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3D Annotations

SOLIDWORKS part and assembly documents support 3D annotations according to the ASME Y14.41-2003 standard.

To turn on annotation view mode, right-click the Annotations folder and select Enable Annotation View Visibility.

3D annotations are organized according to the model's orthographic views, such as front, bottom, isometric, etc. These orientations are called annotation views, and they replicate the standard drawing view orientations. Annotation views can be created automatically or manually.

By default, one annotation view exists for parts and assemblies: Unassigned Items . This view contains any annotations that were not inserted into a specific annotation view. Double-click any annotation view to see the annotations in the view. A highlighted blue icon indicates when an annotation view is active.

After you create annotation views in the model, you can use these views in a drawing. The annotation views are converted into 2D drawing views so that the annotations you inserted in the model appear in the drawing.

3D annotations in parts are not dynamically linked to their corresponding drawings. If you change a 3D annotation in a part, the drawing is not updated. You need to re-insert the drawing view for the change to take effect.

Inserting 3D Annotations

You can insert 3D annotations into parts and assemblies. The SOLIDWORKS software organizes 3D annotations according to the model's orthographic views, such as front, bottom, isometric, etc. These orientations are called annotation views, and they replicate the standard drawing view orientations.

After you create annotation views in the model, you can use these views in a drawing. The annotation views are converted into 2D drawing views; the annotations you inserted in the model are retained in the drawing.

3D annotations in parts are not dynamically linked to their corresponding drawings. If you change a 3D annotation in a part, the drawing is not updated. You need to re-create the drawing view for the change to take effect.

To insert 3D annotations:

In a part or assembly, click a tool on the Annotation toolbar.
Click to place the symbol in the model.
If Automatically Place into Annotation Views is selected, the annotation is added to an annotation view in the Annotations folder in the FeatureManager design tree, otherwise the symbol is added to the Unassigned Items view.
If you insert a 3D annotation in a sheet metal part, a Flat pattern annotation view is automatically created in the Annotations folder. When you select the Flat pattern annotation view, the Flatten tool is unavailable.