How To Fix Solidworks Encoutering A Serious Problem In Opening A File

How To Troubleshoot an Assembly in SOLIDWORKS That Won't Open

According to Murphy's Police force, file corruption will occur shortly before a deadline. Nobody wants to redo work they've already done with the clock begetting down on them. Regardless of what caused a file to become corrupt (random network glitches, bad geometry imported from other CAD formats, power fluctuations, improper shutdowns, sunspots, ancient curses) SOLIDWORKS provides some powerful tools to help us observe and fix bug. If an associates won't open the problem is most likely an individual component of that assembly. To set it, first we must effigy out which one it is. Or just let SOLIDWORKS do information technology for you lot!

Motorcar Repair Function

SOLIDWORKS 2017 added an automatic function for repairing corrupted files. If you try to open up a decadent file it may exist able to repair, a dialog box will ask Would you like SOLIDWORKS to attempt to repair the file? Give it a shot! The tool attempts to identify damaged segments, remove them and relieve a re-create of the original. If damaged components were removed, the repaired associates will open up without them. You tin can take it from there.

Restore from a Fill-in

If yous have Motorcar-recover and Backup options enabled, and the abuse happened recently, you may be in luck. Try restoring from the file paths listed under Options > System Options > Backup/Recover.

File Backup in SOLIDWORKS
Brand sure you take the Windows File Explorer set up to view subconscious items so you can browse to those paths.
Hidden view in SOLIDWORKS

Click to enlarge

If Machine Repair fails and a fill-in copy is either not available, too out of engagement or also decadent, all is non lost. We have even so more tools at our disposal.

Avant-garde Configuration Method

My favorite way of finding a corrupt component is by creating a troubleshooting configuration from the Open dialog box. This method has been available since SOLIDWORKS 2012, so if you're backside by a few releases you can still go the job washed. Use the following procedure:

Launch SOLIDWORKS with no files open. Click on Open.
Browse to the assembly which won't open and select it, but practice not hit Open up still.
From the Configuration drop-downwards carte du jour select Advanced.

Advanced configuration method in SOLIDWORKS

Click on Open to bring upward the Configure Document dialog box.
Select New configuration showing associates structure just and type in the name of your choice.

Document configuration in SOLIDWORKS

Click Ok to open the assembly in the new configuration with all components suppressed.
Right-click the first component in the tree and select Set to Resolved.

If the base component loaded successfully, work your way downwards the tree resolving components until you observe i that fails. If information technology'south a subassembly, echo this procedure on that file to narrow down which component is corrupt. If you find a decadent function, you lot can remove it from the associates and supervene upon it equally you lot encounter fit.

Large Blueprint Review Mode Method

This handy feature was also added fashion back in SOLIDWORKS 2012 so fifty-fifty large assemblies can open up very fast. Only the bare minimum component data is loaded in retentivity, just enough for the assembly to be displayed and examined.

This method loads more data than the Advanced Configuration method does, but it's nevertheless probable to work for troubleshooting. A major divergence here is you'll be able to see the components before you lot fully load them into RAM. Use the following process:

Launch SOLIDWORKS with no files open. Click Open.
Scan to the assembly which won't open and select it, merely do not click on Open withal.
Under the Mode settings select Large Design Review, then open up the file.

Large_design_review_in_SOLIDWORKS

4. Click Ok on the Big Design Review popup if information technology appears.
5. Click on Selective Open on the Large Design Review Command Manager tab.

Selective open option in SOLIDWORKS

Select a part in the FeatureManager Tree yous remember is probably not corrupt, then click on Open Selected.

If you got this far you will no longer be in Large Blueprint Review manner. The part yous selected volition be fully loaded into memory and all other components volition be hidden. A popup will warn you about subconscious components note being loaded in memory.

Under normal circumstances hiding components only makes them invisible to us, simply all the information is still in RAM for SOLIDWORKS to use. With this method you tin kickoff showing components one by one, and every bit each is shown information technology will also be fully loaded. When one of them fails, you take found your corrupt component.

I advise expanding the Brandish Pane to speed this task up. (Small flyout arrow at the top correct of the Manager tabs above the tree.) Instead of selecting components one at a time and picking the creepy eyeball icon from the popup toolbar, you can toggle hibernate/show condition with one click. However, it may non be available if you didn't select the Edit assembly checkbox next to Large Design Review in the Open dialog box.

Edit assembly option in SOLIDWORKS

Inserting the Associates as a Subassembly

If y'all discover you tin can't open the assembly at all, but y'all tin load all the subassemblies and other components individually, at that place is a good chance your SLDASM file itself is the problem. You may however be able to salvage your work without re-creating the assembly. Use this process:

Launch SOLIDWORKS with no files open.
Create a new, empty assembly using the same template as the corrupt assembly, if possible.
Insert the decadent assembly into the new 1 as a subassembly. Hitting the green check without dropping the assembly in the graphics area to automatically fix the assembly origins and default planes together.

Inserting subassembly into SOLIDWORKS assembly

Right-click the subassembly in the FeatureManager Tree and select Dissolve Subassembly to move its components to the acme level of the new assembly.
Save the new SLDASM file with a new name, and test to make certain it works.

In rare cases when none of these methods work, it'south possible SOLIDWORKS Technical Support can recover a corrupted file. This often fails, and even when successful processing the service asking will take a few days. In many cases recreating the associates is the best pick. But using the above methods, there's an excellent take a chance you won't accept to burn the midnight oil to make that poorly timed borderline.

If yous want to larn more about assemblies in SOLIDWORKS, watch our on-demand webinar TriMech Tips and Tricks: Assemblies, where our Application Engineer routs out a multitude of tips and tricks he has learned from many years of experience.