These Release Notes contain information about new and changed functionality that was not available when the documentation was completed. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to this document and the online help, which is updated with each eDrawings Service Pack.
Microsoft� Windows� XP Professional with Service Pack 2, Windows� 2000 (Service Pack 2 or later), Windows NT� 4.0 with Service Pack 6 or later, Windows Me, or Windows� 98 2nd Edition. The eDrawings Viewer version 2004 is not supported on Windows 95.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater.
One of the following applications:
SolidWorks 2004
AutoCAD� version R14.x, AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD 2002, or AutoCAD 2004 (NOTE: eDrawings 2004 opens DXF/DWG files directly, including MDT files)
Pro/ENGINEER� 2000i2, Pro/ENGINEER 2001, or Pro/ENGINEER� Wildfire�
CATIA V5� R10 or CATIA V5 R11
Mouse or other pointing device.
128 MB RAM minimum recommended.
The quality and performance of graphics can depend on the choice of graphics adapter and driver version. To help you avoid known graphics adapter and driver version specific problems, SolidWorks has tested several commonly used graphics adapters and driver combinations. The current list of tested adapters and drivers is available at http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/VideoCardTesting.html.
Using eDrawings 2004 with a graphics adapter and driver version combination from the recommended list will ensure optimum graphics quality and performance. In several cases, using a different graphics adapter and driver version combination results in serious display problems and in some cases causes instability problems.
To correct any graphics issues, use the software OpenGL option under Tools, Options.
Installing Multiple versions of eDrawings. Only one version of eDrawings can be integrated with the SolidWorks application at any time on the same machine. The integrated version of eDrawings is the most recently installed version. Other versions of eDrawings installed on the same machine are not integrated with SolidWorks, which means you cannot use the publish or animate functionality corresponding to those other versions of eDrawings within SolidWorks. However, you can continue to use those other versions as standalone installations and the Save As *.eprt/*.easm/*.edrw functionality in SolidWorks is still available.
Installation Choices. There is no longer a choice between upgrading or installing a new installation. Within a major revision (for example, from Service Pack 0 to Service Pack 1), the installer automatically upgrades the existing version of eDrawings to the new version. Between major revisions (for example, from eDrawings 2003 to eDrawings 2004), the installer automatically installs a new version of eDrawings.
Silent Installations. To start a silent installation (without the display of a user interface or dialog boxes), use the /i and /qn options of the msiexec.exe command. Set the global properties for those installation options that you want to be different from the default values. For example, enter a command in the form:
msiexec /i "<Msi_path>"
INSTALLDIR="<path_and_folder>"
REGCODELICENSE="<eDrawings_Professional_license_key>"
ADDLOCAL=eDrawingsViewer,PublisherForSolidWorks,PublisherForAutoCADR14,PublisherForAutoCAD2000,PublisherForAutoCAD2004
A sample command line is:
msiexec /i "<Msi_path>" INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\<your_chosen_folder>" REGCODELICENSE="<eDrawings_Professional_license_key>" ADDLOCAL=eDrawingsViewer,PublisherForSolidWorks /qn
NOTES:
The license key for REGCODELICENSE is not required for the free eDrawings Viewer, SolidWorks Office, or SolidWorks Office Professional users. eDrawings Professional features are already enabled from SolidWorks Office and SolidWorks Office Professional. A license key for REGCODELICENSE is only required for individual eDrawings Professional licenses (non SolidWorks Office or SolidWorks Office Professional licenses).
By default, the eDrawings silent installation installs the eDrawings Viewer and automatically detects and installs the Publisher for SolidWorks, and the AutoCAD publishers (AutoCAD R14, AutoCAD 2000, and AutoCAD 2004.) Use the ADDLOCAL property to specify which products to install. In the sample command line, only eDrawings Viewer and the Publisher for SolidWorks is installed, as well as eDrawings Professional.
SolidNetWork License. eDrawings Professional floats on the SolidNetWork License (SNL) with SolidWorks Office.
Virus warning message. You may receive a virus warning message when you download eDrawings. This happens because anti-virus software on your machine detects that the installation calls a local executable on your machine. You get this warning when you install any program that uses Windows Installer, such as eDrawings. The eDrawings application does not contain any viruses. We recommend you temporarily disable your anti-virus program before you install eDrawings, otherwise, some DLLs and registry settings may not be implemented correctly.
Broken and perspective views created in SolidWorks drawings will not be shaded in eDrawings.
Parts, assemblies, and drawings that are displayed in SolidWorks with perspective will be displayed without perspective when opened in the eDrawings Viewer.
When you send eDrawings files, do not have the default outgoing email format set to HTML because this creates viewing problems for the email recipient.
OLE objects. OLE objects in eDrawings part and assembly files are static items. The OLE objects do not move with the model.
If your printer experiences 'Out of Memory' errors when printing from eDrawings, click Troubleshoot in the Print dialog box. If you cannot resolve the printer problem, report the problem to Technical Support at support@eDrawingsViewer.com.
For help with eDrawings or eDrawings Professional, contact your local reseller. If you have not purchased the software from a reseller, visit the eDrawings support page or email Technical Support at support@eDrawingsViewer.com.
Executables. When you open an eDrawings executable, you can use the embedded eDrawings Viewer to open files other than just the embedded eDrawings file. Previously you could open only the embedded eDrawings file with the embedded eDrawings Viewer.
Gtols.sym File Directory. For native SolidWorks drawing documents, you can browse to specify a directory for the gtols.sym file. Open the SolidWorks drawing document in the eDrawings Viewer, click Options, Import, clear Use default, then click Browse to specify the gtols.sym file to use.
Print Scale 100% (Drawings only). You can print drawings at their actual size; a model dimension of 100mm prints at 100mm. Select Scale 100% in the Print dialog box.
Save as STL. You can control whether native SolidWorks part or assembly documents that you save as eDrawings files can be exported from the eDrawings Viewer as STL files. When you save the document from the SolidWorks application, in the Save As dialog box, click Options, then select Allow export to STL for parts and assemblies to allow the recipient of the eDrawings file to export it as an STL file. If you open the native SolidWorks document in the eDrawings Viewer, click File, Save As, and select Allow STL Export. You also have this option when you save Pro/ENGINEER files using the eDrawings Publisher for Pro/ENGINEER.
Standard View Orientations. The What's New in SolidWorks 2004 book incorrectly states that eDrawings 2004 supports import of standard views from SolidWorks documents. eDrawings 2004 does not import the standard views from SolidWorks documents.
eDrawings
Publisher for Pro/ENGINEER. In the Pro/ENGINEER
Embedded OLE objects in native SolidWorks documents are now visible in the eDrawings Viewer.
In the Print dialog box, you now have the option to print what is currently shown in the window.
No items for Service Pack 3.
eDrawings for CATIA V5. In the CATIA V5 application, use this publisher to create eDrawings files from the native application's part, assembly, or drawing files. Geometric Software Solutions developed and distributes this publisher.
Download eDrawings for CATIA V5 from the Geometric Software Solutions web site at http://www.geometricsoftware.com/edrawings/catia/default.asp.
Notes
The eDrawings application now supports Windows XP Service Pack 2.
The eDrawings help is now delivered as compiled help, which includes the search capability.