SOLIDWORKS Drawing Documents

Exporting Drawings with PDMPublisher

Exporting SOLIDWORKS drawings using PDMPublisher works similarly to exporting active assemblies or parts, but there are a few key differences to keep in mind to ensure that the output files are generated correctly.

Supported 2D Export Formats

PDMPublisher will only export drawing documents to 2D formats, so you must make sure that one or more of the following file formats are selected before publishing:

These formats can be selected in the File Formats dropdown within the Output section of the PDMPublisher panel.

Drawing Properties vs. Model Properties

Unlike SOLIDWORKS itself, PDMPublisher does not pull custom properties from the referenced model when exporting a drawing. Instead, it uses the properties stored directly on the drawing document.

This means that if your drawing relies on model properties for fields such as Description, Part Number, or Revision, you should ensure that these properties are also set on the drawing itself. If not, the exported file name and metadata may be incomplete or incorrect.

For example: If your drawing uses $PRPSHEET:"Description" in the title block, make sure the drawing file itself has the “Description” property defined. PDMPublisher will not backfill it from the associated model.

Special Case: Exporting PDF from Active Part or Assembly

When you initiate an export from an active part or assembly and select a 2D format such as PDF, PDMPublisher will attempt to automatically locate and open the associated drawing that:

Is located in the same folder as the active part or assembly
Has the same base file name

For example, if you export from Bracket.SLDPRT and select PDF, PDMPublisher will look for Bracket.SLDDRW in the same directory. If found, that drawing will be opened and exported to the specified 2D format automatically.

If no matching drawing is found, the export will fail for that format.

Special Case: PDM Tasks

When PDMPublisher is used in a PDM Task (such as a workflow transition or scheduled export), there is an additional setting that allows it to search for the drawing if one is not found in the same folder. This option is useful in environments where drawings may be stored in a different location than their models.

If enabled, PDMPublisher will perform a vault-wide search for a drawing with the same file name as the part or assembly being processed. If a matching drawing is found anywhere in the vault, it will be used for the 2D export. If no match is found, the task will skip that file for drawing export.

Summary

Drawing exports use the same workflow as assemblies and parts.
Only PDF, DWG, and DXF are valid export formats for drawings.
Ensure drawing properties are set, since PDMPublisher does not pull from the referenced model.
If exporting a 2D format from a part or assembly, PDMPublisher will try to find and export a drawing with the same name in the same folder.