Saving SOLIDWORKS Documents as Previous Versions

Addressing incompatible items might significantly change a model. Save a copy of the current model and address incompatible items in that copy before saving it as a previous version.

To save SOLIDWORKS documents as a previous version:

  1. Open or save a SOLIDWORKS document in the latest version of SOLIDWORKS.
  2. Click File > Save As.
  3. In the dialog box, for Save as type, select the previous version to which to save the document and click Save.

    If there are Incompatible Items or Other Items in the document, the Previous Release Check dialog box appears. Otherwise, the software saves the document as the previous version.

  4. Optional: In the dialog box, for Previous Release, you can change the previous version to which you want to save the model. The list of Incompatible Items and Other Items updates.
  5. Follow the guidelines in the dialog box. If there are incompatible items, the save-as process has been canceled. You must reinitiate the process after addressing incompatible items.
    1. On the Incompatible Items tab, review the Recommended Action to address the incompatible items.
    2. As you work through the items, click Update to refresh the list. The dialog box remains open as you address these items.
    3. On the Other Items tab, review the items that the software will automatically modify or delete.
    If the document contains only Other Items and no Incompatible Items, on the Other Items tab, click Proceed With Save to save the document to the previous version.
    After you address all the Incompatible Items, a message confirms that the document is fully compatible with the selected previous release.
  6. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to save the file to the selected previous release.