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How to Export STEP Files from the Active SOLIDWORKS Document Using PDMPublisher

This article provides a step-by-step walkthrough for exporting a STEP file from the currently active SOLIDWORKS part using PDMPublisher. This workflow allows you to standardize file naming, choose export formats, and control export locations without manually using “Save As” operations inside SOLIDWORKS.

1. Enable the PDMPublisher Add-In

Before using PDMPublisher, ensure the add-in is enabled inside SOLIDWORKS.

1. Go to Tools → Add-Ins.
   1. Scroll down to the Other Add-Ins section.
   2. Locate PDMPublisher (SOLIDWORKS) and check both boxes:
   3. The left box enables it for the current session.
   4. The right box ensures it loads automatically at startup.
2. This guarantees that PDMPublisher will always be available when you launch SOLIDWORKS.

2. Set the Export Location

With the add-in loaded, switch to the PDMPublisher tab in the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane. The first step is to specify where the exported files will be stored.

In the Output section, define the Export Location. This can be a fixed directory such as C:\PDMpublisher, or any custom folder on your local or network drive. Use the Browse button to navigate to a location, or type the path directly.

3. Customize the Output Filename (Optional)

PDMPublisher allows dynamic file naming using built-in variables. This feature is especially useful when you want to include metadata such as revision numbers, configuration names, or PDM variables in the file name automatically.

Click inside the Filename field and use the dropdown button  >...  to insert elements such as:

• File name without extension
• Revision
• Configuration name
• Target extension
• SOLIDWORKS File Properties
• BOM quantity

For example, a template combining “File name without extension” and “Revision” will produce a result like membraneA-01.step.

Remark on Missing Variables

If a variable cannot be resolved in either the configuration-specific tab or the Custom tab, the pill turns red. This visual cue indicates that PDMPublisher will not be able to substitute a value for that variable at publish time. This behavior applies both in the Filename field and the Export Location field. It’s a simple but effective way to catch misnamed or undefined variables before publishing.

Remark on the >... Button

To the right of the Filename (or Export Location) field, there is a >... button. Clicking this opens a menu of special filename variables that can be inserted at any point in the naming pattern. These include:

• File name without extension
• Revision
• BOM Quantity
• Configuration name
• Extension
• Various SOLIDWORKS and PDM-specific properties

This feature allows users to build rich, metadata-driven file naming conventions that are automatically evaluated at publish time. It ensures consistent, traceable filenames across exported deliverables without requiring any manual editing.

Variable Pills and Evaluation Order

When you insert variables, they appear as “pills” inside the filename editor. Each pill represents a specific property or variable that will be evaluated when the file is published. PDMPublisher evaluates these pills from left to right, building the filename string dynamically in the exact order you define.

For example, if your filename template is:

[File name without extension] - [Revision] - [BOM Quantity]

The final exported file might be:

GrillAssembly-A01-5.step

depending on the document’s metadata.

Configuration-Specific Resolution

When PDMPublisher evaluates a variable pill, it first looks for a configuration-specific value. This is especially relevant for SOLIDWORKS file properties such as Description, Part Number, or Revision, which can differ between configurations. If the property exists at the configuration level, that value is used.

If the property is not found at the configuration level, PDMPublisher automatically falls back to the Custom tab value for that property. This behavior ensures consistent results even if some properties are defined globally rather than per configuration.

4. Select the STEP Format

Next, choose the output format. In the File Formats field, open the dropdown list and select step. You may also select other formats simultaneously (such as PDF or DXF), but for this example, only STEP is required.

This tells PDMPublisher to generate a .step file during the publishing operation.

5. Open the Active Document

PDMPublisher operates on the currently active SOLIDWORKS document. This means that before publishing, the part or assembly that you intend to export must be open and active in the SOLIDWORKS window.

If you attempt to publish without an active document, SOLIDWORKS will display an error message indicating that no document is currently open:

6. Run the Publish Operation

Once the export location, filename pattern, and file format are set, click the PUBLISH button at the bottom of the PDMPublisher panel.

PDMPublisher will process the active document and generate the required export files according to the selected configuration. This includes handling references, multiple formats, and naming conventions automatically.

7. Verify the Exported STEP File

Navigate to the folder you specified as the export location earlier. You should now find a STEP file generated from your active SOLIDWORKS model, named according to your chosen template.

For example, if your filename pattern included the base filename and revision, you might see a file such as:

C:\speaker project\membraneA-01.step

This file is ready for downstream use in CAM, manufacturing, or supplier collaboration.