SOLIDWORKS 2020 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 Explorer

SOLIDWORKS 2019 SP5 is the last release to support SOLIDWORKS Explorer as a stand-alone application. The supported functions such as Pack and Go, Rename, Replace, and Move are available in file shortcut menus in File Explorer.

End of Life Announcements - Microsoft Products

For current information about SOLIDWORKS active products and End of Life products, see SOLIDWORKS and SW PDM System Requirements. For Microsoft Operating System Lifecycle information, see Microsoft’s Windows lifecycle fact sheet.

Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, 64-Bit Operating System

SOLIDWORKS 2020 SP5 is the last release to support the Windows® 7 Operating System.
SOLIDWORKS 2021 products will not install on Windows 7.
Microsoft Windows 7 mainstream support ended January 13, 2015. By exception, SOLIDWORKS 2018-2020 support is extending into Microsoft’s Extended Support period, which ends on January 14, 2020.
SOLIDWORKS Version SOLIDWORKS Support Microsoft Extended Support SOLIDWORKS Lifecycle Start SOLIDWORKS Lifecycle End
SW 2018 Yes Yes Oct 2017 Dec 2019
SW 2019 Yes * Partial

(15 months)

Oct 2018 Dec 2020
SW 2020 Yes * Partial

(3 months)

Oct 2019 Dec 2021
SW 2021 No/Install blocked No Oct 2020 Dec 2022
* A SOLIDWORKS fix that is dependent on a Microsoft Windows 7 fix cannot be provided during the latter part of the SOLIDWORKS Lifecycle.

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.

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 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.

Microsoft Excel 2013 and Word 2013

SOLIDWORKS 2020 SP5 is the last release to support Microsoft® Excel 2013 and Word 2013.

Microsoft Excel 2010 and Word 2010

SOLIDWORKS 2018 SP5 is the last release to support Microsoft® Excel 2010 and Word 2010.

Microsoft SQL Server 2012

SOLIDWORKS 2019 SP5 is the last release to support SQL Server® 2012.

System and Graphics Requirements

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

For optimum graphics performance and stability, see SOLIDWORKS Hardware Certification.

To use SOLIDWORKS PDM 2020 with SQL Server® 2014 or SQL Server® 2014 Express, you must install Service Pack 3 or later. To upgrade your SQL Server 2014 or SQL Server 2014 Express installation to SP3, download the service pack here.

Installation

New: Early Visibility (EV) Online

Beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2020 SP1, subscription service customers can use Early Visibility Online to test from a browser. Log in to MySolidWorks and, from the top menu, click SOLIDWORKS <release>/EV.

DVD Distribution Media

Beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2020, DVD distribution media is provided only on request. Contact your Reseller for more information.

Antivirus Software

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

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.

Missing Non-English Characters When Exporting Text to PDF Files

When you save a drawing document as a PDF file, and the drawing contains non-English (non-ASCII) characters, the appropriate fonts must be available to render the characters. If the specified font is not installed on your computer or does not support Unicode character glyphs, then the Arial Unicode MS font is used. If the Arial Unicode MS font is also missing, then the characters fail to render. The Arial Unicode MS font is not provided with Microsoft® Office® 2016 software. (See Windows 10 Fonts Missing, above.) Workaround: To install the Arial Unicode MS font, install both Microsoft® Office® Professional Plus 2013 (minimal installation with only International Options enabled) and Microsoft® Office® (2016 or later).

Microsoft Office Documents Embedded in SOLIDWORKS Documents

Recommendation: Use 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

There are no functionality-specific items at this time.

Documentation

What's New SOLIDWORKS 2020

Corrections and Clarifications:

  • Power Modify Tool (Sketching chapter): You can use the Power Modify tool only with a touch device. On the touch device, you can use the tool with pen sketch mode, your finger, or a mouse. The tool is not available on nontouch devices.

Service Pack 5.0

Microsoft SQL Server 2019

Microsoft SQL Server® 2019 is supported beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2020 and SOLIDWORKS PDM 2020.

Mirror Components

When using the Mirror Components tool with Create opposite hand version selected, you are warned if the software cannot find the material assigned to the seed component.

Service Pack 4.0

3D ContentCentral

The 3D ContentCentral content is removed from the Design Library.

Display Names

For parts, assemblies, and drawings, the 3DExperience Connector for SOLIDWORKS allows you to have a display name that is different from the file name. The file name is a unique identifier that remains unchanged. The display name lets you refer to the file by a name that you can change as needed over the course of the file’s lifecycle. When you open the file in SOLIDWORKS 2020 SP4 or later, the display name is shown in place of the file name in, for example, the Reload, Pack and Go, and References dialog boxes, the FeatureManager design tree, and the ConfigurationManager.

Generating Cut List IDs

You can generate cut list IDs or unique reference IDs for each cut list or cut list folder based on the cut list attributes. Click Tools > Options > Document Properties > Weldments. Under Cut list IDs, select Generate Cut list IDs. You can define different expression values based on the type of cut list. Unique cut list IDs result in the unique naming convention of cut lists that can be used to index the database.

Help Menu

Help has been removed from the SOLIDWORKS menu. To access the help menu, click the Help icon next to the minimize button.

Options

In SOLIDWORKS 2020 SP3, the following options were moved or removed:
  • The Restore File Associations option moved from Tools > Options > System Options > File Explorer to Tools > Options > System Options > General.
  • The Use shaded face highlighting option moved from Tools > Options > System Options > General to Tools > Options > System Options > Display.
  • The file locations for Web Folders and 3DContentCentral Model Download Folder are removed from Tools > Options > System Options > File Locations.
  • The comments options moved from Tools > Options > System Options > Collaboration to Tools > Options > System Options > FeatureManager.

Quick Access Tools

In SOLIDWORKS 2020 SP3 and later, you can specify whether to display Quick Access Tools in the CommandManager or the Menu Bar. Click Tools > Customize. On the Toolbars tab, under Quick Access Tools, select an option:
  • Show in the Menu Bar. Displays the Quick Access Tools in the Menu Bar.
  • Show in the CommandManager. Displays the Quick Access Tools in the CommandManager.

Service Pack 3.0

SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Simulation data sensors are enhanced to track strain component results. You can track any strain component available in strain result plots (elemental values).

Service Pack 2.0

SOLIDWORKS CEF Sub Process

SOLIDWORKS integrates the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF). In the Microsoft Windows Task Manager, one or more instances of SOLIDWORKS CEF Sub Process, swCefSubProc.exe, appear when you use SOLIDWORKS.

Standalone Install Guide

For concise instructions on how to install a standalone seat of SOLIDWORKS, see SOLIDWORKS Standalone Install Guide.

Service Pack 1.0

Installation - 3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace Add-In

The 3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace Add-in is installed by default with SOLIDWORKS 2020 SP1.0 and later. The add-in allows easier interaction between 3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace services and SOLIDWORKS by bringing the tools right into your modeling environment.

SOLIDWORKS CAM

There are no items specific to SOLIDWORKS CAM at this time.

SOLIDWORKS Composer

There are no items specific to SOLIDWORKS Composer at this time.

SOLIDWORKS Electrical

System and Graphics Requirements

To use SOLIDWORKS Electrical 2020 with SQL Server® 2014 or SQL Server® 2014 Express, you must install Service Pack 3 or later. To upgrade your SQL Server 2014 or SQL Server 2014 Express installation to SP3, download the service pack here.

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation

Service Pack 2.0

Updated Online Help

For all supported languages, the content of Online Help is updated for SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation 2020 SP2.

SOLIDWORKS Inspection

There are no items specific to SOLIDWORKS Inspection at this time.

SOLIDWORKS PCB

There are no items specific to SOLIDWORKS PCB at this time.

SOLIDWORKS Plastics

Documentation

The SOLIDWORKS Plastics tutorials PDF is available only in English.

Service Pack 3.0

New Multi-Material Overmolding Injection Process

A new multi-material overmolding injection process is available for parts you design with two-shot or multi-shot overmolding injections processes. When creating a new Plastics study, for Injection Process, select Multi Material Overmolding.

Within one injection cycle, you can inject sequentially a maximum of 6 polymer materials into the various cavities of your multi-material overmolding design (one material per cavity).

Updates for the Plastics Material Library

The plastics material library features the following updates:
  • Added new material grades from SABIC Innovative Plastics and Asahi Kasei Plastics North America.
  • Reclassified a Chevron Phillips grade from HDPE to MDPE.
  • Renamed grades from Trinseo (formerly Dow Chemical and Dow Chemical Europe).
  • Removed obsolete grades from Trinseo and RadiciGroup.
  • Removed duplicate grade Generic PET+30%GF.

Service Pack 2.0

Tutorials

The SOLIDWORKS Plastics tutorials PDF is now available in Japanese.

SOLIDWORKS Visualize

System and Graphics Requirements

For SOLIDWORKS Visualize 2020 to work properly with GPU support, your graphics driver needs to meet these requirements:
  • For RTX-enabled Turing cards (Turing™ TU10x), a minimum driver version of 430.86 is required to support the RT cores.
  • For all other NVIDIA GPUs, a minimum driver version of 419.69 is required.
    NVIDIA driver support for some older mobile Kepler GPUs is ending soon. See End of Driver Support for Quadro Kepler-series Notebook Products.

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

For a comparison of render performance across different NVIDIA graphics cards, see SOLIDWORKS Visualize Benchmarks.

Functionality

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

A new option, Allow denoiser from pass, in Tools > Options > 3D Viewport > Denoiser, lets you specify at what pass your scene starts using the Denoiser.

Service Pack 4.0

Functionality

  • Fixed a crash that occurs when you relaunch SOLIDWORKS Visualize after reducing its main window size to the minimum width.
  • Fixed a crash with duplicating objects in the Models tree.

Service Pack 3.0

Functionality

  • Added functionality to support the 3DEXPERIENCE Connector for Visualize when it becomes available on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
  • Resolved a problem for general instability of the Queue application.
  • Added support for sorting MDL appearances in Palette.

Service Pack 2.0

Functionality

  • Made several improvements to the stability, performance, and visual consistency of the AMD ProRender integration.
  • Fixed a series of problems in the context of multiple model sets and animations.

Service Pack 1.0

Functionality

  • Improved the integration of SOLIDWORKS PDM to use default dialogs and workflows, and to be more consistent to other integrations.
  • Fixed an issue with bump maps on curved surfaces that led to unwanted faceting effects in Accurate and Fast render modes.
  • Fixed several problems and usability issues with the animation timeline.
  • Made several improvements to the integration of AMD ProRender.
  • Fixed the automatic update of textures (in appearance, backplate, background, and decal), which did not recognize file changes in certain situations.
  • Fixed a problem with online and evaluation licensing for Queue.
  • Resolved an issue where some SOLIDWORKS parts and assemblies failed to import to SOLIDWORKS Visualize.