files from an specified for an existing administrative image at your
existing image. site. Click Browse to specify the installation
directory for the existing administrative image.

3. On the Serial Number screen, check the serial number.

4. On the Summary (Ready to Create Image) screen, check that the administrative
image options are correct.
For details about individual administrative image and installation options, click
CHANGE to go to the option page and then click Help.
5. To create the new version of the administrative image, click Create Now.
You can now upgrade clients to this new version of the administrative image. For details,
see Upgrading Clients from Administrative Images.

Upgrading Clients from Administrative Images

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager can automatically update client computers installed

from an administrative image.
Typically, administrative images are organized in folders on a server. To support the
automatic upgrade of clients, the administrative image must be located in a shared folder.
After upgrading the administrative image, the original installation will be in one folder
and the upgraded installation will be in another folder. To use the upgraded installation,
remove the sharing option from the original administrative image folder and then add
the sharing option to the upgraded administrative image folder.
When SOLIDWORKS starts on a client machine that installed from the original
administrative image, it sees the new version and upgrades the client.

Also, when SOLIDWORKS triggers an update, other products installed from an

administrative image automatically update.

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Removing the Sharing Option from the Original Administrative Image Folder

When upgrading an administrative image that is accessed from a shared folder, you must
remove the sharing option from the original folder.
1. Browse to the folder where the original administrative image files are located.
2. Right-click the folder and select Properties.
3. On the Sharing tab, select Do not share this folder, and then click OK.
Now add the sharing option to the upgraded administrative image folder as described in
Adding the Sharing Option to an Upgraded Administrative Image Folder.

Adding the Sharing Option to an Upgraded Administrative Image Folder

Once you have created an updated administrative image folder and disabled the sharing
for the original administrative image folder, you must add the sharing option to the new
folder to re-enable the administrative image.
1. Browse to the folder where the upgraded administrative image files are located.
2. Right-click the folder and select Properties.
3. On the Sharing tab, specify the sharing properties appropriate for your organization
or group and change the share name to the name used for the original administrative
image folder.
Computers that installed from the original administrative image share location will upgrade
to the new version automatically when starting SOLIDWORKS.

Service Pack Product Update Administration

Service Pack product updates can contain updates for system reliability, program
compatibility, security, and so on.
You can acquire product updates in two ways:
• By using SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to check for, download, and install updates.
You can initiate SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager manually, or schedule it to check
periodically for updates.
• By downloading service packs manually from the SOLIDWORKS support website.
Service packs are applied as patches to an existing software version. For example,
SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP1.0 is a service pack for SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP0.0. You can
install these service packs using SOLIDWORKS 2023 Installation Manager; you cannot
install them using SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager in SOLIDWORKS 2022.
For instructions on downloading and installing service packs, see the installation
documentation for the SOLIDWORKS version you are updating.

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Rolling Back Service Packs in an Administrative Image

You can roll back an administrative image to an earlier installed service pack. If you
installed the SOLIDWORKS software with disks, you need the original disks to restore a
service pack. You must have saved a copy of the earlier administrative image.

Administrative images that have been upgraded cannot be rolled back to a previous
service pack. Administrative images created with any method other than SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager cannot be rolled back to a previous version. Clients installed from
these administrative images must be uninstalled and then reinstalled using an
administrative image created from the previous version.

1. Delete the folder that contains the current administrative image. To do this, open the
Command Prompt window and enter:
rmdir /s/q path_to_current_administrative_image
2. Move the backup copy of the administrative image to the location where you deleted
the current administrative image. To do this, open the Command Prompt window and
enter:
move path_to_backup_administrative_image
path_to_current_administrative_image
After you roll back an administrative image, client computers roll back automatically
the next time they run the SOLIDWORKS software.

Removing an Installation
You can remove an installation on an individual computer or in a client/server environment.
1. Make sure that no SOLIDWORKS sessions are active.
2. If you want to move the SOLIDWORKS license to another computer, deactivate the
license to that computer before removing the SOLIDWORKS installation on this
computer.

For more information, see Moving a License on page 86.

3. Open the Windows Control Panel and click Programs and Features.
4. Select the product component to remove and click Uninstall.

In some cases, you might find multiple SOLIDWORKS Service Pack components
for a given major release version. To remove a SOLIDWORKS major release, remove
all Service Pack elements for that major release.

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Multiple Installations

5. On the Uninstall screen:

a) Select the products to remove. By default, all product components are selected.
b) Clear the products that you do not want to remove.
c) Choose whether to perform a custom or complete uninstall. By default, the
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager performs a standard uninstall and removes
the Program Files and Folders.
1. Click Change in Advanced Options.
The Advanced Options screen appears and the Program Files and Folders
option is selected
2. Select one or more options to perform a custom uninstall, or select all options
to perform a complete uninstall.
3. Click Back to Summary.
4. On the Summary screen, expand Advanced Options to display the uninstall
method and entries.
d) Click Remove Items.

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4
SOLIDWORKS PDM and SOLIDWORKS Manage

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Listing of PDM Server Components

• Understanding Differences between PDM Clients
• Before Installing PDM Server
• Installing a PDM Server with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
• Installing a PDM Client with SLDIM

SOLIDWORKS PDM is a document management product based on the client/server architecture

known formerly as SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM. SOLIDWORKS PDM is available in two types:
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional
SOLIDWORKS PDM uses a Microsoft SQL Server database to manage file vaults.
This table lists the database systems, server components, and client options available for each
product type.

PDM Standard PDM Professional

Designed for Small to medium office Large office networks, large

networks, generally with less numbers of concurrent users
than 20 concurrent users.

Limits Lesser of 1 socket or 4 cores, SQL Standard limits: Lesser of

1 GB of RAM, and 10 GB 4 sockets or 16 cores, 128 GB
database size of RAM, and 524 PB database
size

Database Management System Microsoft SQL Server Express Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or
2016 or later versions up to later versions up to 2019.
2019.

Requires SolidNetWork License Yes Yes

Manager?

Includes Archive Server and Yes Yes

Database Server?

Includes SOLIDWORKS PDM No Yes

Web server and Web2 Server?

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SOLIDWORKS PDM and SOLIDWORKS Manage

PDM Standard PDM Professional

Client types Native Native, browser-based

Client add-ins for CAD Editors SOLIDWORKS, DraftSight SOLIDWORKS, DraftSight,

Microsoft Office Integration

Client add-ins for Contributors DraftSight DraftSight, Microsoft Office

Integration

Client add-ins for Viewers Microsoft Office Integration

SOLIDWORKS Manage Professional provides advanced data management tools to SOLIDWORKS

PDM Professional. It offers capabilities for advanced version control, and for project, process,
and item management. Interactive dashboards and reports help you track items, activities,
and progress toward completing projects.
SOLIDWORKS Manage Professional has a similar architecture as SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional.
It uses a client-server architecture, with a Microsoft SQL Server database to manage item and
project data. There are three services for database, file server, and web server functions,
which support both thick clients and web browser clients. The three services can be hosted
on the same server or separate servers. Users with SOLIDWORKS Manage Professional Editor
licenses can use a SOLIDWORKS Manage Add-in to access Manage data directly from within
SOLIDWORKS.
You can use the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to install the SOLIDWORKS Manage
Professional server and client.
For instructions on installing SOLIDWORKS Manage Professional, see the SOLIDWORKS
PDM/SOLIDWORKS Manage Installation Guide.

Listing of PDM Server Components

This table summarizes the server components of the SOLIDWORKS PDM Server.

Server Function Installation

Microsoft SQL Server Express Manages data in Can install with PDM
for PDM Standard SOLIDWORKS PDM data Standard, or use a version
vaults. previously licensed and
installed.

Microsoft SQL Server for Manages data in Required. You can also use
PDM Professional SOLIDWORKS PDM data a version previously licensed
vaults. and installed.

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SOLIDWORKS PDM and SOLIDWORKS Manage

Server Function Installation

SolidNetWork License Manages SOLIDWORKS PDM Must be installed before new

Manager Client licenses. vaults can be created.
Can be installed with
SOLIDWORKS PDM server
components when using the
SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager.

Archive Server Manages transfers of files Required. Install with PDM

between clients and the file Standard or Professional.
vault archive, and manages
users and their credentials.

Database Server Polls PDM databases for Required. Install with PDM
updates, manages data Standard or Professional.
import and export rules,
manages the message
system, and schedules
replication and cold storage.

Web Server and Web2 Provides access to file vaults Optional. Install with PDM
Server over the internet from Professional only.
browser-based clients.

Web API Server EXALEAD OnePart users can Optional. Install with PDM
use a Web API server to Professional only.
index and retrieve
SOLIDWORKS PDM data.

Archive servers run as services on the system account of the computers where they are
installed. One archive server can host multiple file vaults on the same computer.
In a stand-alone installation, the archive server, database server, license server, and web
API server, as well as the SQL Express or SQL Server database, can all be installed on
the same machine.
In a distributed environment, the server components can reside on different machines.
SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional also supports replication of file vault archives and the
SQL server database to improve performance at remote locations. For more details, see
the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Replication Guide.

Understanding Differences between PDM Clients

Before installing the client software, you must determine what clients are needed
depending on your PDM environment.
This table summarizes the clients for SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard:

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SOLIDWORKS PDM and SOLIDWORKS Manage

Standard Client type Description

CAD Editor Supports working with SOLIDWORKS,

DWG/DXF format, Microsoft Word, and
Microsoft Excel files. All file formats, that
Office plug-in handles, behave in the same
way in SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard except
Preview.

Contributor Supports working with SOLIDWORKS,

DWG/DXF format, Microsoft Word, and
Microsoft Excel files.

Viewer Allows read-only access to file vaults. User

can transition files through a workflow, but
user cannot add or modify (check out, check
in, update values) files.

This table summarizes the clients for SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional:

Professional Client type Description

CAD Editor & Web Supports working with all file types,
including enhanced management and
previewing of CAD formats such as
SOLIDWORKS. CAD add-ins allow users to
access SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional from
within the CAD application. Remote users
can search vaults and perform basic
functions over the Internet using the Web
and Web2 clients.

Contributor & Web Supports working with all file types,

including CAD files. However, the CAD
add-ins are not supported on this client
type. Remote users can search vaults and
perform basic functions over the Internet
using the Web and Web2 clients.

Viewer Allows read-only access to file vaults. User

can transition files through a workflow, user
cannot add or modify (check out, check in,
update values) files or use CAD add-ins.

Before Installing PDM Server

Keep these requirements in mind before installing PDM server components:
• Obtain full administrative rights to the machines on which you are going to install
servers and clients.

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SOLIDWORKS PDM and SOLIDWORKS Manage

• Ensure that the database server has access to the archive server over TCP port 3030
and to the SQL Server over TCP port 1433.
• If you are going to use an existing SQL Server Express or SQL Server database, obtain
the name of the SQL Server database and the account ID and password of a SQL
Server administrator or database owner with read/write access to the database. You
cannot use the tew user.
• If a PDM client is already installed on the system, uninstall it. If you want the PDM
Server and PDM Client on the same system, you can install them both from the Server
products page in the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

Installing a PDM Server with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager

When you install the PDM Server for PDM Standard, you can install the archive server,
the database server, and the PDM CAD Editor client on the same machine. You do not
need to run the client installation separately.
When installing the PDM Server for PDM Professional, you can include these components,
and also the Web server, Web2 server, and Web API server.
To install a PDM Server and its components:
1. Start the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
2. On the Welcome page, select Install server components, and click the following:
• Install SOLIDWORKS PDM Server components on this computer.
• Install SolidNetWork License Manager on this computer.
If the SolidNetWork License Manager is installed, this option does not display.

3. If the SolidNetwork License Manager Options page displays, enter a serial number
and specify a location for the directory, and click Next.
4. Follow instructions for system warnings and click Next.
5. On the Summary page, for SOLIDWORKS PDM Server, click Change.

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SOLIDWORKS PDM and SOLIDWORKS Manage

6. In the SOLIDWORKS PDM Server Options page:

a) For Select Server Product, click SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard or
Professional.
b) For Installation Location, click Browse to specify a file path.
c) In Select Features:
1. Click Archive Server, Database Server, and Client to install these
components on the same machine. If you are in a distributed environment,
you can install the archive server and database server by running the
Installation Manager on another machine.

• If a PDM client is already installed on the machine, you must cancel the
installation and uninstall the client. You can then run the SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager to install the PDM server with the client together.
• The SOLIDWORKS PDM client component included with the SOLIDWORKS
PDM server install includes Item Explorer, which cannot be excluded.

2. If you are installing PDM Professional, you can also click Web2 server and
Web API Server.

If you are installing the Web API server, you can specify a value for HTTP
port number that is between 0 and 65535. The default value is 65453.

d) In SQL Server, you can install a new instance of the database tools that come
with PDM Server (SQL Server Express for PDM Standard), or you can specify the
database name, username, and password of an existing instance.

A full version of SQL Server must be installed for SOLIDWORKS PDM

Professional.

e) Click Back to Summary.

7. On the Summary page, accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement
and click Install Now.
When the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager completes installing, the Archive Server
Configuration Tool starts. Follow the prompts in the wizard to configure the archive
server.

To set up, configure, and troubleshoot the archive server, database server, Web2 server,
and SQL Server databases, see the relevant topics in the SOLIDWORKS PDM Installation
Guide.

Modifying a SOLIDWORKS PDM Server Installation

To modify an installation of SOLIDWORKS PDM Server and its components, use Programs
and Features from the Windows Control Panel. You cannot modify the installation with
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager (SLDIM), even if that is what you used to install
SOLIDWORKS PDM Server.

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SOLIDWORKS PDM and SOLIDWORKS Manage

Installing a PDM Client with SLDIM

The major version of the SOLIDWORKS PDM Client must match the major version of the
SOLIDWORKS PDM Server. When you install or upgrade the SOLIDWORKS PDM Client,
make sure the versions match.
To install a PDM Client:
1. Start the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
2. On the Welcome page, select Install on this computer.
3. On the Serial Number page, click Next.

SOLIDWORKS PDM clients do not require a separate serial number.

4. Follow instructions for system warnings and click Next.

5. On the Summary page, under Products, click Change.
6. On the Product Selection page, click Select different packages or products.
7. In the Select the package you want to show dialog box, select an edition of
SOLIDWORKS. Then click OK.
8. On the Product Selection page, select SOLIDWORKS PDM Client. Then select
eDrawings to enable the PDM Preview functionality. If you are using SOLIDWORKS
PDM Professional, you can also select Item Explorer.
9. On the Summary page, expand SOLIDWORKS PDM Options and click Change.
10. On the SOLIDWORKS PDM Client Options page, select the following and click Back
to Summary:
• PDM product type
• PDM client type
• Add-ins

11. On the Summary page, accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement
and click Install Now.

Administrators can also use the Administrative Image Option Editor to create and deploy
images of PDM clients. For details, see Using Administrative Images on page 17.

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5
SOLIDWORKS PCB

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Prerequisites
• Installing PCB Services with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
• Installing PCB with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
• Changing the Default Admin Login
• Installing SOLIDWORKS PCB Viewer
• Installing the PCB Connector for Altium Designer
• Post Installation
• Upgrading PCB Services
• Uninstalling PCB Services

SOLIDWORKS® PCB (formerly PCBWorks) is a PCB (printed circuit board) design tool that is
integrated with the SOLIDWORKS 3D design software. It is installed by SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager as part of the Individual installation.
An electrical engineer using SOLIDWORKS PCB can make changes to a printed circuit board
and push those changes to a shared repository. A mechanical engineer using the SOLIDWORKS
software can pull the changed circuit board from the repository, analyze the modifications,
make additional changes, and push the design back to the repository, where it can then be
accessed again by the electrical engineer.
To enable this collaboration, you must install SOLIDWORKS PCB Services, which manages the
repository on a shared server. It is installed by SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager as part of
a Server installation and does not require a separate license. It includes Microsoft Internet
Information Services and a database that stores data used to synchronize the work of the
electrical and mechanical designers.
In network environments, SOLIDWORKS PCB Services is typically installed on a share server
that is not running the SOLIDWORKS software. It can also be installed with other SOLIDWORKS
PCB components on a single machine. SOLIDWORKS PCB Services must be running at all
times, and have uninterrupted, bidirectional communication through firewalls and virus scanners
with clients running SOLIDWORKS PCB and the SOLIDWORKS software, and with any clients
running Altium Designer that are going to be integrated with the SOLIDWORKS software.

It is recommended that you install SOLIDWORKS PCB Services before installing SOLIDWORKS
PCB.

In addition, you must enable another component called SOLIDWORKS PCB add-in on machines
running the SOLIDWORKS software. You can enable the add-in from Tools > Add-ins.
Electrical engineers who have licensed Altium Designer can also exchange designs with
SOLIDWORKS 3D design software users through the repository. To do this exchange, users

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SOLIDWORKS PCB

need to install the SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector. This software is installed from the Altium
Designer client.

Prerequisites
Before installing, you must have the following prerequisites:
• a SOLIDWORKS PCB serial number.
• a SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector serial number for any Altium Designer clients that are
going to be integrated with the SOLIDWORKS software.
To access current system requirements, see System Requirements.

Installing PCB Services with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager

To install SOLIDWORKS PCB Services:
1. Start the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
2. On the Welcome page, select Server Products.
3. Then select Install SOLIDWORKS PCB Services on this computer and click Next.
4. Follow instructions for system warnings and click Next.
5. On the Summary page, accept the default settings for SOLIDWORKS PCB Services
or click Change to specify settings for the following:
• Installation location
• Database folder
• Revisions file folder
• Port number
PCB Services includes Microsoft Internet Information Services and a database that
stores data used to synchronize the work of the electrical and mechanical designers.
The default port number is 9780.

6. Accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement and click Install Now.

Installing PCB with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager

To install SOLIDWORKS PCB:
1. Start the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
2. On the Welcome page, select Individual.
3. Do the following:
a) Expand Electrical Design.
b) Select SOLIDWORKS PCB and enter the serial number.
c) Click Next.
4. Follow instructions for system warnings and click Next.
5. On the Summary page, accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement
and click Install Now.

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SOLIDWORKS PCB

Changing the Default Admin Login

SOLIDWORKS PCB Services provides a default administrator account with the following
credentials:
• admin for Username
• admin for Password
For better security, it is highly recommended that you change the login credentials for
this account.
To change the default admin login:
1. Open a web browser, and in the address bar, enter the machine name and port
number in the form: http://server name:port number.
The default port number is 9780.

2. On the Sign in to SOLIDWORKS PCB Services page, enter admin as the username
and admin as the password, and click Sign In.
3. On the SOLIDWORKS PCB Services menu, click Users and click the Users tab.
4. Click the link associated with the admin account or click the Edit User icon .
5. Modify the user information, username, and password.
6. Click Save.

Installing SOLIDWORKS PCB Viewer

You can download and install SOLIDWORKS® PCB Viewer using the Installation Manager,
making it easier to install concurrently with SOLIDWORKS or other SOLIDWORKS products.
This free PCB viewer is available without a license.
You can use the viewer to access, print, and search through all of your team's design
files created in Altium Designer.
You can also add SOLIDWORKS PCB Viewer to your administrative image deployments.

You cannot install the SOLIDWORKS PCB Viewer on the same computer as SOLIDWORKS
PCB.

Installing the PCB Connector for Altium Designer

Altium Designer is a PCB (printed circuit board) design tool. Users who have licensed and
installed Altium Designer can integrate it with the SOLIDWORKS software by installing
the SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector.
To install SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector on a machine running Altium Designer:
1. Sign in to your Altium Account if you are not signed in automatically.
2. Launch Altium Designer, open the DXP tab, and click Extensions and Updates.
3. On the Extensions and Updates page, click the Purchased tab.

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SOLIDWORKS PCB

4. Scroll down to the Software Extensions section. Then on SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector,
click the down arrow in the top right corner of the tile to download and begin the
installation.

5. In the Confirm dialog box, click Yes to continue with the installation.

You must perform steps 6 and 7 in the order specified to avoid activation and
installation problems.

6. On the PCB Connector Registration page, enter the SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector
serial number and click Register.
7. In the Confirm dialog box, displayed by the Altium Designer application, click Yes to
restart the system and complete the installation or click No to complete the installation
later.
To deactivate a SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector license, on the Help menu, click
SOLIDWORKS PCB Connector Licensing > Deactivate Licenses.

Post Installation
After installing SOLIDWORKS PCB and its components, you can add user accounts to
SOLIDWORKS PCB Services, so that users can access boards from the repository.
Additional tasks include logging into the SOLIDWORKS PCB add-in repository and
uninstalling the software.

Adding a User to PCB Services

To add a user in the SOLIDWORKS PCB Services website:
1. Open a web browser and in the address bar, enter the server name and port number
assigned to SOLIDWORKS PCB Services. For example, in the form: http://server
name:port number.
2. On the Sign in to SOLIDWORKS PCB Services page, enter your administrator username
and password, and click Sign In.
3. On the SOLIDWORKS PCB Services menu, click Users and click the Users tab.

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SOLIDWORKS PCB

4. Click the Add User button and type the following:

• First Name
• Last Name
• User Name
• Password
• Email address
• Phone number
Also, you must select a User Role and check the Member box to associate the user
with a group.

5. Click Save.
You can edit the user information in the User tab.

Logging into a PCB Repository

In SOLIDWORKS, when you select a new board or pull an existing board from the PCB
Add-in Task Pane, you must login to SOLIDWORKS PCB Services to access the repository.
To login the SOLIDWORKS PCB repository:

1. From the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane, click the SOLIDWORKS PCB Add-in button .
2. Click New Board Assembly or Pull Board From Vault.
3. Login to SOLIDWORKS PCB Services:
a) Specify the server name and port number assigned to SOLIDWORKS PCB Services.
For example, type in the form: http://server name:port number.
b) Type your Username and Password, and click OK.

Upgrading PCB Services

When you are upgrading SOLIDWORKS PCB Services to the 2021 version, the
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager upgrades the Firebird database and automatically
migrates your data. Backup the database before you upgrade.
To upgrade SOLIDWORKS PCB Services:
1. Start the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
2. On the Welcome page, select Server Products.
3. Select Upgrade SOLIDWORKS PCB Services on this computer and click Next.
A message appears about upgrading your Firebird software and database.

4. Click Next.
5. On the Summary page, accept the default settings or click Change to specify other
settings.
6. Accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement and click Install Now.

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SOLIDWORKS PCB

Uninstalling PCB Services

To uninstall SOLIDWORKS PCB Services:
1. Click Start > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS PCB Services > Uninstall
SOLIDWORKS PCB Services.
2. When you are prompted to remove SOLIDWORKS PCB Services and its components,
click Yes.
3. When you are prompted to delete all SOLIDWORKS PCB Services data, click No.

Click No if you want to prevent all data and revision files from being deleted
permanently.

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6
SOLIDWORKS Electrical

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Requirements for Installing SOLIDWORKS Electrical

• Standalone or Client/Server Installation
• Configuring the Collaborative Server
• Configuring Microsoft SQL Server
• Specifying the Data Location

The SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager allows you to install all the components of SOLIDWORKS
Electrical, in a standalone or client/server mode.
SOLIDWORKS Electrical uses several components. During the installation, you must select
these components according to the type of installation you want.
• SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic - 2D application to create and manage electrical
schemes.
• SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D - SOLIDWORKS add-in to integrate 2D schematics with 3D
models. The SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D allows you to manage the layout of electrical devices
and to route the wires, the cables, and the harnesses.
• Data - The Data groups all the data required by the software. This data is graphical (such
as files representing the symbols and title blocks) or technical (such as Manufacturer catalogs
and data associated with the symbols). You can share the data to be accessible for all users.
• Collaborative Server - A utility to manage the opening and updating of electrical drawings.
• SQL Server - SOLIDWORKS Electrical requires a Microsoft SQL Server database. You can
choose to create a new database or use an existing one during the installation.

Type of Installation
You can install all SOLIDWORKS Electrical components on the same machine. This is a
standalone install. All program data, such as project drawings and reports, is stored on the
workstation.
You can also install the SOLIDWORKS Electrical components as a client/server application. Use
this type of installation if you want to store the data on a network server. The client/server
installation lets several users work on the same project. Client systems must have network
access to the server and read/write privileges for creating projects, libraries, and symbols.

Information
Whatever the type of installation (standalone or client/server), you must start your Windows
session in full rights mode to install SOLIDWORKS Electrical.

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SOLIDWORKS Electrical

You can install only one version of SOLIDWORKS Electrical on a machine. If you are installing
SOLIDWORKS, and select SOLIDWORKS Electrical as one of the products to install, the
installation program removes the old version of SOLIDWORKS Electrical.

When you start the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager, it automatically detects the existing
versions of SOLIDWORKS Electrical installed on the workstation or on the server.

Always back up an existing SOLIDWORKS Electrical environment before you install a new
version. From within SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic, select File > Archive Environment,
or from within SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D, select SOLIDWORKS Electrical > Tools >
Archive Environment.

Requirements for Installing SOLIDWORKS Electrical

To access current system requirements, see System Requirements.

Standalone or Client/Server Installation

You can install SOLIDWORKS Electrical in two modes. In standalone mode, you install
the software on the workstation. In client/server mode, users share the data.

SOLIDWORKS Electrical must always connect to an instance of SQL Server.

Stand-Alone Installation
For a first installation, you MUST install all the components on the workstation.
• SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic
• SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D
• Collaborative Server
• Application Data
1. In the Summary tab, click Change of the Product Selection section and select all
the SOLIDWORKS Electrical components.
2. If you want to modify the installation options, in the Summary tab, click Change of
the Electrical Options section. It is possible to create a new instance of SQL Server
or to use an existing one. See specific chapters about the Data and Microsoft SQL
Server in this documentation for more details. If not, keep the default options.
3. Click Install now to continue.

If a SOLIDWORKS Electrical is already installed on the workstation, the SOLIDWORKS

Installation Manager automatically finds it and prompts you to update it. Install all
the components without changing the Electrical Options.

Client/Server Installation
A client/server installation allows you to share the data between several users.
On the server, you must install the following components:

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SOLIDWORKS Electrical

• Collaborative Server
• Application Data
• SQL Server
On the clients, you must install the following components:
• SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic
• SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D
1. On the server, install the server components.
2. In the Welcome SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager tab, click Install server
component.
3. Select the SOLIDWORKS Electrical option.
4. In the Summary tab, you can modify the installation options. See specific chapters
about the Data and Microsoft SQL Server in this documentation for more details. If
not, keep the default options.
5. Click Install now to continue.
6. On the clients, install the applications.
7. In the Welcome SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager tab, click Install on this
computer.
8. In the Summary tab, click Change of the Product Selection section and clear the
Electrical Server option.
9. In the Summary tab, click Change of the Electrical Options section and modify
the settings to connect to the server.
10. Click Install now to continue.

If a SOLIDWORKS Electrical is already installed on the workstation or on the server,

the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager automatically finds it and prompts you to
update it. Use the same process than the first installation to update the software.

Configuring the Collaborative Server

To run SOLIDWORKS Electrical, you must install the Collaborative Server on the same
system that hosts the Microsoft SQL Server database.
The Collaborative Server is a Windows Service that must be running at all times, and
have constant, uninterrupted, bidirectional communication with clients through firewalls
and virus scanners.
To configure the Collaborative Server in individual or server mode, specify the following
parameters:
• The machine name (for example LOCALHOST or MyMachine), or its IP address (for
example 127.0.0.1, or 192.168.999.999).
• The port number (by default 26666).
You can configure the Collaborative Server during the installation or later in the Tools >
Application Settings command.
To provide uninterrupted bidirectional communication, make sure that port numbers
26666 to 26676 (when 10 users are connected simultaneously) are available on the
system where the Collaborative Server is installed. If not, ask the system administrator
to find another port for SOLIDWORKS Electrical.

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SOLIDWORKS Electrical

Configuring Microsoft SQL Server

You must insure that an instance of the SQL Server database is available for any type of
SOLIDWORKS Electrical installation. You can use an existing SQL Server database if it is
already installed on the system, or install a new instance as part of the SOLIDWORKS
Electrical installation.
When you install a new instance of SQL Server, SOLIDWORKS installation provides a free
version of Microsoft SQL Server Express. This version is limited to 1 CPU, 1 GB of memory,
and 10 GB of data. The memory and CPU limitations are sufficient to support 5 concurrent
users.
If you install SQL Server Express Edition, ensure that the server software and hardware
meet the requirements listed in System Requirements.
However, if there are more 6 or more concurrent users on the same server, you should
purchase and install a full version of SQL Server, and use the workflow described for
installing SOLIDWORKS Electrical with an existing instance of SQL Server.
For information about the SQL Server Express Edition, consult the Microsoft SQL Server
documentation.

Managing Data in SOLIDWORKS Electrical

Many programs use a single database which contains all the program data. This is not
the case with SOLIDWORKS Electrical. Each project in SOLIDWORKS Electrical is assigned
a unique ID number, and every project has a related database that can be identified
based on its unique ID number. For example, in the SOLIDWORKS Electrical Project
Manager, if you find a project with ID#112, then the associated database is named
“tew_project_data_112.”
The reason for having a unique database for each project is that it significantly reduces
process time. Also, in the case of a critical database failure, only one project is affected,
retaining the integrity of the majority of the program information.

However, some companies have policies that restrict the creation of new
databases. To run SOLIDWORKS Electrical, there can be no restrictions on
creating new databases by users. Check with the system or database
administrator to ensure that no configuration settings prevent users from
creating new databases.

New Instances of SQL Server

If you install a new instance of SQL Server, you need full administrative rights to the
server, and also to any client systems. You must also ensure that clients have read/write
privileges for the database, so they can create and modify projects, libraries, symbols
and other project data.
When you install a new instance of SQL Server, select a name other than the default.

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Existing Instances of SQL Server

You need a user account that has full administrative rights to the SQL Server database
to install new SOLIDWORKS Electrical databases or to connect to a SOLIDWORKS Electrical
installation on an existing instance of SQL Server.

For SOLIDWORKS Electrical to function properly, you must enable SQL Server for mixed
mode authentication. Mixed mode authentication allows the use of either Windows or
SQL Server credentials.

To connect to an existing SQL Server database, you can use Windows or SQL Server
authentication. Enter a user name and password for a Windows or SQL Server login that
has full SQL Server administrative rights.
You cannot use the ‘tew’ user to connect to SQL Server for installation. Contact your SQL
Server administrator or system administrator for help to obtain a login with the proper
credentials for SQL Server.

SOLIDWORKS Electrical Databases

After you install SOLIDWORKS Electrical, the installation program creates the following
databases in the SQL Server instance.
• TEW_APP_DATA
• TEW_APP_MACRO
• TEW_APP_PROJECT
• TEW_CATALOG
• TEW_CLASSIFICATION

Specifying the Data Location

For the data location, select a directory to store program data such as parts, templates,
and 2D and 3D symbols. This location must be a dedicated directory. It cannot be a root
directory or the same directory used to store SOLIDWORKS data.
The default directory is C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS Electrical.
In the case of a client/server installation, you must share the Data directory.
The installation program creates a new folder called Update in the default directory to
store all of the new data.
When you start SOLIDWORKS Electrical for the first time, the program automatically
merges the data stored in the Update folder with the existing data. In the Update Data
wizard, you can select the data to be added into the application and the SQL Server
database.

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7
SOLIDWORKS Visualize and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost

This chapter includes the following topics:

• System Requirements for SOLIDWORKS Visualize

• Installing SOLIDWORKS Visualize with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
• Installing Visualize Boost with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager

SOLIDWORKS® Visualize provides a suite of stand-alone tools that combine advanced rendering
capabilities with visual design-oriented features and workflows, so you can create highly
realistic images of 3D CAD models.
SOLIDWORKS Visualize products are available in two packages:
• Standard
• Professional
A complimentary seat of SOLIDWORKS Visualize Standard is included with each SOLIDWORKS
2023 Professional and Premium license on active subscription. For stand-alone activation
SOLIDWORKS customers, you need an additional serial number. Check with your SOLIDWORKS
administrator or resellar if you do not know your SOLIDWORKS Visualize serial number.
SOLIDWORKS Visualize also supports SolidNetWork Licensing (SNL) license types such as
floating, as well as offline activation.
Using the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager (SLDIM), you install SOLIDWORKS Visualize as
part of the Individual installation. You can install it as a stand-alone application, which is an
advantage if you want to use separate computers for modeling and rendering. It does not
consume a SOLIDWORKS license.
SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost is a service that allows you to distribute rendering from a
computer running SOLIDWORKS Visualize Professional to one or more computers on a network.
You can perform other tasks on your computer while the rendered image generates, and the
final rendered images are available sooner. Image rendering can take place on a single
computer, or on a cluster of several computers running Visualize Boost.
A complimentary seat of SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost is included with each seat of
SOLIDWORKS Visualize Professional 2023 on active subscription.

Visualize Boost is a product add-on for Visualize Professional only. Visualize Boost does not
work with Visualize Standard.

You can install Visualize Boost on a computer separate from the one that is running
SOLIDWORKS Visualize Professional. You can also install Visualize Boost as part of the
Individual installation in the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

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System Requirements for SOLIDWORKS Visualize

Before installing SOLIDWORKS Visualize and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost, you must
have a separate serial number for each product.
Ensure that each computer running SOLIDWORKS Visualize or SOLIDWORKS Visualize
Boost meets the requirements listed in System Requirements.
For GPU support using NVIDIA® Iray® or 3DS Stellar Physically Correct:
• NVIDIA® graphics card: NVIDIA Quadro®/NVIDIA GeForce®/Tesla™ with at least NVIDIA
Maxwell™ chip; Dual-GPU setup with at least NVIDIA Maxwell™ cards for the best
experience
• NVIDIA driver support for CUDA® 11.4 or newer required
• Recommendation: NVIDIA driver version 472.98 (or newer)
For GPU support using AMD ProRender:
• Recommendation: Radeon™ or Radeon Pro™ series workstation cards.
For GPU Denoiser support:
• A minimum of 4GB of video memory
For HDR Light Studio connection:
• HDR Light Studio v5.3.3 or newer, except v5.4

If an applicable GPU is not found, SOLIDWORKS Visualize defaults to the central

processing unit (CPU) and does not use the installed graphics card for GPU-acceleration.

See SOLIDWORKS Hardware Certification for more information on specific graphics

cards and drivers.

Installing SOLIDWORKS Visualize with the SOLIDWORKS Installation

Manager
To install SOLIDWORKS Visualize:
1. Start the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
2. On the Welcome page, select Individual.
3. Do the following:
a) On the Serial Number page, expand Visualization.
b) Select SOLIDWORKS Visualize and enter the serial number.
c) Click Next.
4. Follow instructions for system warnings and click Next.
5. On the Summary page, accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement
and click Install Now.
Double-click the SOLIDWORKS Visualize shortcut icon on the desktop to start the
application or from the Windows Start menu, click SOLIDWORKS version >
SOLIDWORKS Visualize version.

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SOLIDWORKS Visualize and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost

Post Installation Tasks

After installing, there are a few tasks you perform to configure SOLIDWORKS Visualize.
For more information, see Getting Started with SOLIDWORKS Visualize in the SOLIDWORKS
Visualize Help.

Creating the Content Folder

When you first run the software, SOLIDWORKS Visualize prompts you for a location to
create a Content folder.
The Content folder contains the following subfolders where you can store assets for your
projects:

Subfolders Stores

Cameras Default cameras and cameras that you have

saved

Environments High dynamic range (HDR) images

Palettes Backplate images

Images Renderings and snapshots

Appearances Materials in your Appearance library

The contents update when you add an

appearance to the library.

Models Model files

By default, SOLIDWORKS Visualize

searches this folder first when you use
File > Import a model.

Plates Standard 2D images for use in backplates

Projects Native project files in .SVPJ format

Textures 2D textures for use in appearances

Selecting a Render Mode

Different systems can produce different results with each render mode. Try each render
mode before selecting a mode that works best for you.
To select a render mode:
1. Click Tools > Options > 3D Viewport.
2. Under Render Device, clear Automatic.

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SOLIDWORKS Visualize and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost

3. Select a render mode:

• CPU, if your CPU is significantly more powerful than your graphics card.
• GPU, if you have a powerful video card such as an nVidia CUDA-enabled GPU with
more than 1 GB VRAM.
• Hybrid, if you have a balanced system with a good nVidia card and a comparable
CPU.

For a complete list of rendering options see Render Tab in the SOLIDWORKS Visualize
Help.

Accessing Help, Tutorials, System Info, and Licensing

The Help menu provides documentation and options to update the software and
troubleshoot your system.

Visualize Help Opens the SOLIDWORKS Visualize online

help.

Visualize Tutorials Opens MySolidWorks and lets you access

the SOLIDWORKS Visualize tutorials.

Release Notes Displays online Release Notes for the

current version.

What's New Displays new functionality for SOLIDWORKS

products.

System Info Performs a system check of the

SOLIDWORKS Visualize software with your
PC hardware, and suggests upgrades when
needed.

Check for Updates Checks the server for the latest

SOLIDWORKS Visualize update.

Activate License (Node-locked licenses) Uses SOLIDWORKS

Product Activation wizard to activate your
product.

Deactivate License (Node-locked licenses) Uses SOLIDWORKS

Product Activation wizard to deactivate your
product.

SolidNetWork License Manager Uses SOLIDWORKS Product Activation

wizard to deactivate your product.

About Visualize Displays the version number and licensing

information of your copy of SOLIDWORKS
Visualize.

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Installing Visualize Boost with the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager

You install Visualize Boost using the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager. It requires a
separate serial number.
Because the purpose of Visualize Boost is to offload rendering, you should install Visualize
Boost on computers different from the ones running SOLIDWORKS Visualize Professional.
You can maximize rendering performance by installing Visualize Boost on computers with
multiple CPU cores and graphics processing units (GPUs).
To install SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost:
1. Start the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
2. On the Welcome page, select Individual.
3. Do the following:
a) On the Serial Number page, expand Visualization.
b) Select SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost and enter the serial number.
c) Click Next.
4. Follow instructions for system warnings and click Next.
5. On the Summary page, accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement
and click Install Now.
Double-click the SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost shortcut icon on the desktop to open the
interface.

Activating the Visualize Boost License

You must activate and configure SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost through a web interface
before you can use the product for rendering. Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer
browsers are supported.
After you activate and configure Visualize Boost, it starts automatically at system startup
and runs in the background. No further action is required.
To activate the SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost license:
1. Do one of the following:
a) From your desktop, double-click the Visualize Boost shortcut icon.
b) Open a browser and enter the URL: http://localhost:8999/config.html.
2. Enter an email address and click Enable License.

Configuring Visualize Boost

For most networks, the default settings are sufficient to configure a computer for Visualize
Boost, but if your network environment requires other settings, follow these steps to
manually configure a computer.

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SOLIDWORKS Visualize and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost

To configure a computer to be part of a rendering cluster in Visualize Boost:

1. Do one of the following:
a) If your system is running SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost, double-click the Visualize
Boost shortcut icon on your desktop or open a browser and enter the URL:
http://localhost:8999/config.html.
b) If you are on a different system, open a browser and enter the URL: http://<IP
Address>:8999/config.html or http://<DNS name>:8999/config.html.
2. In the upper right corner of the screen, select your Language from the list .
3. Click the Setup tab to configure the Visualize Boost node.
4. In the Cluster Name field, specify a computer name, such as Superfast Render,
Presentation Cluster, or 4th Floor Computers.
The cluster name displays in SOLIDWORKS Visualize Professional as a cluster profile.
To render an image, users running SOLIDWORKS Visualize Professional select a cluster
profile from a list of available Boost clusters.

It is recommended that you specify the cluster name on the Visualize Boost
computer, rather than locally on the Visualize Professional computer, so that all
Visualize users have access to the same cluster names in their Visualize Boost
Profiles list.

5. Enter the Cluster Client Access Port.

This is the port that computers running SOLIDWORKS Visualize use to connect to the
Boost cluster. The default cluster client access port is 8998.
6. In the Networking Mode area, select an option based on your network environment:
• Select No Networking to prevent this computer from belonging to any other
cluster. This mode is useful for troubleshooting issues with Visualize Boost.
• Select UDP Multicast Mode if your network supports UDP Multicast. Visualize
Boost will search the network and form a cluster of all computers using UDP
Multicast Mode on the same port. This mode is recommended, if your network
supports it.
• Select TCP Mode with Discovery (Default) if you cannot use UDP Multicast
mode. Visualize Boost will search the network and form a cluster of all computers
using TCP Mode with Discovery on the same port.
• Select TCP Mode if you need to create an explicit list of the computers in the
cluster, because the other modes are not successful in finding the computers you
want to include. This mode requires additional work to configure and is not
recommended if either UDP Multicast or TCP Mode with Discovery is available.

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SOLIDWORKS Visualize and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost

7. If you select UDP Multicast Mode or TCP Mode with Discovery, enter the Cluster
Discovery Address.
This setting must be an IP address and a port above 1024. The default port
varies among the networking modes:
• 8994 for UDP Multicast
• 8995 for TCP Mode with Discovery
• 8996 for TCP
These ports are used for Visualize Boost computers to connect with each other. All
computers configured with the same Cluster Discovery Address and that are on
the same local network will form a cluster.

8. If you select TCP Mode:

• Enter a Cluster Access Port. This is the port that Visualize Boost nodes in the
cluster use to communicate with each other. The default port for TCP Mode is 8996.
• If this machine is going to be the “head node” of the cluster (the machine that
coordinates the work of the cluster), use the Cluster Address List field to list the
IP addresses of other nodes in the cluster. Each IP address (such as
192.168.0.100:8996) must include the Cluster Access Port configured for all
nodes in the cluster. Leave the field blank if this machine is not going to be the
head node of the cluster.

9. Click Save Configuration. Visualize Boost saves the new configuration, then stops
and restarts the service.
10. Click the Status tab. If the status is Ready, the screen displays the computers
connected in the cluster and the Sessions (jobs) assigned to the cluster.

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8
License Administration

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Administering Individual Licenses

• Switching from Individual Licensing to SolidNetWork Licensing
• Administering Licenses Using a SolidNetWork License Manager

After installation, you can activate SOLIDWORKS licenses either by activating individual
computers (machine activation) or by installing and activating floating network licenses on a
server (SolidNetWork Licensing).
Typically, installations on individual computers use license activation; however, you can install
the software individually and then control the licenses with SolidNetWork License Manager.
Conversely, although larger sites typically use floating network licenses, you can deploy the
installations from an administrative image and then activate the serial numbers from the
individual computers.

Administering Individual Licenses

You can specify an individual license to use machine activation.
Typically, administration of individual licenses consists of activating and deactivating
licenses directly from the SOLIDWORKS software.
Activation is a product licensing and registration process for SOLIDWORKS standalone
(non-SolidNetWork License) licenses. Typically, if your product license is not activated,
SOLIDWORKS tries to activate it when you start the product.
Starting with SOLIDWORKS 2022 and later, if you purchased a perpetual license of
SOLIDWORKS, you must also reactivate the license once a year. A perpetual license never
expires but needs to be reactivated. SOLIDWORKS prompts you to reactivate the perpetual
license before the required reactivation date.

You can deactivate individual licenses by clicking > Licenses > Deactivate in
SOLIDWORKS.

Activating a License
Before you can run SOLIDWORKS products on an individual computer, you must activate
the license for that computer.
Activation requires that you have internet or email access. After activation, you do not
need to be online to use the products. If you do not have email access on the computer

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where you use this product, you can save the activation file and send it from another
computer.
This process:
• Activates all software licenses across the SOLIDWORKS product line.
• Allows you to move licensing rights from one computer to another.
• Can be performed immediately (recommended) or within 30 days of installation.
• Eliminates the need for dongles. However, if you run previous versions of SOLIDWORKS
products that do not use activation, you need to retain the dongle.
For system administrators who have multiple serial numbers to manage, you can use the
Administrative Image Option Editor. For details, see Administrative Image Option
Editor.
To activate a license:
1. Start SOLIDWORKS.
2. Start SOLIDWORKS Product Activation using one of these methods:
• If you have not yet activated the license for this computer, the SOLIDWORKS
Product Activation window appears automatically when you start the SOLIDWORKS
software.
• If the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation window does not appear automatically,
start activation by clicking > Licenses > Activate.

3. Select the Product listing to specify the product whose license you want to activate.
4. Specify automatic activation over the internet or manual activation using email.
5. Supply email contact information.
6. Click Next.
• Internet: Activation occurs automatically.
• Email: Click Save to create a request file, then email the file to
[email protected]. When you receive the email containing the response
file, extract the file from email, and then click Open to load it.

If required, you can exit and rerun the activation procedure to open the response
file.

7. Click Finish.

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Reactivating a License
If you have perpetual commercial or educational licenses of SOLIDWORKS 2022 and later
products, you must reactivate those licenses once a year. SOLIDWORKS Product Activation
prompts you to do this before the required reactivation date.
To reactivate a license:
1. Start SOLIDWORKS.
SOLIDWORKS Product Activation prompts you to reactivate. For each SOLIDWORKS
product license, it displays the following:
• The date the current Activation Expires
• The Action Required to continue using the product, such as reactivating a
perpetual license or renewing and reactivating a term or evaluation license

2. Click Reactivate Now to start the Product Activation wizard.

If you do not want to reactivate the license immediately, click Remind Me Later.
For example, in SOLIDWORKS, click > Licenses > Activate to start the Product
Activation Wizard. See Activating a License.

Moving a License
To move a SolidNetwork license to a new or upgraded computer, first deactivate it from
the license key server at Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Corporation. Then reactivate
it on the other computer.

If you cannot deactivate the license from Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Corporation
(because of hard disk drive failure, for example), reactivation is still successful in most
cases. If not, contact your Value Added Reseller for help.

To move a license back to the server:

1. In the SOLIDWORKS software, click > Licenses > Deactivate, and follow the
instructions.
2. To reactivate, go to the new or upgraded computer and activate the license as you
did during the initial activation. For details, see Activating a License.

Switching from Individual Licensing to SolidNetWork Licensing

You can switch a computer from individual SOLIDWORKS licensing to SolidNetWork
licensing by specifying the SolidNetWork license serial number in the Product Activation
Wizard.
If a computer already has SOLIDWORKS installed and you are switching from individual
licensing to SolidNetWork Licensing, you must specify the SolidNetWork License serial
number in place of the individual license serial number. For details, see Adding Serial
Numbers and Activating SolidNetWork Licenses.

If you installed SOLIDWORKS from an administrative image, you must make changes
to the administrative image in the Administrative Option Editor, uninstall the client,
and rerun the installation.

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License Administration

Administering Licenses Using a SolidNetWork License Manager

SolidNetWork License Manager supports multiple license clients by distributing licenses
to clients on the network. This allows the number of users to exceed the number of
licenses by using floating licenses.
This image depicts a typical SolidNetWork licensing installation:

This image illustrates:

• SolidNetWork License Manager software is installed and activated on the license
manager computer only.
• License client computers do not have any additional SolidNetWork-specific software
installed.
If you specify a SolidNetWork license serial number when installing, SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager identifies that computer as a SolidNetWork license client.
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager prompts you for the SolidNetWork License Manager
computer name and port number to connect the client to the license manager.
• The license manager and all license clients must have TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol) connectivity.

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License Administration

Installing SolidNetWork Licensing Overview

You use the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to install the SolidNetWork License
Manager Server on at least one computer before you install SOLIDWORKS client software
on any computers. You can then use the Product Activation Wizard to add and activate
serial numbers for perpetual and term licenses.
When you install SOLIDWORKS client software on a computer, specify a SolidNetWork
license serial number. SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager identifies that computer as a
SolidNetWork license client and prompts you for the computer name and port number of
the SolidNetWork License Manager Server. It displays an error if the SolidNetWork License
Manager Server is not installed or if the name or port number is incorrect.

Activation Process
Before users can run SOLIDWORKS products on their individual computers, you must
activate a SolidNetWork license on the SolidNetWork License Manager Server computer.
Activation requires that you have an active internet connection or email access. After
activation, you do not need to be online to use the products. If you do not have email
access on the computer where you use this product, you can save the activation file and
send it from another computer.
This process:
• Activates the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager with SolidNetWork licenses
across SOLIDWORKS products.
• Lets you move SolidNetWork licensing rights from one SolidNetWork License Manager
computer to another.
• Enables you to install and activate the SolidNetWork licensing rights on one
SolidNetWork License Manager computer.
• Must be performed before you can use SolidNetWork licenses.
• Eliminates the need for dongles. If you activate a SolidNetWork license for this version
of SOLIDWORKS, SolidNetWork licenses for previous versions of SOLIDWORKS are
activated. You no longer need to retain the dongle.

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License Administration

Installing the SolidNetWork License Manager Server

The SolidNetWork License Manager Server supports multiple license clients. It distributes
licenses to clients on the network.
If you are upgrading from a previous version of SolidNetWork License Manager Server
that used hardware dongles for license activation, remove the hardware dongle before
installing the new version of SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
1. Start SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager as described in Download Installation
Media.
2. For the type of installation, select Install server components and click Install
SolidNetWork License Manager (distributed licensing) on this computer.
3. On the Summary page, review the installation location and background downloader,
agree to the license terms, and click Install Now.
4. In the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation Wizard from the SolidNetWork License Manager
Server, add a serial number and activate at least one license. See Adding Serial
Numbers and Activating SolidNetWork Licenses.

Adding Serial Numbers and Activating SolidNetWork Licenses

Before users can run SOLIDWORKS products on their individual computers, you must
activate a SolidNetWork license on the SolidNetWork License Manager computer.
Activation requires that you have an active internet connection or email access. After
activation, you do not need to be online to use the products. If you do not have email
access on the computer where you use this product, you can save the activation file and
send it from another computer.
This process:
• Activates the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager with SolidNetWork licenses
across SOLIDWORKS products.
• Lets you move SolidNetWork licensing rights from one SolidNetWork License Manager
computer to another.
• Lets you install and activate the SolidNetWork licensing rights on one SolidNetWork
License Manager computer.
• Must be performed before you can use SolidNetWork licenses.
• Eliminates the need for dongles. If you activate a SolidNetWork license for this version
of SOLIDWORKS, SolidNetWork licenses for previous versions of SOLIDWORKS are
activated. You no longer need to retain the dongle.
To activate a SolidNetWork license:
1. Start the SolidNetWork License Manager. Click Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools version
> SolidNetWork License Manager Server version.
2. Optional: If you have not yet activated the SolidNetWork license, the software asks
you to activate it. Click Yes.
The SOLIDWORKS Product Activation wizard appears.

3. Optional: If a firewall is in place, select A firewall is in use on this server.

4. Enter the port numbers in the SolidNetWork License Server Information page and
click Next.

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5. In Serial #:, select specific serial numbers or click Select All to highlight and activate
all your serial numbers.
a) Select Automatically over the internet (recommended).
b) Under Contact Information, enter an email address.
The Activation/Reactivation Succeeded dialog box lists the products that are activated.

6. Click Finish.

Manual Activation with a SolidNetWork License Manager Server

When you install or upgrade the SolidNetWork License Manager Server, you need to
activate or reactivate the license. You can activate or reactivate the license over the
internet or choose to do it manually.
When you activate manually:
• For a new SolidNetWork License Manager Server, you need to activate twice to configure
the server correctly. You are initializing the license system on the server the first time
you activate. The second time you repeat the procedure, you are activating the license.
• For an upgraded SolidNetWork License Manager Server, you need to reactivate the
existing license. If the server does not have activated licenses, you run activation by
using Modify on the Server Administration tab instead.

Initializing a New SolidNetWork License Server

To initialize a new SolidNetWork License Server:

1. After installing and opening the SolidNetWork License Manager Server, click Yes when
prompted to activate.
2. In the SolidNetWork License Server Information dialog box, verify the Firewall and
Ports, and click Next.
3. In the Product Activation Wizard, select the Serial Numbers to activate, select
Manually via E-mail as the activation method, and enter the Email Contact
Information.
The manual method requires that you create a request file and email it to
[email protected]. When you receive the email containing the license
response file, extract the file, and click Open to load it to the server.
You can close and rerun the Product Activation Wizard to open and load the response
file.

4. When a message box notifies you that the initialization succeeded, click OK and in
the Product Activation Wizard, click Finish.

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Manually Activating a New SolidNetWork License Manager Server

After initializing the SolidNetWork License Manager Server, open the SolidNetWork License
Manager Server and create a second request to complete activation.
To manually activate a new SolidNetWork License Manager Server:
1. Do one of the following:
• If a prompt asks you to activate, click Yes.
• If the prompt does not appear, click Modify in the Server Administration tab.

By default, Advanced Options are set to Use Activation mode.

2. Verify the Firewall and Ports in the SolidNetWork License Server Information dialog
box, and click Next.
3. In the Product Activation Wizard, select the Serial Numbers to activate, enter Email
Contact Information, and select Manually via E-mail as the activation method.
4. Follow the steps to create a request file and send it to [email protected].
When you receive the license response file, click Open to load the file.
5. Click Finish when activation completes.

Manually Activate an Upgraded SolidNetWork License Manager Server

After upgrading the SolidNetWork License Manager Server with the SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager, open the SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
To manually activate an upgraded SolidNetWork License Manager Server:
1. In the Server Administration tab, under License Information, click Reactivate.

If you deactivated the licenses before uninstalling and upgrading the SolidNetWork
License Manager Server, click Modify instead in the Server Administration tab.
Reactivate is only available if there are activated licenses on the server.
Continue with step 3.

2. In the Reactivate dialog box, select the installed serial numbers to view their associated
licenses and click Reactivate.
3. Verify the Firewall and Ports in the SolidNetWork License Server Information dialog
box and click Next.
4. In the Product Activation Wizard, select the Serial Numbers to activate, enter Email
Contact Information, and select Manually via E-mail as the activation method.
For information, see Manual Activation.

5. Click Finish when activation completes.

Installing SolidNetWork License Clients

When you install the SOLIDWORKS CAD software on a computer, you specify a
SolidNetWork License serial number. SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager identifies that
computer as a SolidNetWork License Client and prompts you for the SolidNetWork License
Manager computer name and number. It displays an error if the SolidNetWork License
Manager Server is not installed, or if the name or port number is incorrect.

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To install SOLIDWORKS with a SolidNetWork license:

1. Start SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager as described in Download Installation
Media.
2. On the Welcome page, click Install on this computer if this is the first SOLIDWORKS
installation on this computer for this major release.

If you are upgrading from an existing release, and are changing from individual
licensing to SolidNetWork licensing, click Modify the individual installation (on
this computer). For details, see Switching from Individual Licensing to
SolidNetWork Licensing on page 86 .

3. In the Add Server dialog box, enter the SolidNetWork License Manager's address in
the form:
port@ComputerName
The port number must be the same one used for the license manager computer. The
default is 25734.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager attempts to validate that this SolidNetWork

License Manager is accessible. If you have not yet installed a license manager, this
validation will fail; however, you still can proceed with the license client installation.

4. Complete the SOLIDWORKS installation by following the SOLIDWORKS Installation

Manager instructions.

Using SolidNetWork Licenses with Firewalls

If your computer uses a firewall, you must configure ports to support SolidNetWork
Licensing.
In the firewall software, you must add two SolidNetWork License ports (for example,
SNL-in-port and SNL-out-port) to the firewall exceptions list. For details about
configuring these ports, consult with your system administrator.
If you are using Windows Firewall on a supported Windows operating system, you must
modify ports on the SolidNetWork License Manager computer and modify the SolidNetWork
license file to distribute licenses to the license client computers.

Modifying License Manager Computer Ports for Windows Firewall

1. Click Start and open Windows Security.
2. Select Firewall & network protection > Advanced Settings and click Yes to
confirm the changes.
3. In the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security dialog box, select
Inbound Rules > New Rule.
4. In New Inbound Rule Wizard, select the rule type Port and then click Next.
5. Type the port number in Specific local ports: (for example, 80, 25734, 443) and
then click Next.
6. Select Name. Type a Name (for example, SNL-in-port).
7. Click Finish.

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Modifying SolidNetWork License Manager Settings for Windows Firewall

1. Start SolidNetWork License Manager by clicking Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools version
> SolidNetWork License Manager version.
2. On the Server Administration tab, under License Server, click Stop. Click Yes to
confirm and OK to stop the license server.
3. Under License Information, click Modify.
4. Under Server Type, select the server arrangement for your network (Single or
Triad) and then click Next.
5. Under Server Information:
a. Select A firewall is in use on this server.
b. Port Number and Vendor Daemon Port Number should contain the port numbers
specified for the Windows Firewall (for details, see the procedure above).
c. Select Options File and click Browse to locate the file. Click Edit to change any
of its parameters.

The options file allows the license administrator to control the various operating
parameters of FlexNet Licensing.
Recommendation: Locate the options file in the SolidNetWork License Manager
installation directory (SolidNetWork_License_Manager_install_dir\Licenses
\sw_d.opt). This file must be in the same directory as the sw_d.lic file.
For more information about the options file, see the FlexNet Publisher License
Administration Guide in the SolidNetWork License Manager installation directory:
C:\Program Files (x86)\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SolidNetWork License
Manager\Docs\flexuser\fnp_LicAdmin.pdf

Reactivating a SolidNetWork License

Reactivation applies to SolidNetWork License products after an organization upgrades the

SolidNetwork License Manager Server to version 2022 or later. Even if the installed
products are from an earlier release, licenses starting from version 2022 on the server
require reactivation once a year.
Within 30 days of the reactivation date, SOLIDWORKS products on the network notify
users that licenses will expire. Administrators must be aware of the expiration to reactivate
licenses in time.
To reactivate a SolidNetWork license:
1. Start the SolidNetWork License Manager Server by clicking Start > SOLIDWORKS
Tools version > SolidNetWork License Manager Server version.

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2. In the Server Administration tab, under License Information, click Reactivate.

The Reactivate Licenses dialog box highlights in red all license expiration and
reactivation dates within 30 days. Asterisks mark licenses that require renewal.

3. In Serial, select All for all licenses or enter a license number to search for a specific
license.
4. Click Reactivate.

Triad License Manager Installation

Triad license managers use three computers for extra stability. If the computer managing
the license file is not available, one of the other two computers takes over.
Requirements for using triad license managers:
• Install triad license managers only on stable computers not scheduled for frequent
shutdowns.
• The three license manager computers should be on the same subnet. Never configure
triad license managers with slow communications or dial-up links.
• The system administrator should detect when a license manager computer goes down
and should restart it as soon as possible.

If only two license manager computers are running, the situation is worse than a
single license manager computer, because there are two points of failure.

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Installing the Initial Triad License Manager

This procedure shows how to install the SolidNetWork License Manager on the first
computer in the triad.
1. On the first triad license manager computer, install the SolidNetWork License Manager
using the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager:
a) Start SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager as described in Download Installation
Media.
b) For type of installation, select Install server components and click Install
SolidNetWork License Manager (distributed licensing) on this computer.
c) On the Summary page, review the SolidNetWork License Manager Installation
Location, Download Options, and click Install Now to complete the
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager process.

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2. Using the SolidNetWork License Manager, configure the initial triad license manager
computer:
a) Start the SolidNetWork License Manager. Click Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools
version > SolidNetWork License Manager Server version.
Since this is the first time you are running the SolidNetWork License Manager on
this computer, you are asked whether you would like to activate now.
b) Click No.
The Server Administration tab of the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager
appears.
c) In the Server Administration tab, under Advanced Options, click Options.
d) Under SolidNetWork Server License Mode, click Use a License File and click OK.
e) Under License Information, click Modify.
The SolidNetWork License File Wizard appears.
f) Under Server Type, select Triad and click Next.
g) On the Server Information pane, verify that the computer name, and port number
for the initial triad license manager computer are correct, and click Next.

Check that the Network Interface Card (NIC) address matches the information
in the license file received from SOLIDWORKS, and that the port number for
the triad license manager computer is correct. The NIC address is also referred
to as the MAC (Media Access Control Address) address. Then click Next.
To find the NIC address, open a Command Prompt window and type:
ipconfig /all
Also, if your computer uses a firewall, you might have to add specifications on
this screen. For more information, see Using SolidNetWork Licenses with
Firewalls.

h) On the Triad Partner Server Information screen, enter the computer name and
host ID values for the other two triad license manager computers, and click Next.

This ensures that if one triad license manager is unavailable, client computers
can get a license from the other two servers.

i) On the Licenses screen, click Read to browse to and open the SolidNetWork
license file.
The licenses appear in the SolidNetWork License File wizard. For this computer,
you use a license file that you received from a Value Added Reseller or Dassault
Systèmes' SOLIDWORKS Customer Support.
j) Click Finish.
k) Click OK to exit and Finish to close the SolidNetWork License Manager.

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Installing the Triad License Manager on Subsequent Computers

Follow these instructions for installing the SolidNetWork License Manager software on the
second and third computers in the triad. This procedure is almost the same as installing
the software on the initial computer, except for steps 2(f) and 2(i).
It is assumed that you already have installed at least one triad license manager on another
computer.
1. On the triad license manager computer, install the SolidNetWork License Manager
using the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager:
a) Start SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager as described in Download Installation
Media.
b) For the type of installation, select Install server components and click Install
SolidNetWork License Manager (distributed licensing) on this computer.
c) On the Summary page, verify the SolidNetWork License Manager Installation
Location, Download Options, and click Install Now to complete the
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager process.

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2. Using the SolidNetWork License Manager, configure the triad license manager
computer:
a) Start the SolidNetWork License Manager. Click Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools
version > SolidNetWork License Manager Server version.
Since this is the first time you are running the SolidNetWork License Manager on
this computer, you are asked whether you would like to activate now.
b) Click No.
The Server Administration tab of the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetwork License Manager
appears.
c) Under Advanced Options, click Options.
The Advanced Options dialog box appears.
d) Under SolidNetWork Server License Mode, click Use a License File and click OK.
The Advanced Options dialog box closes.
e) Under License Information, click Modify.
The SolidNetWork License File Wizard appears.
f) Under Server Type, select Triad and Synchronize server/license information
and then click Next.
g) On the Triad Server Information screen, enter the computer name and host ID
values. Then click Next.

This ensures that if one license manager is unavailable, client computers can
get a license from the other two servers.

h) On the Licenses screen, click Read to browse to and open the SolidNetWork
license file.
The licenses appear in the SolidNetWork License File wizard.

The licenses file is generated by the first triad license manager computer
that you configured. Typically, the licenses file is located in
\licenses\sw_d.lic. For example: C:\Program Files (x86)\SOLIDWORKS
Corp\SolidNetWork License Manager\licenses\sw_d.lic
For example: C:\Program Files (x86)\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SolidNetWork
License Manager\licenses\sw_d.lic

a) Click Finish.
A SolidNetWork License File Wizard warning appears.
b) Click OK to exit the SolidNetWork License File wizard and then Finish to exit the
SolidNetWork License Manager.

Repeat this process for the third triad license manager computer.

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Starting the SolidNetWork License Manager

You can start the SolidNetWork License Manager from the Windows Start menu.
In Windows, click Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools version > SolidNetWork License
Manager Server.
You can use the same path from the Windows Start menu to open the SolidNetWork
License Manager Client.

Upgrading the SolidNetWork License Manager

For major releases of SOLIDWORKS, upgrading the license manager consists of uninstalling
the old license manager, installing a new one, and reactivating the SolidNetWork license.
The license manager for a newer release can distribute licenses for client computers
remaining at the previous release as well.
1. Start SolidNetWork License Manager by clicking Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools version
> SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
2. On the License Usage tab, verify that no client computers on the network are running
SOLIDWORKS.
3. Uninstall the old license manager. For details, see Uninstalling the SolidNetWork
License Manager on page 106.
4. Install the new license manager and reactivate the SolidNetWork license on the license
manager computer. For details, see Installing the SolidNetWork License Manager
Server on page 89.
If you are upgrading the SolidNetWork License Manager on a computer that also runs the
SOLIDWORKS application, upgrade SolidNetWork license managers and clients before
installing any new SOLIDWORKS application service packs on that computer.
If you are upgrading the license manager on a computer that hosts administrative images,
upgrade the license manager before upgrading the administrative images. For details,
see Using the Same Computer for the License Manager and Administrative Image
Installations on page 106.

Moving a SolidNetWork License

To move a SolidNetWork license to a new or upgraded computer, first deactivate the
license to the license key server at Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Corporation, then
reactivate it on the other computer.

If you were unable to deactivate the license to Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS

Corporation (because of hard disk drive failure, for example), reactivation is still
successful in most cases. If not, contact your Value Added Reseller for help.

To move a SolidNetWork license:

1. Start the SolidNetWork License Manager Server by clicking Start > SOLIDWORKS
Tools version > SolidNetWork License Manager Server version.
2. In the Server Administration tab, under License Information, click Modify. The
SOLIDWORKS Product Activation wizard starts.
3. Under What would you like to do?, select Move your product license(s) to a
new/upgraded computer and then click Next.

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4. Under Serial #: list, select the serial numbers or click Select All to activate all your
SOLIDWORKS serial numbers.
a) Select the Automatically over the internet (recommended) option.
b) Under Contact Information (Required):, specify an email address.
5. The Deactivation Succeeded message box appears.
The deactivation of the product license completes.

6. Click Finish.

Deleting SolidNetWork License Files

You can delete expired SolidNetWork license files before upgrading to new licenses.
1. Start the SolidNetWork License Manager by clicking Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools
version > SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
2. On the Server Administration tab, under License Information, click Modify, and
then click Next.
3. On the Activate/Deactivate Your SOLIDWORKS Product page, select the expired
SolidNetWork license files, and click Remove.
4. Click Finish and OK to exit.

Borrowing and Returning SolidNetWork Licenses

You can borrow a SolidNetWork license to use the software from a remote location. Since
the license is removed from the pool of available licenses, a borrowed license must be
returned for it to become available again.

Borrowed licenses are valid only for the current user and machine on which they were
borrowed; they cannot be moved.

The license is lent for a specified period of time, up to 30 days (or as defined by the
system administrator), and the license is removed from the pool of available licenses.
Borrowing and returning a license does not work if the SOLIDWORKS license is in use.
System administrators can customize borrowing to:
• Define users or groups that are allowed to borrow licenses
• Set the number of licenses that cannot be borrowed
For details, see
SolidNetWork_License_Manager_install_dir\Docs\flexuser\licensingenduserguide.pdf.

Borrowing SolidNetWork Licenses

Always launch the SolidNetWork License Manager from the Start menu. You must be
connected to the SolidNetWork License Manager to borrow the license.

These steps might vary depending on your system configuration. Consult

Microsoft Windows documentation for additional instructions and options.

1. Start SolidNetWork License Manager on the client machine by clicking Start >
SOLIDWORKS Tools version > SolidNetWork License Manager Client.

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2. On the License Borrowing tab:

a) Select a date in Borrow until.
b) Select the products to borrow, then click Borrow, and click Yes to confirm.
c) Click Refresh. The Expire Date column indicates when licenses are due back.
3. Click OK.
Select Only use borrowed licenses (faster startup) if you are working remotely and
your SOLIDWORKS applications are slow to open.
This option blocks queries to your license servers, which can be slow in some environments.
The applications can start faster by omitting the queries, but will only use the licenses
you borrowed.
Restart your applications for this option to take effect.

Returning a Borrowed SolidNetWork License

Since a borrowed SolidNetWork license is removed from the pool of available licenses,
that borrowed license must be returned for it to become available again.
1. Start SolidNetWork License Manager on the client machine by clicking Start >
SOLIDWORKS Tools version > SolidNetWork License Manager Client.
2. On the License Borrowing tab:
a) Select the products to return, click Return, and then click Yes to confirm.
b) Click Refresh. The Expire Date column becomes blank, indicating that the
licenses have been returned.
3. Click OK.

It is not necessary to return licenses after the expiration date. The license is returned
to the pool on the SolidNetWork License Manager at midnight on the expiration date
and the applications on the remote system no longer run.

Managing Access to SOLIDWORKS Versions

You can restrict users from using specific versions of SOLIDWORKS in a SolidNetWork
environment. This capability allows you to manage the versions of SOLIDWORKS used
by different individuals, projects, and business units.
To manage access to SOLIDWORKS versions using a FlexNet options file:
1. In the SolidNetWork License Manager installation directory, create a text file:
SolidNetWork_License_Manager_install_dir\Licenses\sw_d.opt
2. To manage access to a specific SOLIDWORKS version in the license file, add the
following syntax next to SOLIDWORKS:

:SWVERSION=xx where xx is the version of the

SOLIDWORKS product you want to
manage

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3. To manage multiple versions of SOLIDWORKS, add a line for each version you want
to manage.
Not all FlexNet options are supported. The supported options for version filters are:

INCLUDE Only allow the user or group the ability to

start the specific version. All other users
are not allowed to start that version.

INCLUDE_BORROW Only allow the user or group the ability to

borrow the specific version. All other users
are not allowed to borrow that version.

EXCLUDE Prohibit the listed user or group from

starting the specific version of
SOLIDWORKS. EXCLUDE supersedes
INCLUDE.

EXCLUDE_BORROW Prohibit the listed user or group from

borrowing the specific version of
SOLIDWORKS. EXCLUDE supersedes
INCLUDE.

Examples:

1 SWVERSION=31.0 refers to SOLIDWORKS 2023

SWVERSION=30.0 refers to SOLIDWORKS 2022

2 INCLUDE solidworks:SWVERSION=31.0 USER jane

INCLUDE_BORROW solidworks:SWVERSION=31.0 USER jane

These lines in the options file would allow only jane to run on SOLIDWORKS
2023. All other users cannot run or borrow SOLIDWORKS 2023, but they
can run and borrow other versions of SOLIDWORKS. jane can also run and
borrow other versions of SOLIWORKS.

3 GROUP chicago USER john robert eva

EXCLUDE solidworks:SWVERSION=31.0 GROUP chicago

EXCLUDE solidworks:SWVERSION=30.0 GROUP chicago

EXCLUDE solidworks USER don

These lines define a GROUP of users called chicago and denies them access
to both SOLIDWORKS 2023 and SOLIDWORKS 2022, but they can run any
other version of SOLIDWORKS. User don cannot run any version of
SOLIDWORKS.

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4 EXCLUDE swinspection_std:SWVERSION=31.0 HOST machine1

This line prohibits anyone on machine1 from launching SOLIDWORKS

Inspection 2023.

For more information about FlexNet, see the FlexNet Publisher License Administration
Guide in the SolidNetWork License Manager installation directory: C:\Program Files
(x86)\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SolidNetWork License
Manager\Docs\flexuser\fnp_LicAdmin.pdf

Monitoring License Idle Time

SOLIDWORKS can register idle time with the SolidNetWork License Manager so that
licenses that have not been used for a certain amount of time are returned to the free
license pool.
1. In the SolidNetwork License Manager installation directory, create a text file:
SolidNetWork_License_Manager_install_dir\Licenses\sw_d.opt
2. Add the following line to the file:
TIMEOUTALL seconds
where seconds is a number greater than or equal to 900 (15 minutes), which is the
minimum time allowed.

Using a Temporary License

You can use a temporary "any" license when the SolidNetWork license is unavailable.
By default, the SolidNetWork License Manager can only activate one server at a time. To
work in a test environment, you can acquire a temporary license file through Technical
Support and load an "any" license into the SolidNetWork License Manager on another
server. If working with an offline server, you can use the same instructions to load an
activation-exempt license.

By using an "any" license file, you agree to implement a license on receipt of a

SolidNetWork license from Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Corporation. Compliance
with license restrictions still is required.

To use an "any" license:

1. Start the SolidNetWork License Manager by clicking Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools
version > SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
2. If the software prompts you to activate, click No.
3. In the Server Administration tab, click Advanced Options > Options.
4. Under SolidNetWork Server License Mode, click Use a License File and OK.
5. In the Server Administration tab, under License Information, click Modify.
The SolidNetWork License File Wizard appears.

6. Under Server Type, select Single and click Next.

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7. Select Dongle ID and enter Any or the NIC address for server information. Then
click Next.
Click Cancel when you see this message: Could not read the dongle ID number.

If your computer uses a firewall, you might have to make additional specifications
on this screen. For more information, see Using SolidNetWork Licenses with
Firewalls on page 92.

8. Under Licenses, click Read to read the license file.

9. In the Read dialog box, browse to the SNL_ANY.txt or SNL_(NIC Card Number).txt
file provided by Technical Support and click Open. Then click OK.
The SolidNetWork File License Wizard lists the licenses from the text file.

Click Remove to delete temporary license entries that have expired in the list.

10. Click Finish to close the SolidNetWork License File Wizard.

11. Activate an "any" license:
a) In the Server Administration tab, click Advanced Options > Options.
b) Under SolidNetWork Server License Mode, select Use a License File and click
OK.
c) In the Server Administration tab, click Modify > Activate/Deactivate your
product licenses.
d) Select the Serial Number, enter Contact Information, and select the activation
method. Follow the instructions if you choose manual activation.
e) Click Finish to confirm activation.

Using SolidNetWork Licenses with Add-in Products

You can use the SolidNetWork License Manager to distribute licenses for SOLIDWORKS
core add-in products.
• An equal number of SOLIDWORKS software licenses and SOLIDWORKS add-in licenses
are not required.
• To check out a license for an add-in product, you first must check out a license for
SOLIDWORKS.
• To borrow an add-in product license, you must borrow both the SOLIDWORKS software
license and the SOLIDWORKS product license that includes the add-in. A SOLIDWORKS
Standard license will be borrowed by default, but to enable an add-in, you will have
to borrow a SOLIDWORKS Professional or SOLIDWORKS Premium product license.
• To release an add-in product license:
• In SOLIDWORKS, click Tools > Add-ins and clear the add-in.
• Exit SOLIDWORKS.

Selecting a SOLIDWORKS Simulation License with a SolidNetWork License

SolidNetWork license users can control which of the SOLIDWORKS® Simulation licenses
in their license pool to use when they add in SOLIDWORKS Simulation. They can also

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upgrade the SOLIDWORKS Simulation license without unloading the add-in in case they
need a higher license type for more advanced studies.
1. To use a specific SOLIDWORKS Simulation license:
a) In the SOLIDWORKS, click Tools > Add-Ins and in the Add-in dialog box, select
SOLIDWORKS Simulation.
b) On SOLIDWORKS Simulation (CommandManager), click the Down arrow
to display a list of licenses on your server that can support Simulation.

c) Select the appropriate SOLIDWORKS Simulation license.

2. To check or change your current SOLIDWORKS Simulation license, click the Down
arrow on SOLIDWORKS Simulation (CommandManager).

The license that is in-use displays a check mark. If more advanced license types are
available, you can upgrade.

You cannot downgrade a SOLIDWORKS Simulation license. Disable the SOLIDWORKS

Simulation add-in and add the license back in at a lower level.

3. Optional: To disable the add-in, click SOLIDWORKS Simulation (CommandManager)

or clear it from Tools > Add-Ins.
The following cases still use license order:
• When SOLIDWORKS Simulation starts running.
• If SOLIDWORKS Simulation is added in Tools > Add-Ins.
• If the you click SOLIDWORKS Simulation without specifying a license from the pull-down
list.

Loading Flow Simulation Modules

As a SolidNetWork license customer, you can control how to load the HVAC and Electronics
Cooling add-in modules for Flow Simulation using two methods.
The first method lets you specify the default behavior for the add-ins when you load Flow
Simulation. The option Automatically load Flow Simulation add-in modules if
available is in the SolidNetWork License Manager Client > License Order tab. Clear
this option if you do not have a need for the Flow Simulation add-ins. The HVAC and
Electronics Cooling add-in modules do not load when Flow Simulation is added in with
existing methods.
The second method lets you override default behavior and include the HVAC and Electronics
Cooling add-in modules when you load Flow Simulation. Click the Down arrow on

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SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation (SOLIDWORKS® Add-ins toolbar) or SOLIDWORKS

Flow Simulation with one or both of the add-modules to load.
Without these methods, the licenses for the add-in modules are consumed whether or
not you need them and may be denied to other users on your network.

Using the Same Computer for the License Manager and Administrative Image Installations
You can configure one computer on a network to act both as a license manager distributing
SolidNetWork licensing and as an administrative image location from which users can
install SOLIDWORKS software.
Client computers can obtain licenses from the license manager and then install
SOLIDWORKS from the same computer.

This configuration requires that the license manager and administrative image be
installed on the same computer. Install the license manager first and then create and
deploy the administrative image.
For details, see:
• Installing the SolidNetWork License Manager Server on page 89
• Deploying to Multiple Clients on page 17

Uninstalling the SolidNetWork License Manager

When upgrading the SolidNetWork License Manager, you must uninstall the old license
manager before installing the new one.
1. Start SolidNetwork License Manager by clicking Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools version
> SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
2. Verify that no client computers on the network are running SOLIDWORKS.
The License Usage tab shows clients running SOLIDWORKS.
3. If you want to move the SolidNetWork license to another computer, deactivate the
license to that computer before removing the SolidNetWork License Manager.

For information about moving SolidNetWork licenses, see Moving a SolidNetWork

License on page 99.

4. On the Server Administration tab, under License Server, click Stop.

5. Click OK to exit the license manager.
6. In Windows, open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
7. Select SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager, click Uninstall, and confirm
the uninstall.
8. In File Explorer, delete the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager folder.
(Typically, this folder is located under Program Files in the SOLIDWORKS installation
directory.)

You now are ready to install a new version of the license manager. For details, see
Installing the SolidNetWork License Manager Server on page 89.

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If the SolidNetWork License Manager computer has a hardware dongle attached, remove
the hardware dongle before installing the new version of SolidNetWork License Manager.

FlexNet Publisher License Management

SolidNetWork Licensing is based on FlexNet Publisher® license management.
For information about FlexNet Publisher license management, see the FlexNet Publisher
License Administration Guide in the SolidNetWork License Manager installation directory:
C:\Program Files (x86)\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SolidNetWork License
Manager\Docs\flexuser\fnp_LicAdmin.pdf
For the latest information about FlexNet Publisher license management, contact Flexera®
Software.

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9
Troubleshooting

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Network License Usage

• SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Log Files
• SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Download Folder
• Troubleshooting SolidNetWork Licenses
• Troubleshooting Upgrades
• Validating Your Graphics Card When Installing or Upgrading

Consult these topics to assist you in troubleshooting installation problems.

Network License Usage

This dialog box opens when the server is out of licenses for a product.
Click the arrow in the Product box to display all the product choices. The choices include
SOLIDWORKS and all purchasable add-ins.
Total number of licences is the total number of licenses you have purchased.
Free licenses is the number of licenses that are not currently in use.
The Licenses used by box gives you information about each person currently using a
license.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Log Files

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager log files are available to assist you in troubleshooting
installation problems.
These log files are located with the other SOLIDWORKS application log files.
• C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\SOLIDWORKS\Installation
Logs\installed_version

If you run the Installation Manager from a system account, the logs are located in this
folder:
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Roaming\SOLIDWORKS\

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To see the log file directories, you might have to configure the Windows Folder options
to Show hidden files and folders.
If the application data is located on a drive other than C:, adjust the directory path
accordingly.

This directory contains the SummaryIMLog_nnnnn_nnnnn_nnnn_nnnnn.txt file, a general

log of SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager progress.
The Other Logs subdirectory contains more detailed installation log information.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Download Folder

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager can download the installation files it needs to a folder
that you specify. This topic provides answers to frequently asked questions about the
download folder.

Question Answer

How do I install the files in Run setup.exe. You may still be required to download
this folder? some files if you select to install items that were not
downloaded previously.
Do not install using msiexec (see below.)

Can I install MSI files No. The Installation Manager does not download some files
manually from this folder that would be required when running msiexec.
using msiexec or some other
application?

Can I select the same Download folders are version-specific. SOLIDWORKS

download folder for each Installation Manager automatically creates a
version I install? version-specific subfolder within the specified folder.

I downloaded some products Files downloaded manually can be used by SOLIDWORKS

manually from the Dassault Installation Manager. However, it is better to run
Systèmes SOLIDWORKS SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager, selecting the option
Corporation Web site. Can to download files. SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager shows
the Installation Manager which files you need based on what you are installing,
install these? providing links to download each file. You can use this
option when the download page does not work (most likely
because of downloading restrictions enforced by a proxy
server).

If a dialog box asks whether you want to save or run

files during a download or installation, always specify
Save.

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Troubleshooting

Question Answer

Can the files I download be Yes. To do so, download to a network share. Each client
shared by other users? can then run SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager from the
share to install.
No further downloads are required unless a user selects
some items to install that were not selected during the
initial download or if a computer that uses this download
to install has a different set of prerequisites than the
computer to which you downloaded the files.
If you are downloading on behalf of others but are not
installing, select the Download Only option when
installing. This option lets you select products regardless
of what may be installed on your system. However, you
cannot use this option to download patches or to create
administrative images.

How do I know when a new You are informed when a new version is available in the
version of SOLIDWORKS following cases:
products becomes available?
• If you run Check for Updates ( Start > SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager > Check For Updates)
• If you have enabled SOLIDWORKS Background
Downloader
• If you select an installed version of SOLIDWORKS in
Windows Add/Remove Programs and click Change
• If you run an older version of the Installation Manager
(sldIM.exe) from a download folder
In these cases, you may select to download the newer
version. SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager will download
and run the newer version of itself, and not any installation
files. After the newer version of SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager runs, you may select a set of installation actions.
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager determines which
installation files are needed (and not downloaded
previously) and offers to download those files.

Why does SOLIDWORKS Each version of SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager is

Installation Manager not let designed to install only a specific version of SOLIDWORKS
me select a different service products. If you want to install a different service pack,
pack of a product to install? you need to run that version of SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager. To find the latest version available, see the
preceding item.

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Question Answer

Why is SOLIDWORKS If proxy server restrictions prevent applications from

Installation Manager downloading files, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
prevented from downloading cannot download files automatically.
files?
You can download files manually and then install them
using SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager. Select the option
in SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to download
individual files (for example, Conduct manual download
on the Download Options page). Based on your product
selections and system requirements, a web page appears
in a separate window containing links to download all
required files manually. These links are identical to those
provided by the SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal, but you
do not need to search for the files.

Not all of my SOLIDWORKS Check For Updates only tells you whether you have
products are updated to the installed (or are running) the latest version of
latest service pack. Why SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
does Check For Updates tell
If you want to update all products to the latest version that
me I have the latest version?
is installed, in Add/Remove Programs, select the latest
installed version of SOLIDWORKS and click Change.

Can I copy a DVD to a Yes, but installations may fail unless you copy the entire
download folder? contents of each DVD released for that platform.
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager looks for the files
swdata*.id to determine the version. If these files are
not present, it fails to recognize any of the installation files
that you copied and requires that they be downloaded.

Troubleshooting SolidNetWork Licenses

If the SolidNetWork License Manager installation fails, check for these possible
explanations.

Accessing the SolidNetWork License log files

When a license error occurs, the answer often appears in the
SNL_Manager_install_dir\lmgrd.log file.

Could not obtain a license for SOLIDWORKS. Cannot connect to license server.
Typically, this problem is caused by port settings.
• Port settings between the SolidNetWork license manager and the license client might
not match.
• Additional port settings for multiple versions of SolidNetWork license managers might
not have been specified.

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• Check that the client machine can accurately resolve and route to the server, given
the server name.
For details about port settings for SolidNetWork license managers and clients, see Using
SolidNetWork Licenses with Firewalls.

Troubleshooting Upgrades
If you encounter problems while upgrading to a new SOLIDWORKS release, check for
these possible explanations.

Upgrading from a Source That Has Moved

When SOLIDWORKS is installed, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager remembers the
location of the installation sources (disk media, disk image on a network, etc.). It expects
the sources to be available at the same location when updating.
If the source moves or is deleted, or if the source media changes, SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager produces an error message. However, you can continue the upgrade
by browsing to another location as long as it contains all the same file and folder structure.

Validating Your Graphics Card When Installing or Upgrading

When you finish installing or upgrading SOLIDWORKS on your machine, you should run
SOLIDWORKS Rx to ensure that your machine is running a supported graphics card and
graphics card driver.
To validate a graphics card and driver:
1. When the Installation Manager completes installing and displays the Finish page,
under Check Your System, click Run System Diagnostics.
SOLIDWORKS Rx starts and runs diagnostics.

2. SOLIDWORKS Rx confirms if the graphics card and graphics card driver are supported.
If the graphics card is supported but the driver is not, a status message may provide
a link to a supported driver.
Every tenth time you start SOLIDWORKS, a Check Your System message appears and
recommends that you run system diagnostics again. To suppress these notifications,
right-click SOLIDWORKS Resource Monitor in the Windows notification area and
click Dismiss Graphics Notifications.
You can validate a graphics card and driver at any time by right-clicking SOLIDWORKS
Resource Monitor in the Windows notification area. The shortcut menu also lets you:
• Display Help for the SOLIDWORKS Resource Monitor
• Run System Diagnostics
• Dismiss Subscription Notifications
• Update Graphics Drivers

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SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Application Help

This chapter includes the following topics:

• SOLIDWORKS Background Downloader

• Specifying Options for the Installation Manager
• Check for Updates Results
• Administrative Image Location
• Download Options
• Download Options for SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Files
• Download Product Installation Files
• Download Progress
• Download Results
• Installation Errors/Installation Cancelled
• Installation Is Complete
• Installation Location
• Upgrade Options
• Installation Progress
• Installation Type
• Installing and Managing Multiple Computers
• Manual Download
• Newer Version Available
• No New Versions Available
• Processes Detected
• Product Selection
• Products to Download
• Products to Repair
• Serial Numbers
• Server Installation
• SolidNetWork License Manager Server
• Summary
• System Check Warnings
• Hole Wizard/Toolbox Options
• Uninstall Products

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager is a stand-alone application that installs and updates your
SOLIDWORKS products.
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager is the primary tool for downloading, installing, modifying,
updating, repairing, and removing the SOLIDWORKS software.

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You can run SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager:

• From a SOLIDWORKS DVD or a shared source or download folder (when installing a new
version)
• From the Control Panel Add or Remove Programs page (when modifying or removing an
existing version)
• Through a scheduled or manual update check (when detecting, downloading, and installing
new release versions)
Each version of SOLIDWORKS has a version of SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager specific to
that SOLIDWORKS version.

SOLIDWORKS Background Downloader

SOLIDWORKS Background Downloader performs automated file downloads (for example,
when a new Service Pack release is found) using background processes, enabling you to
continue other work while downloading. When the download completes, you can decide
whether you want to install now, postpone the download, or remove the download.
Background Downloader is enabled by default when you install SOLIDWORKS.

When Installation Manager is running, whether for an installation or download operation,

Background Downloader is paused. For example, it will pause any running downloads,
not allow any new downloads to start, and will not allow you to change the download
folder specification.

You can disable the Background Downloader during installation. On the Summary page,
under Download Options, clear Use the Background Downloader for future service
packs option.
When enabled, this icon appears in the Windows system tray in the toolbar:

Clicking this icon enables these operations:

• Help with Background Downloader
• Pause Download
• Resume Download
• Cancel Download
• Installation Options
• Change Download Settings
• Check for Updates
• Automatically Check for Updates
• Automatically Download Updates
• Disable Background Downloader

Help with Background Downloader

Open this help topic for Background Downloader in the SOLIDWORKS Installation Guide.

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Pause/Resume Download
If a download is running in the background, click Pause Download to pause that
download, with the ability to resume later by clicking Resume Download.

Cancel Download
If a download is running, stop that download and delete any files Background Downloader
has already downloaded.

You cannot resume a canceled download.

Installation Options
When a download completes, you can choose from the following options:
• Install now: Install the downloaded files.
• Remind me later: Do not install the downloaded files, but set up a message to remind
you later.
• Delete this download: Do not install the downloaded files, and delete them. (This
is useful if you have decided you no longer want to install the downloaded files.)

Change Download Settings

Change the folder location where the Background Downloader downloads files.

This option is not available if a download is either running or paused.

Check for Updates

Run the Check for Updates feature of SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

Automatically Check for Updates

Periodically run Check for Updates, notifying you when updates are available for
download.

Automatically Download Updates

Periodically run Check for Updates, downloading updates as they become available.

Disabling and Re-Enabling SOLIDWORKS Background Downloader

You can disable Background Downloader by clicking the icon and then selecting Disable
Background Downloading.
To re-enable Background Downloader, click Start > SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
> SOLIDWORKS Background Downloader.

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Specifying Options for the Installation Manager

These options include settings for logging, internet access, and language used in the
Installation Manager.
To specify Installation Manager options before installing the software:
1. In the Installation Manager, right-click the SOLIDWORKS icon on the title bar and
select:

Option Description

Installation Logging Specifies the logging level as High, Medium, or Low.

Levels Higher levels collect more data for troubleshooting, but
can slow down the installation. Low (Fastest) is the
default, and provides the best performance and stability.
Create Windows Installer Logs stores logs in the same
folder as other installation logs.

Administrative Image Select Use short file names (8.3 format) or Use full
Options folder and file names.

Gather Installation Logs Specifies where the installation logs are stored. The
Installation Manager stores these files in IM_Logs.zip.

Disable Internet Access

Language Specifies the language used in the Installation Manager.

The default is English.

2. Click Close.

Check for Updates Results

Check for Updates looks for later versions of SOLIDWORKS.
If you have administrator privileges on the machine, you can run Check for Updates
manually:
• In Windows, click Start > SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager > Check for
Updates
• In SOLIDWORKS, click > Check for Updates

Check for Updates is not available on clients installed from administrative images.

Newer Version Available

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager has detected a newer version of SOLIDWORKS
products. You can update to a newer version by selecting the SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager for that version.

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This newer version can download installation files based on the products you specify in
the installation. You can share the downloaded files with other users who install using
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

These downloads are only for use by SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

These options are available:

• If there are multiple versions available, you can select a version from the list.
• For details about this version, click Check to see what this upgrade includes.

Clicking Next obtains and runs the selected version of SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager.

No New Downloads Available/Unable To Check for New Versions

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager has not found a newer version of SOLIDWORKS
products, either because you are installing the latest version available or because it could
not connect to the SOLIDWORKS site to check.

Administrative Image Location

Specify the installation location of the administrative image.
When creating an administrative image, these options apply:
New image location This is the directory location in which SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager will create the new image.

This location cannot contain an existing administrative image.

The administrative image must be in a folder that can be
shared for client deployment.

Estimated space This is the additional space required for the administrative
required for image image.
creation Verify that the disk to which you are installing has sufficient
free space to support the image requirements.
Create image from This is the directory location from which you are installing
SOLIDWORKS products.

This option appears only if the Install Only option is

specified. For details, see Download Options on page 117.

Download Options
Specify details for completing the download operation, such as the location of the
downloaded files, how to download the files, and whether to install the downloaded files.
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager supports electronic software distribution (ESD). If
you are not installing from a SOLIDWORKS DVD, you are prompted to specify the source
for the SOLIDWORKS products you are installing.

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For answers to questions about the download folder, see SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager Download Folder on page 109.

What Do You Want To Do?

Choose one of the following:
Download and After the download completes, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
install/Download runs an installation using the downloaded files.
and create image
Download only. SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager does not run an installation
You can download after the download completes.
once and then
Typically, you would specify this option if you are downloading the
share
files to configure an installation file set to share among multiple
downloaded files
computers.
with multiple
computers. If you specify this option, you are then asked to choose between
two sets of files to download:
• Files for THIS computer: The download will contain only those
files that are missing from the installation file set currently on
this computer.
This should be a smaller download because it contains:
• Only files for products selected on the Product Selection page
• Only the prerequisite files that are required for your computer
but not yet installed
However, if you try to use this downloaded file set on another
computer to perform an installation, some files could be missing
(because the installation file set on the other computer might
be different from this one). You can use these download files to
install on another computer, but when the installation runs you
may have to download additional files to complete the installation
file set on that computer.
• Files to share with ANY computer: The download will contain
the complete installation file set that can be used to install this
version on any computer.
This will be the larger download because it contains the complete
file set that you can use to install this version of any product on
any computer.
If you specified a limited set of products to download, this option
ignores that specification and downloads all products contained
in the product release.
The download will contain all files required to create an
administrative image, not just those files required to perform an
individual installation.

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Install SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager does not download any files,

only/Create but uses the files in the selected directory.
image only. I
Click Browse to navigate to a different location. For example, you
already have all
can browse to an installation DVD or a download folder, provided
the installation
that location contains all the required files.
files needed.
If you receive an error message that the folder is incomplete, and
you were expecting all installation files to be present at that location,
possible explanations include:
• You selected a component for installation that had not been
downloaded previously or it was selected by default.
• The files were downloaded on another computer with a different
set of system requirements.
• You previously performed a client installation and now are
creating an administrative image, which requires a larger file
set.
You can either browse to a folder containing all the files (for
example, a DVD) or select one of the download options.

Where Do You Want To Download the Required Files?

This is the download folder location.
In some cases, this option might be visible but disabled. For example, if Install only is
specified, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager will install any downloaded files from the
directory specified for that option, rather than using a separate download folder.

Whether you are downloading these files or accessing them from your own location,
all files must be downloaded to the same download folder.

Estimated Download Size

The estimated download disk space requirements are based on the complete component
listing chosen, regardless of whether this is a new download or you are resuming a
download from a previous session.
For example, if you are resuming a previous download SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
processes only those files that have not already been downloaded. The download time
could be less than the estimate.
If a file completed downloading in the previous download, its size is not included in this
estimate. Therefore, the estimate might be higher than the actual download size.

How Do You Want To Download?

There are two options:
Conduct manual In some cases, a proxy server might prohibit automatic downloads
download from SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
By selecting this option, you can download the files manually
through a Web page and then proceed within SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager to complete the installation operations. This

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Web page is customized by SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to

download only the files required to complete the installation.
Speed up The downloader uses an algorithm to increase the speed of the
downloads by download by increasing the network bandwidth used during the
using more download.
network
In some cases, this can disturb network performance. If you have
bandwidth
trouble downloading, this option might not be supported by the
proxy server. Try clearing the option and attempting the download
again. For details, check with your network administrator.

This option applies only to automatic downloads. It has no impact

on manual downloads.

Using SOLIDWORKS Background Downloader

You can use SOLIDWORKS Background Downloader to complete this download operation
or to download future SOLIDWORKS Service Pack releases as they become available.
Solidworks Background Downloader can automatically detect and download new Service
Pack updates in the background, notifying you when downloading is complete and the
files are ready for installation. For details, see SOLIDWORKS Background Downloader
on page 114.

Download Options for SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Files

You have chosen to download a later version of SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager. Use
this screen to specify where and how it is downloaded.

For answers to questions about the download folder, see SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager Download Folder on page 109.

This screen appears only if there is a problem with the default download folder (for
example, if write access or network access is not available). Typically, you can just specify
an alternate download directory to proceed.

Download Directory
Browse to the destination for SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager files.
The size of the download and the amount of space needed is shown. The amount of space
needed includes extra space required to unzip certain downloads and is larger than the
actual download size.

Use Download Acceleration

If you choose this option, the downloader uses an algorithm to increase the speed of the
download.

Download acceleration increases bandwidth and can disturb network performance.

Check with your network administrator before enabling download acceleration.

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If download acceleration is not supported by the proxy server, this option is automatically
disabled.

Download Product Installation Files

Specify where and how to download missing files for the specified product.
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager downloads, verifies, and extracts all files in parallel
during the download process.

Cancelling out of this screen cancels the rest of the installation sequence.
For the consequences of cancellation and instructions on completing interrupted
installations, see Installation Errors/Installation Cancelled on page 122.

Download Directory
Browse to the destination for the downloaded files.
The download size and the required space is shown. The required space includes any
extra space needed to unzip certain downloads and is larger than the actual download
size.
For answers to questions about the download folder, see SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager Download Folder on page 109.

Download Options
Speed up downloads The downloader uses an algorithm to increase the speed of the
by using more download by increasing the network bandwidth used during
network bandwidth the download.
In some cases, this can disturb network performance. If you
have trouble downloading, this option might not be supported
by the proxy server. Try clearing the option and attempting
the download again. For details, check with your network
administrator.

Download acceleration increases bandwidth and can disturb network performance.

Check with your network administrator before enabling download acceleration.

If download acceleration is not supported by the proxy server, this option might be
automatically disabled.

Download Progress
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager downloads, verifies, and extracts all files in parallel
during this process.
To cancel the download after it has begun, click Cancel.

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If you cancel the download or the download fails, a Download Canceled or Download
Problem screen indicates which downloads were not completed and lets you resume the
download or close the application.

For answers to questions about the download folder, see SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager Download Folder on page 109.

Download Results
Indicates whether the download completed successfully, failed during operation, or was
cancelled.

Download Problem/Download Cancelled

If you see Download Problem, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager encountered problems
that prevented the download from completing.
If you see Download Cancelled, you cancelled the download before it could complete.
To proceed:
Retry/Resume To resume the automatic download from when you cancelled,
automatic downloads select this option and click Retry Download or Resume
Download.
Download files In some cases, a proxy server might prohibit automatic
individually in a Web downloads from SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
browser By selecting this option, you can download the files manually
through a Web page and then proceed within SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager to complete the installation operations.
This Web page is customized by SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager to download only the files required to complete the
installation.

Download Complete
The Download Complete screen appears when the download completes if you specified
the Download Only option.
Click Finish to exit SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

Do not attempt to install any of these products manually. Always use

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to install downloaded files.

Installation Errors/Installation Cancelled

The installation has encountered an error or was cancelled.
If an error or cancellation occurs:
• Products that installed before the error or cancellation remain on the computer.

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• The product that was being installed at the time of the cancellation is rolled back, if
possible, so that there are no partial installations.
• Remaining products are not installed or uninstalled. A list is provided under Not Yet
Attempted.
To resume installing or uninstalling these products, click the link provided.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager first installs any prerequisites that are not installed
on the computer, such as .NET framework.

Recovering from a Failed or Canceled Installation

If an error or cancellation occurs during installation, you can recover from that point by
rerunning the installation.
1. Record the error message and product code for the installation that failed, as shown
on the Installation Errors or Installation Canceled screen.

If the software prompts for a source file and you are not modifying an existing
SOLIDWORKS installation, the installation or computer may be corrupt. Contact
your SOLIDWORKS reseller.

2. Reboot the computer.

3. To ensure that no SOLIDWORKS products are running, in Windows, press
Ctr+Alt+Del to open the Task Manager.
4. On the Processes tab, if any of the following processes appear under Image Name,
select them and click End Process.
• SLDWORKS.exe
• EModelViewer.exe
• PDMworks.exe
• pdmwVault.exe
• SWViewer.exe
• swlmwiz.exe
• photoview360.exe
• SWBoengine.exe
• SWVBAServer.exe
• Sldshellextserver.exe

5. If the application is already installed and you were trying to modify or remove it, try
to repair the installation. For details, see Repairing an Installation.
6. In Windows, click Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features.
7. Select the version of SOLIDWORKS that failed.

If there is no entry for the SOLIDWORKS version you are trying to install, repeat
the installation process.

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8. Do one of the following:

• To retry, click Change and select all products that failed to install or were skipped
during the installation.
• To skip the failed installation, click Change and select all products that were
skipped during the installation. Clear the product that failed to install.
• To abandon the installation, click Remove and select any products that were
installed.

This does not restore the previous version of any products you are upgrading.

Repairing an Installation
If you encounter problems with an installed SOLIDWORKS product, you can use the
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to repair the installation.
To repair an installation, your machine must have all the source files from the previous
installation and any applied service packs, in the location where they were originally
installed.

You can repair an individual installation. You cannot repair an administrative image;
you must uninstall and then reinstall the administrative image.

1. Open the Windows Control Panel and click Programs and Features.
2. Select the SOLIDWORKS version that you want to repair and click Change.
3. On the Welcome to SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager screen, click Repair your
installation.
4. On the Products to Repair screen, select the product to repair.
5. Clear the rest of the products on the screen.
6. Click Repair.

Contacting the SOLIDWORKS Reseller

If modifying or repairing the installation fails, contact your local SOLIDWORKS reseller
with the information gathered from this screen. You might need to provide a zip file of
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager log files.
1. Locate the log files. For Windows:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\SOLIDWORKS\Installation
Logs\installed_version\.

If you cannot find the folder, it might be hidden. In File Explorer, click Tools >
Folder Options. On the View tab, under Advanced Settings, select Show hidden
files and folders for Hidden files and folders.

2. Zip the entire contents of this folder, including subfolders.

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Installation Is Complete
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager has completed its processing.
One or more of these options may be displayed.

What's New
For individual installations, when you finish the installation process, a document describing
new functionality in SOLIDWORKS and its add-in products appears.
For administrative image installations, the document appears on client computers when
they complete their installations.

Join the SOLIDWORKS Customer Experience Improvement Program

Performance information is sent to SOLIDWORKS Corporation to help improve the product.
The process is transparent and confidential. Select one of the following:
• Yes, I want to join
• No, thank you
• Remind me later
For further information, see the Customer Experience Improvement Program Web
site.

Administrative Image Creation Is Complete

When you finish creating the administrative image, you can click Customize Image to
run the Administrative Image Option Editor to customize the image.
Click Show me how to install this image on a client. to show instructions on using
the Option Editor.
For details about configuring an administrative image using the Option Editor, see
Administrative Image Option Editor on page 20.
Click Customize Image to start the Administrative Image Option Editor to customize
the option settings for this administrative image.

You can start the Option Editor later by double-clicking sldAdminOptionEditor.exe

in the SOLIDWORKS Admin folder.

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Checking for Updates to SOLIDWORKS

If you have administrator privileges on the machine, you can use SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager to check for updates manually or to configure automatic periodic checking for
updates.
1. Start SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager by doing one of the following:
• In the SOLIDWORKS application, click Help > Check for Updates.
• In Windows, click Start > Programs > SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
> Check for Updates.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager tells you whether any updates are available.

2. If updates are available, choose whether to download and install them.

3. To enable automatic periodic checks for updates, when SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager completes its processing select Check for Updates every __ days and
specify the frequency of checks.

SOLIDWORKS Customer Experience Improvement Program

When installing SOLIDWORKS, you can specify that performance information is sent to
SOLIDWORKS Corporation to help improve the product.
SOLIDWORKS uses this information to determine trends concerning product usage and
quality. Our goal is to deliver the highest quality product and the performance logs are
a useful tool in this process.
The process is transparent. All information contained within the log files is treated
confidentially. It is not used for any other purpose and no one will contact you.
For further information, see the Customer Experience Improvement Program website.

Installation Location
For installations except administrative image creation, these options apply:
Install selected This is the directory location to which you are installing
products to SOLIDWORKS.

When upgrading or modifying an installation, all files must be

installed to the existing location for that installation. In this
case, you cannot change the location of the existing
SOLIDWORKS installation.

Estimated space This is the additional space required for the products selected
required for for installation or modification.
installation Verify that the disk to which you are installing has sufficient free
space to support the installation requirements.

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Install from This is the directory location from which you are installing
SOLIDWORKS.

This option appears only if the Install Only option is specified.

For details, see Download Options.

Consult your system administrator before changing either SOLIDWORKS

installation location.

Administrative Image Locations

When creating an administrative image, these options apply:
New image location This is the directory location in which SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager will create the new image.

This location cannot contain an existing administrative image.

Estimated space This is the additional space required for the administrative
required for image image.
creation Verify that the disk to which you are installing has sufficient
free space to support the image requirements.
Create image from This is the directory location from which you are installing
SOLIDWORKS products.

This option appears only if the Install Only option is

specified. For details, see Download Options.

Existing image When upgrading an existing administrative image, SOLIDWORKS

location Installation Manager creates a new image based on the settings
for that existing image. This existing image is not modified.
This shows the location of the original image you specified on
the Welcome screen.

Avoid Using Version-Specific Directory Paths

If you specify a version number in an installation directory location (for example,
C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS 2022\), and then upgrade that
installation to SOLIDWORKS 2023, you will have a SOLIDWORKS 2023 installation directory
that is labeled SOLIDWORKS 2022.

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Upgrade Options
One or more older major versions of SOLIDWORKS are installed on this computer. You
can create a new installation, which will coexist with the older version, or you can upgrade,
which removes the older version.

Create a New Installation of SOLIDWORKS version.

If you choose to create a new installation, you can select which SOLIDWORKS products
to install.
For each of the selected products, a new installation of this major version is created. The
older major versions remain on the machine, except for SOLIDWORKS Electrical and
SOLIDWORKS PDM Client.
If you clear a product, the new version does not install.
Create a new installation is useful if you want to access the older version of SOLIDWORKS
after the newer version is installed. For example, if you are sharing files with other users
who are still running the older version, you can avoid version incompatibility with files
saved using the newer version.

Upgrade SOLIDWORKS previous_major_version to SOLIDWORKS 2023

current_major_version.
If you choose to upgrade, you can select which SOLIDWORKS products to upgrade. For
each of the selected products, a new installation is created, and older versions are
removed.
If you clear a product, the new version does not install, and the older version remains
on the machine.

Considerations for SOLIDWORKS Electrical and SOLIDWORKS PDM

Client
You can only install one version of SOLIDWORKS Electrical on a machine. If you are
creating a new installation of SOLIDWORKS, and select SOLIDWORKS Electrical as one
of the products to install, the old version of SOLIDWORKS Electrical is removed.
Back up the existing SOLIDWORKS Electrical environment before you install a new version.
From within SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic, select File Archive Environment, or
from within SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D, select SOLIDWORKS Electrical > Tools >
Archive Environment.
The major version of the SOLIDWORKS PDM Client must match the major version of the
SOLIDWORKS PDM Server. If you do not plan to upgrade the SOLIDWORKS PDM Server,
do not select SOLIDWORKS PDM Client for the upgrade.

To remove a product, in Windows, use Add/Remove Programs. For details, see

Removing an Installation on page 14.

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Installation Progress
This screen shows the progress of the installation.
To cancel the installation after it has begun, click Cancel.
For the consequences of cancellation and instructions on completing interrupted
installations, see Installation Errors.

Installation Type
You can specify the installation operation you would like to run. For example, creating a
new installation, modifying or repairing an existing installation, creating an administrative
image, installing administrative server products, or downloading files so you can share
and install them on other computers.
If the most recent release of the SOLIDWORKS software is already installed on your
computer, you are given options to modify or repair it.

Individual
Install SOLIDWORKS products on this computer.

This option appears only if this version is not installed on this computer.

Modify the Individual Installation

Modify the existing SOLIDWORKS installation on this computer.

This option appears only if this version is installed on this computer.

Modifications include:
• Adding or removing SOLIDWORKS product components
• Changing to a different SOLIDWORKS package (for example, SOLIDWORKS Professional,
SOLIDWORKS Premium, and so on)
• Changing the SOLIDWORKS serial number setting

If you already specified a SOLIDWORKS serial number during a prior installation,

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager might not prompt for it again. To change the
serial number, you must select this option.

Repair the Individual Installation

Repair the existing SOLIDWORKS installation on this computer.

This option appears only if this version is installed on this computer.

Repair verifies that all the files are present and registered properly and fixes any problems
that are found. Data you have created is not affected.

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• To repair a product, ensure that it is selected.

• Clear the check boxes for products you do not want to repair.

You can repair an individual installation. You cannot repair an administrative image
installation; you must reinstall using the administrative image.

Administrative Image
Create or update an administrative image to deploy to multiple computers.
For details about installing SOLIDWORKS on multiple clients using administrative images,
see Using Administrative Images.
When creating or updating administrative images:
• You can use installation settings from an existing image to configure the new or updated
image, or you can use the default SOLIDWORKS installations settings.
• If you are updating an existing image:
• SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager creates a new copy of the image, even if you
are updating. The original image is not modified.
• You can create the updated image using files from the existing image you are
updating. This results in a smaller download.

If you do not specify an image for which a Service Pack release is available to update
the previous image, you cannot take advantage of the smaller download.

Server Products
SOLIDWORKS server products include SOLIDWORKS Electrical, SOLIDWORKS PDM, and
SolidNetWork License Manager.
For SOLIDWORKS Electrical and SOLIDWORKS PDM, you can choose to install the client
and server tools on the same computer or on different computers.
For details about installing these servers, see corresponding topics in the Help.

Download and Share All Files

Download the installation files for selected SOLIDWORKS products without installing the
products.

This option does not appear if you are installing from DVD.

The content of the downloaded files is the same as the files that are available on the
SOLIDWORKS installation DVDs. Selecting this option downloads the full set of installation
files, regardless of what files might already be installed on your computer. You can then
copy the files to a portable device or network directory, and use them to install the
SOLIDWORKS software on other computers. You can also use this method to set up a
server from which your users can perform installations.

This method is different from creating an administrative image.

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Installing and Managing Multiple Computers

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager provides the following tools to install and manage
multiple SOLIDWORKS computers.

SOLIDWORKS Administrative Images

If you are installing SOLIDWORKS on multiple computers, you can create an administrative
image and then deploy the application to other computers.

SOLIDWORKS PDM
SOLIDWORKS PDM is a document management product based on the same client/server
architecture as SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM. It is available in two versions: Standard
and Professional. SOLIDWORKS PDM uses a Microsoft SQL Server database to manage
file vaults.

SolidNetWork License Manager

The SolidNetWork License Manager allows the number of users to exceed the number of
licenses by floating the use of licenses. When a client license is not in use, it is available
for another SOLIDWORKS user.
You can also use the SolidNetWork License Manager to distribute licenses for SOLIDWORKS
core add-in products (for example, FeatureWorks).

Manual Download
You have chosen to download files manually (or you might have chosen to download
manually the last time you ran SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager).
Click the link to open an automatically generated Web page that contains a complete list
of the files you need to complete your download.

You must download to the folder specified on the Summary page. Installation
cannot begin until all the files are downloaded into that folder.

Once you have completed the manual downloads, click Next to continue.
If you want to download automatically, you can change the option by going back to the
Summary Page and changing Download Options.

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Newer Version Available

The Installation Manager has detected a newer version of SOLIDWORKS products. You
can choose to install the version contained in the original installation DVD or download,
or you can choose to download and install the newer version.

If You Are Installing from a Download

Choose one of the following:
• Continue installing version.
Select this option to continue installing the version contained in the initial download.
• Download and install a new version: version.
Select this option to download and install the new version. If there are multiple new
versions available, you can select the version to download and install.

If You Are Installing from a DVD

Under Would you like to use the newer version?, choose one of the following:
• No, continue installing version from this DVD. You can update afterwards.
Select this option to continue with the installation using the current Installation Manager.
After the installation completes, you can check for and install updates using the
Installation Manager. To check for updates, run Start > SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager > Check for Updates.

Check for Updates is only available if you have administrative privileges on the
machine.

The advantage is that this results in a smaller download. The disadvantages are that
this is a two-step process and the files that you download are version-specific (and
cannot be shared by other users using different versions).
• Yes, perform installation using this DVD, then download and update to version.
Select this option to download and run a later version of the Installation Manager to
install SOLIDWORKS products for that version.
If a small Service Pack release is available to update the DVD version, Installation
Manager installs the original version from the DVD and then applies the Service Pack
update. This results in a smaller download.
You can achieve the same result by selecting the option to continue installing from the
DVD and then applying the update at a later date.
The advantage of this option is that it is a one-step process.

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No New Versions Available

There are no newer versions available for download. Proceed with installing the specified
version.
To proceed with the installation, click Next.

Processes Detected
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager has detected processes on this computer that might
prevent a successful installation.
• To continue the installation do one of the following:
• Close these processes (for example, using Microsoft Windows Task Manager) and
then press Retry.
• Click Ignore to proceed without closing the processes.
• To stop the installation, press Cancel.

Product Selection
You can specify the product components to install, modify, download, or remove.
In the product listing:
• The product listing is the complete listing of products that are available in the package
specified above the product listing.
• To view the projected action for a particular component, click the component name
(but not the check box). The intended installation action appears in the information
field below the product listing.
• You can click the check box next to the product component to change the installation
action for that component. (For example, if you are installing or removing components,
selecting the check box specifies that the component is to be installed or removed and
clearing the check box specifies that the component is not to be installed or removed.)
• If you are performing a Modify installation, an asterisk (*) appears to the left of
components when you make any change in the product selection.
• If a component has optional installation subcomponents in it, a + icon appears next
to the component. To see the available subcomponents for a component, click the +
icon.
• If a component has been expanded to show optional subcomponents, a - icon appears
next to the component. To collapse the subcomponent listing, click the - icon.
If you are applying a Service Pack, you cannot select features of SOLIDWORKS appearing
under SOLIDWORKS (for example, FeatureWorks). This is because you cannot add or
remove a feature when performing this type of upgrade.
The actions performed by SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager are controlled by a set of
product coexistence rules. For details, see Product Coexistence Rules.

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SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager selects these product components by default:

• If you are performing an upgrade or a Service Pack update, SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager selects the products currently installed.
• Otherwise, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager selects all products to which you are
entitled.
To reduce your installation or download time and disk space requirements, expand the
product components and clear the check box for those components you do not need.
If SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager was unable to verify the products to which you
are entitled, you can click Select different packages or products to change the
product package (such as SOLIDWORKS Professional or SOLIDWORKS Premium) listing
to install or modify. SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager lists all SOLIDWORKS products
on your installation media that are compatible with the package you select. You can
select any products you purchased or are entitled to evaluate.

SOLIDWORKS Search
SOLIDWORKS Search provides a powerful full text search of SOLIDWORKS documents
and 3D ContentCentral. Search displays a preview and the file location and name.
After the installation, SOLIDWORKS Search indexes SOLIDWORKS documents for faster
searches. Only SOLIDWORKS files are indexed by default.

Installing SOLIDWORKS Search automatically installs Windows Desktop Search if it is

not already installed on your computer.

Language Support
Expand the SOLIDWORKS product and the Languages component to see the languages
you can install.

The Languages specification limits the languages that are installed for the SOLIDWORKS
product only. Other product installations are not affected by this specification. For
example, eDrawings®, and SOLIDWORKS PDM install all languages.

Space Needed
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager reports either total installation size or total download
size at the bottom of the page.
• If you selected the Download Only option, download size appears. Download size
is the total amount of disk space required for all of the downloaded files (not including
extra space required to unzip the files after the download completes). This figure is
an estimate.

All files needed for installation are included in the total download size. If some files
already were downloaded into the current download folder, they are not downloaded
again. As a result, your actual download size might be smaller than the total download
size shown, or you might not need to download any files.

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• Otherwise, installation size appears. Installation size is the change in disk space
usage that will occur when you complete this installation. Due to file compression,
these figures are estimates.
If you are upgrading or removing an existing installation, the installation size could be
zero.
The figure shown does not include any space needed to download or extract files if
required for the installation.

If downloads are required and you are downloading to the same drive, the actual
disk space requirements could be significantly greater than the installation size that
appears.
To reduce download or installation time for future modifications, do not delete the
downloaded files after installation. Subsequent updates and patches typically require
access to the last full installation file set.

Products to Download
Select SOLIDWORKS products to download to a specified location.
The products available for download are determined by the serial number you supplied:
• The action to be performed for each component appears to the right of each item.
• If a component has optional installation sub-components in it, a + icon appears next
to the component. To see the available sub-components for a component, click the +
icon.
• If a component has been expanded to show optional sub-components, a - icon appears
next to the component. To collapse the sub-component listing, click the - icon.
• Click the check box to the left of each component to select how it is handled by
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager downloads all product components to which you

are entitled, unless you specify otherwise. To reduce your download time and disk
space requirements, expand the product components and select those components you
do not need.
If SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager was unable to verify the products to which you
are entitled, you can select a SOLIDWORKS package to download. SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager lists all SOLIDWORKS products that are compatible with the
package you select.
If SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager was unable to verify the products to which you
are entitled, you can click Select different packages or products to change the
product package (such as SOLIDWORKS Professional or SOLIDWORKS Premium) listing
to install or modify. SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager lists all SOLIDWORKS products
on your installation media that are compatible with the package you select. You can
select any products you purchased or are entitled to evaluate.

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Language Support
The Languages specification limits the languages that are installed for the SOLIDWORKS
product only. Other product installations are not affected by this specification. For example,
eDrawings® installs all languages.

Space Needed
Based on the products you select, the space needed to perform the download is shown.
Download size is the total amount of disk space required for all of the downloaded files
(not including extra space required to unzip the files after the download completes). This
figure is an estimate.

To reduce download or installation time for future updates and patches, do not delete
the downloaded files after installation. Subsequent updates and patches typically require
access to the last full installation file set.

Products to Repair
When you specify Repair this installation, this screen displays the SOLIDWORKS
products, with version numbers, that can be repaired by this version of SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager.
Repair verifies that all the files are present and registered properly and fixes any problems
that are found. Data you have created is not affected.
• To repair a product, ensure that it is selected.
• Clear the check boxes for products you do not want to repair.
Click Repair to begin repairing the selected products.

You can repair an individual installation. You cannot repair an administrative image
installation; you must reinstall the administrative image.

Serial Numbers
Serial numbers associate your computer with the SOLIDWORKS products that you have
purchased.
If SOLIDWORKS products are already installed on your computer, their serial numbers
display by default:
• Enter your SOLIDWORKS serial number if it does not display.
• If you have serial numbers for products not included with your SOLIDWORKS license,
enter them in the appropriate fields.
If you have an internet connection, the serial numbers you provide determine the products
to which you are entitled as you continue through the installation process.
Because there are multiple ways to purchase SOLIDWORKS products, some serial numbers
can cover two or more products. For example, a SOLIDWORKS serial number might enable
you to install SOLIDWORKS Simulation without entering a separate SOLIDWORKS

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Simulation serial number. In addition, some products do not require a serial number. If
you have any questions about your serial numbers, contact your VAR.

Server Installation
The server products that you are attempting to install are listed, with the results of the
installations.

Server Installation Status

Server product installations are performed by an external installation application. If you
are not in that application, you must switch to it to complete the installation.
Click Cancel to stop the server product installations.

Server Installation Complete

The external installation application has completed successfully.
Click Finish or Next.
• If you are installing other administrative products (for example, a SOLIDWORKS
administrative image), that installation continues.
• If the server product installations were the only installation operation, SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager closes.

Server Installation Canceled or Failed

If a server product installation failed or was canceled after it was begun, servers that
were not installed are listed.
Click Close or Next.
• If you specified other administrative product installations, SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager will resume.
• If the server product installations were the only installation operation, SOLIDWORKS
Installation Manager closes.

For More Information

For details about installing, configuring, and using the SolidNetWork License Manager,
see Administering Licenses Using a SolidNetWork License Manager on page 87.

SolidNetWork License Manager Server

Specify installation options for the SolidNetWork License Manager Server.

Installation Location
Specify the installation location for the SolidNetWork License Manager Server.

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If you are updating an existing SolidNetWork License Manager Server, you must install
to the existing installation location.

For More Information

To add and activate serial numbers for the SolidNetWork License Manager, you use the
Product Activation Wizard. See Adding Serial Numbers and Activating SolidNetWork
Licenses on page 89.
For details about installing, configuring, and using the SolidNetWork License Manager,
see Administering Licenses Using a SolidNetWork License Manager on page 87.

Summary
SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager has all of the information needed to complete the
installation operation.

To continue: Click the action Now to initiate the installation operation (for
example, Install Now, Create Now, Download Now, Modify
Now).

To change installation
Click CHANGE for the section you want to change (for
settings:
example, Products, Installation Location, Toolbox Options).

To cancel: Click Cancel to exit SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager without

changing installation components.

To revert to a previous Click Back to return to a previous page in SOLIDWORKS

page: Installation Manager.

For information about a particular set of installation options (for example, Products,
Installation Location, Toolbox Options, and so on):

1. Click CHANGE next to the section for which you want information.
2. In the detail page that appears, click Help to get information about those installation
option settings.

System Check Warnings

System Check reported issues that could impact how you continue with the installation.
In most cases, you should be able to proceed with SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
The warnings you can encounter at this stage are listed below with suggestions about
how to proceed.
Serial The Installation Manager was not able to check for new
Number versions because it could not validate your serial number.

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Validation If you are connected and entered a valid serial number,

Problems this could indicate a temporary problem on our server. Try
again later.
Serial Number Validation: The Installation Manager could
not validate your serial number to determine which products
you are entitled to install. You will still be able to
choose the products you want to install, but you will not
be able to download any installation files. You will need
to provide a complete set of download source files or a
DVD from which to install.
Resolution:
• Check the internet connection. The serial number check requires a
valid internet connection.
• Check that the serial number you entered is valid for the products
you are trying to install.
• Some installations require that you have a valid subscription in place
at the time the version was released. For details, consult your
SOLIDWORKS reseller.
• In most cases, you can proceed with the installation, provided you
are installing from a DVD or a previously downloaded file set.

Newer Newer Version Available

Version
Available
New Versions Available
A newer version of this product is available for download.
Resolution: When performing a Check for Updates operation, the
installation might prompt you to install a later version that is available
by downloading from SOLIDWORKS. You can continue this operation
using the version you initially specified or you can download this newer
version and continue the operation using that version instead.

Latest This is the latest version available. Click Next to

Version continue.
Available
No New Downloads Available
Resolution: This message can appear when you are checking for updates
during an installation or modification. It indicates that you are currently
installing (or have installed) the latest version available.

Internet Internet Connection: The Installation Manager could not

Connection connect to the SOLIDWORKS server to determine which
Problems products you are entitled to install. You will still be
able to choose the products you want to install, but you
will not be able to download any installation files. You
need to provide source files on DVD or a previously
downloaded file set.
Unable to Check for New Versions
The Installation Manager was not able to check for new
versions because it could not connect to the server.

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Resolution:
• Check the internet connection.
• You can proceed with the installation, provided you are installing from
a DVD or a previously downloaded file set.

Hole Wizard/Toolbox Options

If SOLIDWORKS Toolbox is installed, SOLIDWORKS includes a standard library of hole
types and hardware.
For details about configuring, extending, and using SOLIDWORKS Toolbox, click Help >
Toolbox Help in SOLIDWORKS.

To view this help, you might have to start the Toolbox add-in, using Tools > Add-Ins.

Before using a SOLIDWORKS Toolbox, make sure it is properly configured according to

your company or group policy. In many cases, a group will configure and maintain a
central Toolbox. Check with the SOLIDWORKS administrator for guidance on how to
specify a Toolbox during SOLIDWORKS installation.
You can change the selected SOLIDWORKS Toolbox after installation. In SOLIDWORKS,
click Tools > Options. On the System Options tab, click Hole Wizard/Toolbox.
The following sections describe all options you can encounter on this screen for all
configurations. The actual Toolbox options you see depends on the pre-existing
SOLIDWORKS and Toolbox configurations on this computer and SOLIDWORKS Installation
Manager choices you have specified to this point.

Create a New new-version Toolbox

Create a new version of SOLIDWORKS Toolbox on this computer.
When you create a new version, in the Product Selection screen, expand SOLIDWORKS
> SOLIDWORKS Toolbox and select which standards to support for the Toolbox. All
standards are selected by default.
Any existing Toolboxes on this computer are not modified.

Reference or Upgrade an Existing Toolbox

Use an existing Toolbox. Click Browse to specify the location of the Toolbox you want
to use with this installation.
• If the Toolbox is configured for a previous SOLIDWORKS major release version, it is
upgraded to this version. Any customizations made to that Toolbox are preserved in
the upgraded Toolbox.

Upgrading a Toolbox to a new SOLIDWORKS major release version makes

that Toolbox incompatible with computers running prior major release
SOLIDWORKS versions.

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• If the Toolbox is configured for this SOLIDWORKS version (as might be the case if you
specify a shared network Toolbox that has already been upgraded), no upgrade to that
Toolbox occurs.
• If you are upgrading a Toolbox in a SOLIDWORKS PDM environment, additional
procedures are required. For details, see Notes About Configuring SOLIDWORKS
Toolbox.
This option appears in all installation scenarios except creating an administrative image.

Upgrade a previous-version Toolbox

Copy a Toolbox configured for a previous major release version to a new location and
upgrade that copy to this version.
This option appears if a previous SOLIDWORKS major release version is installed on this
computer, but you have chosen not to upgrade that installation to this release.

The purpose of this option is to upgrade a Toolbox for a previous major release
SOLIDWORKS version that is installed without impacting users that are using the older
version of Toolbox.

If you are upgrading a Toolbox in a SOLIDWORKS PDM environment, additional procedures

are required. For details, see Notes About Configuring SOLIDWORKS Toolbox.

Upgrade This Installed previous-version Toolbox

Upgrade this Toolbox to the newer version.

Upgrading a Toolbox to a new SOLIDWORKS major release version makes

that Toolbox incompatible with computers running prior major release
SOLIDWORKS versions.

This option appears if you are upgrading a previous SOLIDWORKS major release version
to this version and a Toolbox configured for that release is found on this computer.
If you are upgrading a Toolbox in a SOLIDWORKS PDM environment, additional procedures
are required. For details, see Notes About Configuring SOLIDWORKS Toolbox.

Use the Installed current-version Toolbox

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager has detected on this computer a Toolbox configured
for this SOLIDWORKS major release version.
If you select this option, SOLIDWORKS will use this Toolbox. No upgrade occurs.
This option appears if a previous SOLIDWORKS major release version is installed on this
computer, but a Toolbox is configured for this version. This might occur if a shared Toolbox
is created on a computer that is still running an older SOLIDWORKS version.

Specify the Toolbox Location for the Client Computer

Specify a network or directory location as the default Toolbox location when clients install
from an administrative image.

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If the location contains a Toolbox configured for a previous SOLIDWORKS major release
version at the time the client installation occurs, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
upgrades that Toolbox.

This option appears when you are creating a new administrative image.

Upgrade or Use the Toolbox Referenced in the Existing Image for the
Client Computer
Use the Toolbox location specified in an existing administrative image you are updating.

If the location contains a Toolbox configured for a previous SOLIDWORKS major release
version at the time the client installation occurs, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
upgrades that Toolbox.

Select a Different Toolbox Location for the Client Computer

Specify a different Toolbox location from that specified in an existing administrative image
you are updating.

If the location contains a Toolbox configured for a previous SOLIDWORKS major release
version at the time the client installation occurs, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager
upgrades that Toolbox.

Notes About Configuring SOLIDWORKS Toolbox

SOLIDWORKS Toolbox is a powerful and complex feature. This topic summarizes some
concepts to consider before configuring a Toolbox using SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

Finding More Information About SOLIDWORKS Toolbox

For details about configuring, extending, and using SOLIDWORKS Toolbox, click Help
> Toolbox in SOLIDWORKS.

To view this help, you might have to start the Toolbox add-in, using Tools > Add-Ins.

Using a Shared Toolbox

When you install Toolbox, you can have Toolbox data on the local computer or in a shared
network location. Storing Toolbox data in a network location is recommended. By using
a common location, all SOLIDWORKS users share a consistent set of fastener information.
If this is the first time installing, browse to the new shared location where you would like
to install the Toolbox.

Upgrading an Existing Toolbox

Upgrading a Toolbox to a new SOLIDWORKS major release version makes that Toolbox
incompatible with computers running prior major release SOLIDWORKS versions.

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If other computers remain at that prior major release and continue to require a Toolbox
configured for that release, you should make a copy of that Toolbox and upgrade that
copy. The new SOLIDWORKS installation will upgrade the copy of the Toolbox and the
previous SOLIDWORKS installations will continue using the old Toolbox.

Configuring Toolbox Access

After installation, when you access Toolbox components SOLIDWORKS checks how you
have configured Toolbox and makes suggestions to improve access and performance.
For accessing the shared network Toolbox (recommended), use a UNC path to the server
on which the shared Toolbox was installed. For details, see UNC Format.
An administrator can create a password for Toolbox and set permissions and preferences
for the workgroup. Restricting access to configuration and setting common preferences
ensures consistent Toolbox data.

Upgrading Toolbox in a SOLIDWORKS PDM Environment

When you upgrade the SOLIDWORKS software, Toolbox is upgraded if parts have been
added. If the Toolbox root folder is in a SOLIDWORKS PDM vault, before you start the
SOLIDWORKS upgrade, you must prepare the Toolbox folder.
On the first system to perform the upgrade, you must use Get Latest Version to download
the Toolbox files to the local cache and check out the Toolbox database file. On other
systems that are upgraded, the only requirement is to download the Toolbox files.
Before you upgrade:
• Ensure that there is a full recent backup of the vault database and archive.
• Make sure that the Toolbox parts are not checked out or in use by any currently checked
out assemblies.
To upgrade Toolbox:
1. In File Explorer, log in to the vault as a user with full permissions (check out, check
in, add, delete).
2. Right-click the Toolbox folder and click Get Latest Version to copy all Toolbox files
and the toolbox database to the local cache.

If your archive server is remote, this may take several minutes.

3. Check out the Toolbox database file (SWBrowser.mdb) from

\Toolbox_folder_name\lang\your_lang.
4. Run the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to perform the upgrade.
5. On the Summary screen, ensure that the Toolbox Options installation location is
the location in the vault.
If it is not, click Change, select Reference or upgrade an existing Toolbox, and
browse to the Toolbox location in the vault.
6. When the upgrade completes, in File Explorer, check in the Toolbox folder to add any
new or updated files to the vault so that other users can work with Toolbox.
7. For upgrades to SOLIDWORKS 2012 or later, navigate to your Toolbox folder in the
vault and ensure that the following are present:
• \Toolbox_folder_name\Updates

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• \Toolbox_folder_name\ToolboxStandards.xml
• \Toolbox_folder_name\Browser\ToolboxFiles.index
If they are not, contact your Value Added Reseller.

8. Upgrade the rest of the computers that use SOLIDWORKS PDM integration with
Toolbox:
a. In File Explorer, log in to the vault as a user with at least read permission to the
Toolbox folder.
b. Right-click the Toolbox folder and click Get Latest Version to copy the Toolbox
files to your local cache.
c. Run the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to upgrade.
The installer detects that Toolbox is already upgraded.

For details about Toolbox configuration in SOLIDWORKS PDM, see Configuring Toolbox
in the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration Tool help.

UNC Format
Uniform (or Universal) Naming Convention format specifies a file name syntax format to
describe a shared file location.
\\server\volume\path
For example:
\\Disk_Server\SOLIDWORKS\AdminImage

Uninstall Products
When you select to Remove or Uninstall programs from the Control Panel, this screen
displays the SOLIDWORKS products (with version numbers) that can be uninstalled by
this version of SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager. You can choose to perform a standard,
custom or complete uninstall.
The standard uninstall removes Program Files and Folders of a SOLIDWORKS product.
By default, all SOLIDWORKS products for the selected release are specified for a standard
uninstall.
A custom uninstall removes one or more of the following items: Program Files and Folders,
registry keys and data folders, such as the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox, and files and folders
from the original download location.
A complete uninstall removes the install directories, registry keys and data folders.
To uninstall a product:
1. On the Uninstall screen, ensure that the product is selected.
If you uninstall all products, the Solidworks Installation Manager is also uninstalled.
2. Clear the products you do not want to remove.
If you retain any product, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager is not removed.
3. Choose whether to perform a custom or complete uninstall.

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a. Click Change in Advanced Options.

The Advanced Options screen appears. The Program Files and Folders option is
checked.
b. Select one or more options to perform a custom uninstall, or select all options to
perform a complete uninstall.
c. Click Back to Summary.
d. On the Summary screen, expand Advanced Options to display the uninstall
method and entries.
4. Click Remove Items.

When you click Remove Items, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager starts

removing products immediately.

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11
SOLIDWORKS Product Activation Help

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Activate/Deactivate Your SOLIDWORKS Product

• Manual Activation
• SOLIDWORKS Product Activation Results
• SolidNetWork Licensing and SOLIDWORKS Product Activation
• SolidNetWork License Server Information

SOLIDWORKS requires the license to be activated before you can use the software. Follow the
steps described in the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation Wizard for individual and SolidNetWork
licenses.

Activate/Deactivate Your SOLIDWORKS Product

You can activate, reactivate, deactivate, or display SOLIDWORKS licenses for your
computer using the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation Wizard.
The Activate/Deactivate Your SOLIDWORKS Product page appears when one of these
events occur:
• You start SOLIDWORKS but the license for this computer is not activated.
• In SOLIDWORKS, you click > Licenses > Activate.
• In SOLIDWORKS, you click > Licenses > Deactivate .
• When you start SOLIDWORKS, you click Reactivate Now in response to a Product
Activation prompt.
• In the SolidNetWork License Manager Server, under License Information, you click
Modify > Activate/Reactivate your product license(s).
Before you can run SOLIDWORKS products on an individual computer, you must activate
the license for that computer.
If you disable a computer or move the SOLIDWORKS software from one computer to
another, you must deactivate the license to the license key server at Dassault Systèmes
SolidWorks Corporation. Then, you reactivate the license on the other computer.
For details about activating, deactivating, and reactivating individual SOLIDWORKS
licenses, see Administering Individual Licenses on page 84. For SolidNetWork licenses,
see Administering Licenses Using a SolidNetWork License Manager on page 87.

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Serial Numbers
If you are managing licensing using the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager,
you can add serial numbers from the Activate/Deactivate Your SOLIDWORKS Product
dialog box by clicking Add. You can enter or copy and paste multiple entries into the Add
Serial Number dialog box. Use commas, semicolons, or press the Tab key to separate
the entries. Do not use spaces to separate the serial numbers.
You can also remove serial numbers that have either not been activated or have expired
by clicking Remove.
See Adding Serial Numbers and Activating SolidNetWork Licenses on page 89.
.

Activate/Deactivate
Select the Product listing to specify the SOLIDWORKS product whose license you want
to activate or deactivate. Specify whether to activate automatically over the internet or
manually by email.

If you are activating a SolidNetWork license, the SolidNetWork serial number appears
instead of the Product listing.

Reactivate
Starting with SOLIDWORKS 2022 products, if you have perpetual commercial or educational
licenses, you must reactivate those licenses once a year. A perpetual license never expires
but needs to be reactivated. The SOLIDWORKS Product Activation prompts you to
reactivate before the required reactivation date.
To reactivate a license:
• If you have an individual license for your computer, click Reactivate Now at the
SOLIDWORKS Product Activation prompt. If you do not want to reactivate the license
immediately, click Remind Me Later.
• If you are using SolidNetWork licensing, click Reactivate in the SolidNetWork License
Manager Server, from the Server Administration tab. In the Reactivate Licenses dialog
box, you can use the Serial Number drop down to filter for licenses that are expiring.

Contact Information
Specify an email address that the SOLIDWORKS software can use for license activation.
If you specify manual email activation, the SOLIDWORKS software sends the license key
response file in an email to the contact address or to another email that initiated the
request.

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Manual Activation
If you specified manual email activation, this screen enables you to send an email to
SOLIDWORKS and then to load the license key response file they return to you.

Create a Request File

Click Save to create a license key request file on this computer.
Note the location of the file, because you must email that file to SOLIDWORKS.

Email the Request File

Send an email with the license key request file attached to [email protected].
Wait for SOLIDWORKS to respond with an email containing the license key response file.

Load the Response File

Click Open to load the license key response file.
Click Next to continue.

SOLIDWORKS Product Activation Results

This screen displays the results of the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation action to activate,
reactivate, deactivate, or show licenses.

Result
If you activate, reactivate, or deactivate a license, Result indicates whether the action
succeeded or failed.

In SOLIDWORKS, you can show activated licenses by clicking > Licenses > Show

Activated Products
If you activated or deactivated a license, the Currently activated products listing
displays all licenses that you activated during this session:
• If you activated licenses, all SOLIDWORKS products that you activated in this session
appear.

This listing shows only those products that you activated during this session; it does
not display any products that you activated previously. To see all activated products
on this computer, exit this screen and click > Licenses > Show in the
SOLIDWORKS software.

• If you deactivated licenses, the listing is empty because you did not activate
SOLIDWORKS licenses during this session.

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If you show licenses, the Currently activated products listing displays the activated
licenses on this computer.

Reactivated Products
If you selected perpetual licenses to reactivate, the Currently activated products
listing displays all the activated products.
If you show licenses, the Currently activated products listing displays the following
dates for each reactivated product:
• The date that the current activation or license expires
• The date that maintenance expires
• The next required reactivation date

How to Proceed
If you activate, reactivate, or deactivate a license, click Finish to exit SOLIDWORKS
Product Activation. You can click Back to process other SOLIDWORKS product licenses.
If you show activated licenses, click OK to exit.

When showing licenses, Back is not available. To activate or deactivate licenses, you
must exit this screen and click > Licenses > Activate or > Licenses >
Deactivate in the SOLIDWORKS software.

SolidNetWork Licensing and SOLIDWORKS Product Activation

If you run SOLIDWORKS Product Activation from the SolidNetWork License Manager
Server, you must specify the product activation action to perform.
The first time you run a new or updated installation of the SolidNetWork License Manager
Server, you are prompted to activate it. If you do not activate it or are not prompted,
then in the Server Administration tab, click Modify to run the SOLIDWORKS Product
Activation Wizard.

What Do You Want to Do?

Move your product Move the license for this computer to the license key server
license(s) to a at Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation.
new/upgraded
Typically, you deactivate the license before removing the
computer
SOLIDWORKS software from a computer. You can reactivate
the license on another computer.
See Moving a SolidNetWork License on page 99.

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Activate/Reactivate a Add serial numbers, and activate or reactivate licenses on

software license this computer.

If your organization has perpetual commercial or

educational licenses and your SolidNetWork License
Manager is from SOLIDWORKS 2022, you must reactivate
those licenses once a year. Click Reactivate Licences
and follow the instructions in the SOLIDWORKS Product
Activation Wizard.

See Administering Licenses Using a SolidNetWork

License Manager on page 87.

Show activated Show all licenses activated on this computer.

software license
information

SolidNetWork License Server Information

If you are activating a SolidNetWork license server computer, you must specify connection
information about that computer.
• If your company uses a firewall, select A firewall is in use on this server.
• Use the default value for Port Number (and for Vendor Daemon Port Number if
you have a firewall) or specify the port numbers your company uses.

The port number is a TCP/IP port number in the 1024-60000 range, used exclusively
by this process. Normally, the default (25734) is suitable and is unlikely to be the
same as any other FLEXlm server process on the license manager computer.

This is only a short summary of the fields required to specify information for a
SolidNetWork license server. For complete details about configuring the SolidNetWork
license server computer, see Administering Licenses Using a SolidNetWork License
Manager on page 87 .

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