These file types can then be imported into SOLIDWORKS as feature-less solid bodies.Export the file in a CAD neutral file type (i.e.Install multiple versions of SOLIDWORKS.Upgrade the system that is seeing the future version message.What can we do to work around this disconnect? The most commonly experienced scenario is when a company upgrades SOLIDWORKS to the most current version, but their vendor is still operating in the previous version. You’ll see the normal SOLIDWORKS feature manager but the tree will be limited to one feature. Which would mean that opening a new file in an older version would surely create an issue in the code.)Īn enhancement was implemented in SOLIDWORKS 2018 SP5 that allows the user to open and view future version SOLIDWORKS files. In previous versions of SOLIDWORKS the Hole Wizard didn’t contain the slot option. Once a file gets saved with this new tech, it becomes locked, and this version can no longer be opened in previous releases. Every year SOLIDWORKS enhances their software with new tools or performance enhancements. SOLIDWORKS forward compatibility doesn’t exist due to the ever evolving software package.

SOLIDWORKS 2018 can open files created in 2017 and older) Forward Compatibility The SOLIDWORKS software has always been backward compatible meaning that the most recent version of SOLIDWORKS can open any previous version SOLIDWORKS file extension. In this quick article we’re going to list the reasons SOLIDWORKS files aren’t forward compatible and the options we have to work around the file version.įirst let’s discuss SOLIDWORKS file compatibility. So how does one avoid this problem in the future? Perhaps you’ve even caused this grief for another user. If you’re a SOLIDWORKS user then chances are high you’ve seen the dreaded “future version” file error.

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