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Convert SLDDRW to eDrawings (EDRW) automatically

Converting SLDDRW to eDrawings gives reviewers without SOLIDWORKS a drawing they can zoom, measure and mark up in the free eDrawings viewer. PDMPublisher writes the .edrw in the same job as the PDF. The SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional task also applies the eDrawings preferences that make the file measurable, whoever is logged in on the task host.

File formats dropdown in PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS listing PDF, MBD, drawing, eDrawings, CAD interchange and image formats with extensions and icons
The File formats selector groups PDF and MBD, drawings (DWG, DXF), eDrawings, CAD interchange, web and image formats; tick as many as one job needs.

What you get

eDrawings is the SOLIDWORKS review format: small, free to view and, when allowed, measurable. A drawing becomes an eDrawings Drawing (edrw); parts become eprt and assemblies easm, all in the eDrawings group of the File formats list.

PDMPublisher writes one .edrw per drawing. Before saving, the PDM task applies three settings: allow measurement, save file properties in the exported file, and save file properties for each component where the output contains assembly components. So the result no longer depends on the eDrawings preferences of the Windows account running SOLIDWORKS on the task host (task version 2026.08.12 and later). The add-in uses the running SOLIDWORKS’ preferences. HTML (html) in the Web group needs eDrawings Professional.

The manual way, and why it doesn’t scale

Open the drawing, File > Save As, pick eDrawings (*.edrw), name it with the revision, save. Next drawing, same again. Internal reference or manufacturing sheets mean deleting sheets first or cleaning up after.

Fine for one drawing. For forty drawings at every revision it’s an afternoon of clicking, and the names depend on who did the saving. And whether the recipient can measure depends on a checkbox in the Save As dialog that someone forgot.

Convert SLDDRW to eDrawings with the add-in

  1. Open the drawing in SOLIDWORKS, saved, references resolved (Get Latest first in a vault).
  2. On the PDMPublisher tab, select Settings, then Publish.
  3. Set Export location: a fixed or UNC folder, or placeholders from the >... menu such as (TopAssemblyFolder)\Exports\(Revision).
  4. Set the Filename pattern, such as (FileNameWithoutExtension)-(Revision); .edrw is added for you.
  5. Under File formats, tick eDrawings Drawing (edrw); other ticked formats come out in the same pass.
  6. Under Sheets to export, keep All sheets, or pick Sheets matching name with a wildcard Sheet name such as Sheet* or (ConfigurationName)* to leave internal sheets out.
  7. Tick Adobe PDF as well when the review set needs a printable copy; both come from the same job.
  8. Select PDMPublisher > Publish, confirm the review dialog, and check Publishing results afterwards.

In PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS, eDrawings Drawing needs Premium. The free Community Edition does PDF, DXF and STEP only.

Automate it as a PDM task

PDMPublisher for PDM Professional runs the same engine as a task, so the drawing becomes eDrawings on a state change, not when somebody remembers.

  1. In PDM Administration, right-click Tasks, select New Task, choose PDMPublisher and name it. Tick the task hosts under Execution Method.
  2. On the Options page, set Export Location ((VaultRootFolder)\Exports\eDrawings, no trailing backslash) and Filename. PDM variables such as ($PartNumber) are in the >... menu.
  3. Under File Formats, tick eDrawings Drawing (edrw). Keep Export affected document on so the drawing that launched the task is exported. There’s no extra eDrawings checkbox; the measurement and file-property preferences are applied automatically.
  4. Set Sheets to export and the Sheet name pattern as in the add-in.
  5. Update PDMPublisher on every computer that can run the task, and make sure the Windows account running it can start the configured SOLIDWORKS version.
  6. Pick Use this version of SOLIDWORKS (a year on the task host, or Latest). For release workflows, enable Get latest revision only; it exports the version tied to the newest revision and its saved references.
  7. Attach the task to a workflow transition, leave it in the right-click menu, or run it from Scheduled Items.

Settings that matter for eDrawings

SettingWhat it doesTip
Export locationOutput folder: vault, relative, UNC or outside. Created if missing.(TopAssemblyFolder)\Exports\(Revision) works; no trailing backslash.
FilenameStatic text, placeholders, custom properties or PDM variables.(Revision) for released files; keep names unique.
File formatsTick eDrawings Drawing (edrw); invalid formats are dropped.Several formats per job.
eDrawings export settings (task)Allows measurement and saves file properties (and per-component properties) in the exported file.Automatic in task 2026.08.12+; no checkbox.
Sheets to exportAll sheets, or Sheets matching name.A one-sheet drawing always exports its only sheet.
Sheet name pattern* any text, ? one character; (ConfigurationName) evaluated first.No match on a multi-sheet drawing exports every sheet and logs the fallback (2026.08.09+).

Naming and folders

Placeholders resolve when the job starts, so every eDrawings file is named and filed the same way:

  • (FileNameWithoutExtension)-(Revision): Housing-B.edrw in (TopAssemblyFolder)\Exports\eDrawings.
  • (VaultRootFolder)\Review\($ProjectNumber)\(TargetExtension) in the task: an edrw folder beside the pdf folder for the same project.
  • ($PartNumber)_($Description): descriptive names for reviewers who don’t know the CAD filenames.

Customize Location (Premium in the add-in, standard in the task) gives the edrw row its own folder, overriding the main Export location for that format only. Review files often go to a shared review folder while PDFs stay in the vault.

Tips and troubleshooting

  • eDrawings is outside the Community Edition set (PDF, DXF, STEP). Activate a Premium key under PDMPublisher > License Key. The PDM task is licensed per vault with a 7-day trial and includes every format.
  • Invalid formats are dropped for the source type (STEP on a drawing, say), and some depend on the SOLIDWORKS version where the job runs.
  • Recipients can’t measure in the file? From the task, the measurement preference is applied automatically in 2026.08.12 and later; update the task add-in on every task host. From the add-in, check the eDrawings export preferences of the running SOLIDWORKS.
  • Need html output? It needs eDrawings Professional on the computer running the job.
  • Can’t see the exported files? You need add and edit permission in the export location. The vault root is usually locked; target a subfolder like (VaultRootFolder)\Exports.

Availability

Available in PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS (the add-in) and PDMPublisher for PDM Professional (the task).

Documentation and related features

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert a SOLIDWORKS drawing to eDrawings automatically?

Tick eDrawings Drawing (edrw) under File formats, set the export location and filename, and Publish. Or attach a PDM Professional task with the same setting to a workflow transition.

Will the eDrawings file allow measurement?

From the PDM task, yes: version 2026.08.12 and later applies the allow-measurement and save-file-properties preferences before saving. The add-in uses the running SOLIDWORKS’ eDrawings preferences.

Can I export eDrawings and PDF of the same drawing together?

Yes. Tick both under File formats; every ticked format is written in one pass.

Is eDrawings available in the free Community Edition?

No. Community Edition of the add-in does PDF, DXF and STEP only. eDrawings needs Premium; the PDM task includes all formats.

Where to next

PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS · PDMPublisher for PDM Professional · All features · Conversion guides · Pricing · Documentation · Contact

The SOLIDWORKS add-in is free to start as the Community Edition. The PDM Professional task comes with a 7-day trial. Download the add-in or start the task trial.