Converting SLDASM to 3D PDF gives reviewers, customers and shop-floor staff an assembly they can rotate, section and measure in a plain PDF reader, no SOLIDWORKS or eDrawings install needed. PDMPublisher writes the 3D PDF in the same job as the drawing PDFs and STEP files, so a review package is one Publish, or one SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional workflow transition.
What you get
3D PDF – MBD (_3dpdf) is the model-based-definition output: the assembly embedded in a PDF that opens in Adobe Reader with rotate, zoom and section tools. Right for design reviews with people who will never install CAD.
The two PDF outputs differ: 3D PDF – MBD exports the model, Adobe PDF (pdf) exports the same-name drawing in the same folder. Tick either or both. You get one 3D PDF for the assembly, one per component with Export references to file formats individually, one per configuration with Convert multiple configurations. SOLIDWORKS’ current 3D PDF export options apply.
The manual way, and why it doesn’t scale
Open the top-level assembly, File > Save As, pick 3D PDF, name it, save. That’s the active configuration only. Repeat for every part you want as its own file, and again for every configuration.
Fine for one machine. For a 200-component release redone at every revision, it’s a day of clicking and a folder that never matches the BOM. The drawing PDFs are made separately and named differently.
Convert SLDASM to 3D PDF with the add-in
- Open the top-level assembly in SOLIDWORKS, references resolved (Get Latest first).
- On the PDMPublisher tab, select Settings, then Publish.
- Set Export location: a fixed or UNC folder, or placeholders from the
>...menu. - Set the Filename pattern, such as
(FileNameWithoutExtension)-(Revision); the extension is added for you. - Under File formats, tick 3D PDF – MBD (
_3dpdf); other ticked formats come out in the same pass. - Leave Export references to file formats individually off for one file of the whole assembly, or tick it for a
._3dpdfper part and sub-assembly too. No BOM template needed here. - Tick Convert multiple configurations with
(ConfigurationName)in the filename. The Configuration Filter includes (PROD*) or excludes (*Flat*) by wildcard. - Tick Adobe PDF (
pdf) too for the drawing PDFs: PDMPublisher looks forConveyor.SLDDRWbesideConveyor.SLDASM. - Select
PDMPublisher > Publish, confirm the review dialog, and check Publishing results afterwards.
In PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS, 3D PDF – MBD needs Premium. The free Community Edition does PDF, DXF and STEP only, up to 5 references per run.
Automate it as a PDM task
PDMPublisher for PDM Professional runs the same engine as a task, so the assembly becomes 3D PDF on a state change.
- In PDM Administration, right-click Tasks, select New Task, choose PDMPublisher and name it.
- On the Options page, set Export Location (
(VaultRootFolder)\Exports\3D PDF, no trailing backslash) and Filename; PDM variables such as($PartNumber)work here. - Under File Formats, tick 3D PDF – MBD. Keep Export affected document on so the assembly itself is exported.
- For the components too, set Template to a PDM BOM layout (name, configuration and quantity columns) and enable Export references to file formats individually.
- Enable Convert multiple configurations and the Configuration Filter as in the add-in.
- Tick Adobe PDF as well for the drawings, and Use PDM search to locate drawings if they aren’t beside their models.
- Pick Use this version of SOLIDWORKS. For release workflows, enable Get latest revision only; it exports the version tied to the newest revision.
- Attach the task to a workflow transition, leave it in the right-click menu, or run it from Scheduled Items.
Settings that matter for 3D PDF
| Setting | What it does | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Export location | Output folder: vault, relative, UNC or outside. Created if missing. | (TopAssemblyFolder)\Exports\(Revision) works; no trailing backslash. |
| Filename | Static text, placeholders, custom properties or PDM variables. | (ConfigurationName) for configurations, (Revision) for released files. |
| File formats | Tick 3D PDF – MBD (_3dpdf) for the model. Adobe PDF (pdf) exports the same-name drawing instead. | Tick both for drawing PDF and 3D PDF from one job. |
| Export references to file formats individually | One file per part and sub-assembly, beside the top-level export. | Task: needs a BOM Template with name, configuration and quantity columns. |
| Convert multiple configurations | Every assembly configuration, not just the active one. | Needs a configuration-specific filename. |
| Use PDM search to locate drawings (task) | Finds a model’s drawing anywhere in the vault. | Task only; the add-in needs the drawing beside the model. |
Naming and folders
Placeholders resolve when the job starts, so every file is named the same way:
(FileNameWithoutExtension)-(Revision)-3D:Conveyor-B-3D.pdfin(TopAssemblyFolder)\Review; the suffix tells it apart from the drawing PDF at a glance.(FileNameWithoutExtension)-(ConfigurationName)with Convert multiple configurations: one interactive PDF per assembly configuration.(VaultRootFolder)\Review Packages\($ProjectNumber)\(State)in the task: 3D PDFs filed by project and workflow state.
Customize Location (Premium in the add-in, standard in the task) gives
_3dpdfits own folder. Both outputs end in_3dpdfits own folder or a filename suffix, or the model PDF overwrites the drawing PDF.
Tips and troubleshooting
- 3D PDF needs a Premium key, entered under
PDMPublisher > License Key. The PDM task is licensed per vault, 7-day trial, every format included. - Ticking PDF on an assembly exports the same-name drawing, not the model. Use 3D PDF – MBD (
_3dpdf) for the model. - Missing drawing PDFs? In the add-in each drawing must sit beside its model with the same name; in the task, enable Use PDM search to locate drawings.
- Missing references? The job needs local copies of every reference. Get Latest first.
- Invalid formats for the source type are dropped; some depend on the SOLIDWORKS version where the job runs.
Availability
Available in PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS (the add-in) and PDMPublisher for PDM Professional (the task).
Documentation and related features
- Run a Publish Job (PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS)
- File Formats option
- SOLIDWORKS assembly documents
- SOLIDWORKS drawing documents
- Extension-specific export locations
- Run as a SOLIDWORKS PDM task
- Convert SLDPRT to 3D PDF
- Convert an assembly to a PDF drawing package
- Convert SLDASM to eDrawings
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PDF and 3D PDF for an assembly in PDMPublisher?
3D PDF – MBD (_3dpdf) exports the model as an interactive 3D PDF. Adobe PDF (pdf) exports the same-name drawing in the same folder. Tick both to get both.
Can I make a 3D PDF of every configuration of an assembly?
Yes. Enable Convert multiple configurations and add (ConfigurationName) to the filename; each configuration becomes its own 3D PDF.
Can I get a 3D PDF of each part in the assembly too?
Yes. Enable Export references to file formats individually; each part and sub-assembly becomes its own 3D PDF. The task needs a BOM Template for that.
Do I need SOLIDWORKS MBD to export 3D PDF with PDMPublisher?
PDMPublisher uses the 3D PDF export of the SOLIDWORKS running the job; a format it can’t write is dropped.