SOLIDWORKS 2017 SP5 Release Notes

You can view the most recent Release Notes here.

For a list of fixed SPRs, click here.

Refer to What's New, available from the Help menu, for descriptions of new functionality.

End Of Life Announcements - SOLIDWORKS Products

SOLIDWORKS Workgroup PDM Product

SOLIDWORKS 2018 and later will not include the SOLIDWORKS Workgroup PDM product.

It is replaced by the SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard product.

Publish to 3DVIA.com

SOLIDWORKS 2016 was the last release to support publishing models to 3DVIA.com.

Microsoft Access Database

SOLIDWORKS 2015 was the last release to support Microsoft® Access® Databases.

Universal 3D File Format

SOLIDWORKS 2014 was the last release to support exporting a model to the Universal 3D file format (.u3d).

End Of Life Announcements - Microsoft Products

For current information about active products and End of Life products, see System Requirements.

Windows Server 2008 R2, SP1 Operating System

SOLIDWORKS 2017 SP5 is the last release to support the Windows Server 2008 R2, SP1 operating system. SOLIDWORKS 2018 products will not install on Windows Server 2008 R2, SP1.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2

SOLIDWORKS PDM 2017 SP5 is the last release to support SQL Server® 2008 R2.

Microsoft Windows 8.1 64-bit Operating System

SOLIDWORKS 2018 SP5 is the last release to support the Windows® 8.1 64-bit operating system. SOLIDWORKS 2019 products will not install on Windows 8.1.

Microsoft Windows 8.0 Operating System

SOLIDWORKS 2015 was the last release to support the Windows 8.0 operating system. SOLIDWORKS 2016 products will not install on Windows 8.0.

Windows Server 2012 Operating System

SOLIDWORKS 2018 SP5 is the last release to support the Windows Server® 2012 operating system. SOLIDWORKS 2019 products will not install on Windows Server 2012.

Windows Server 2012 R2 Operating System

SOLIDWORKS 2019 SP5 is the last release to support the Windows Server® 2012 R2 operating system. SOLIDWORKS 2020 products will not install on Windows Server 2012 R2.

Windows Server 2008 Operating System

SOLIDWORKS 2014 was the last release to support the Windows Server 2008 operating system. SOLIDWORKS 2015 products will not install on Windows Server 2008.

System and Graphics Requirements

To ensure successful installation and optimum performance, see System Requirements.

For optimum graphics performance and stability, see Video Card Requirements. Recommended graphics cards and drivers are flagged with the RealView icon.

Installation

Antivirus Software

Some antivirus software prevents proper installation of SOLIDWORKS. For additional information, see Antivirus.

Modifying SOLIDWORKS PDM Server Installations

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.

Technical Alerts

Windows 10 Fonts Missing

Some fonts that shipped in prior versions of Windows have moved into optional features in Windows 10. When upgrading to Windows 10, these fonts may not be installed on your system. If you find that a SOLIDWORKS document uses a font that is no longer installed on your computer, refer to Microsoft Knowledge base article 3083806.

Microsoft Office Documents Embedded in SOLIDWORKS Documents

SOLIDWORKS recommends using the 64-bit version of Microsoft Office. If you are embedding Microsoft Office 32-bit OLE objects in your SOLIDWORKS documents, refer to Microsoft Knowledge base article 983396 to fix OLE objects displaying as an icon.

Functionality

Compatibility with SOLIDWORKS PDM Products

Starting with SOLIDWORKS PDM 2017, the service pack for SOLIDWORKS PDM client can be different than the service pack for SOLIDWORKS PDM Server as long as they are the same major version.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional 2017 supports SOLIDWORKS 2017, 2016, and 2015. SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard 2017 supports SOLIDWORKS 2017 only. The combination of a newer version of SOLIDWORKS and an older version of SOLIDWORKS PDM is not supported.

SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect

SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect is available in SOLIDWORKS 2017. It supports the four native CAD formats - Autodesk® Inventor, PTC®/CREO, Siemens™ NX, and SOLID Edge®. Additionally, SOLIDWORKS Premium customers can open a fifth format, CATIA V5 models, without purchasing a separate CATIA V5 Translator.

SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect is enabled by default. To revert to SOLIDWORKS 2016 behavior:
  1. Click Tools > Options > System Options > Import.
  2. In File Format, select Inventor/CATIA V5/Creo/NX/SolidEdge.
  3. Clear Enable 3D Interconnect.
  4. In the System Options dialog box, click OK.

For more information on enabling SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect, see the Forum article.

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation is now available in Korean. Both the user interface and documentation are fully localized in this SOLIDWORKS 2017 version.

SOLIDWORKS Plastics

SOLIDWORKS Plastics is now available in Czech, Polish, Portuguese-brazilian, and Turkish. Both the user interface and documentation are fully localized in this SOLIDWORKS 2017 version.

Documentation

SOLIDWORKS Visualize and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost

To access the latest What's New and installation content for SOLIDWORKS Visualize and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost, see the Knowledge Base article S-071802.

Publishing to 3DVIA.com

Although SOLIDWORKS 2017 no longer supports publishing models to 3DVIA.com, the SOLIDWORKS documentation contains the Publishing to 3DVIA.com topic.

Service Pack 5.0

Configurations - Large Design Review Mark

In Large Design Review mode, you can use the Large Design Review mark to specify which configurations are accessible when you view a model. Users can access the configuration by storing the Display List graphics data.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation

A new option VONDC: von Mises [Directional Components] is added to the Stress Plot, Response Graph, and List Results PropertyManagers when viewing results from a Linear Dynamic – Harmonic study.

By selecting the new stress component option, the solver performs the von Mises stress calculations more accurately by taking into account the proper signs (positive or negative) of the six stress components.

There are certain limitations with post-processing of results from linear dynamic studies:
  • For all linear dynamic study types except Modal Time History:

    Results for von Mises stress are listed inaccurately when obtained in the following way from the List Results PropertyManager: Under Advanced Options, you enable Range and select Element’s nodes, and under List Set, you select List principal, von Mises, and stress intensity. To get the correct von Mises results, select Nodes instead of selecting Element’s nodes.

  • For harmonic and random vibration studies:

    The response graph plot for the resultant reaction force shows inaccurate results when first created. When you edit the same graph plot, the results are shown correctly.

  • With mixed mesh (beams, shells, and solids) and the Nodal von Mises stress only (Faster) option selected in Result Options:
    • For harmonic studies: The response graph plots for beam stresses do not show the correct values.
    • For all dynamic studies except harmonic: When you edit an existing response graph for beam stresses, the Result component list in the PropertyManager is blank for Y-axis. To view results, select the stress component.

System Options – Assemblies

When selected, the Optimize component placement when adding mates option places components in more logical positions on the screen and relative to other components when you create mates. To access this option, click Option > System Options > Assemblies.

When this option is cleared, one component in the new mate might be placed off screen or hidden behind or within other components.

Service Pack 4.0

There are no service pack 4.0 specific items at this time.

Service Pack 3.0

Multiple Locked Concentric Mates

In assemblies with multiple locked concentric mates, the software might erroneously report the mates as over-defined. You can fix the problem by selectively unlocking affected concentric mates. If a component that was fully-constrained becomes under-constrained, it may be necessary to change which concentric mate is locked.

SOLIDWORKS PCB

The SOLIDWORKS PCB user interface is now available in Japanese.

Service Pack 2.0

SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect

SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect is available. For more information, see the related item in the Functionality section.

Service Pack 1.0

There are no service pack 1.0 specific items at this time.