File Preparation Assistant Dialog Box

You can use File Preparation Assistant to evaluate your files for common issues before saving the files to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

SOLIDWORKS provides information on common issues in the model like duplicate file names, missing file references, and missing configuration references.

This information applies to SOLIDWORKS if you enable the Design with SOLIDWORKS app.

To evaluate SOLIDWORKS files with the File Preparation Assistant:

  1. In SOLIDWORKS, click Tools > File Preparation Assistant.
  2. In the dialog box, click Add Folder.
  3. In the Browse for Folder dialog box, select a folder and click OK.
  4. Under Backup and Logs, select folders for:
    • Select a folder in which to create a backup

      Stores a copy of modified files in the backup folder.

    • Select a folder in which to create a log files

      Stores log files created by the evaluation.

  5. Under Options, select the items to evaluate:
    Replace leading/trailing spaces in filenames with "_" Replaces leading or trailing spaces in a file name with an underscore "_".
    Detect duplicate files and prompt to merge Searches for duplicate files.

    When duplicate files are found, the Merge Duplicates dialog box opens.

    Select an option:

    • Match on filename

      Checks for identical file names.

    • Match on filename and configuration names

      Checks for identical file names, configuration names, and the number of configurations.

    • Match on filename and file creation timestamp

      Checks for identical file names and file creation timestamps.
    Extend filenames to be at least three characters Adds an underscore "_" to a file name when a file name has only one or two characters.

    3DSearch requires at least three characters in a file name to index the file.
    Detect 3DInterconnect references Identifies files that have 3DInterconnect references and lists the files in the log file.

    No changes are made to the SOLIDWORKS files.
    Detect missing file references Identifies missing file references and provides details in the log file.

    No changes are made to the SOLIDWORKS files.

    If files moved after the last save of the model, missing file warnings are generated for the moved files.
    Detect missing configuration references Identifies missing configuration references and provides details in the log file.

    No changes are made to the SOLIDWORKS files.
    Check custom property values Identifies files where the attribute mapping will fail because of mismatched data types.

    To add a custom property check:

    1. Select Check custom property values.
    2. Click Custom Property Checks
    3. In the dialog box, add the name of a SOLIDWORKS custom property for SOLIDWORKS Custom Property Name.
    4. Select an option for the Mapped Attribute Data Type.
    5. Click OK.
  6. Click Start.
  7. After the evaluation is done, review the log file folder for information on potential issues before saving the model to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.