When SOLIDWORKS saves a drawing file, it does not only save the data you can edit and work with inside the software, it also saves a graphic version of what is displayed.
So there is inside a SOLIDWORKS file, two types of data. The original one that we will call "semantic data", and the graphic one generated from it, that we will call "graphic data".
Even, if there is obviously some kind of connection between them, it is better to consider them independent when saved into a file.
To see the "semantic data", the best way is to open your file in SOLIDWORKS software.
To see the "graphic data", the best way is to open your file in eDrawings software. eDrawings is a viewer from the same company, often installed with SOLIDWORKS. eDrawings can open SOLIDWORKS files, but it can only interpret the "graphic data".
Semantic data | Graphic data | |
---|---|---|
Can SLDDRW file be used alone without referenced 3D files (SLDPRT, SLDASM) ? | No | Yes |
Need to integrate Dtk_Body ? | Yes | Yes (only if there are shaded views) |
Need to integrate Dtk_mesh ? | No | Yes (only if there are shaded views) |
Has semantic PMI ? | Yes | No. Are converted to independent lines and texts. |
Is always up-to-date | Yes | No |
Do views have names ? | Yes | No |
When using librairies, to change the mode you are using, please call function:
By default, the file is read with graphic data.
If you want to read semantic data, you will need to add the following code: