Feature Comparison

Compare the standard SOLIDWORKS Task Add-in with PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS and PDMPublisher Task.

Feature	SOLIDWORKS Task Add-in	PDMPublisher (SOLIDWORKS) Free	PDMPublisher (SOLIDWORKS) Premium	PDMPublisher Task
Export to PDF Generate PDF files from SOLIDWORKS drawings and supported documents.	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Export to STEP (.step/.stp) Export 3D models to neutral STEP format for suppliers, customers, and downstream systems.	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Export to DXF Export drawings and sheet metal flat patterns to DXF format.	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Export to DWG Export SOLIDWORKS drawings to DWG format for AutoCAD-based workflows.	✔️	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to eDrawings Create lightweight eDrawings files such as EPRT, EASM, and EDRW for viewing and collaboration.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to HTML Publish interactive HTML output for browser-based viewing.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to IGES (.igs) Export 3D geometry to IGES for neutral CAD exchange.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to STL (.stl) Export models to STL for 3D printing, mesh workflows, and downstream manufacturing tools.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to Parasolid (.x_t) Export native Parasolid geometry for high-quality model exchange.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to IFC Export models to IFC format for BIM and construction-related collaboration workflows.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to 3MF Export models to 3MF format for modern additive manufacturing workflows.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to 3D PDF Create interactive 3D PDF files for model sharing and review.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to U3D Export 3D content to U3D format for downstream publishing and 3D PDF workflows.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Export to BMP Export image-based output where bitmap previews or snapshots are required.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Sheet metal flat pattern export Export sheet metal parts as 1:1 flat pattern DXF files with flat-pattern-specific settings.	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Custom flat pattern settings Control how sheet metal DXF/DWG flat patterns are generated, including export options and naming behavior.	❌	Basic	✔️	✔️
Publish all configurations Convert all part and assembly configurations instead of exporting only the active configuration.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Configuration include/exclude filters Filter configuration names so only matching configurations are included or excluded from export.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Use one specific configuration Force the export process to use a specific configuration only.	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Ask user to select configuration on startup Prompt the user at launch to choose which configuration should be processed.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Process assembly references individually Export referenced parts and assemblies to individual output formats as part of the same publishing run.	Limited	Up to 5 references	Unlimited	Unlimited
Export affected document Include the selected or affected top-level document in the publishing operation.	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Work with latest version Automatically get the latest version of the file before processing.	Basic	❌	❌	✔️
Use PDM search to locate drawings Find drawings through PDM when the drawing is not located in the same folder as the model.	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Publishing conditions Use conditions based on PDM state, variables, metadata, or other rules to decide what should be exported.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Ignore sub-assembly children when conditions fail Skip the children of sub-assemblies that do not pass the configured publishing conditions.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Merge exported PDFs Combine multiple exported PDFs into one master PDF package.	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Add table of contents to merged PDF Automatically insert a table of contents as the first page of the merged PDF package.	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Custom table of contents columns Customize table columns using names, quantities, custom properties, or PDM variables.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Quantity column in table of contents Add quantities to the merged PDF table of contents using BOM or reference data.	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Custom quantity / BOM calculation Use BOM layouts and calculation methods such as latest references or as-built references for quantity calculation.	❌	❌	❌	✔️
PDF bookmarks Define bookmark naming patterns for the merged PDF package.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Dynamic PDF annotations and watermarks Add dynamic annotations or watermarks to exported PDFs using text, properties, or variables.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Custom export location Choose where exported files are saved, either inside or outside the vault depending on the product.	Basic	✔️	✔️	✔️
Extension-specific export locations Send different output formats to different folders, such as PDFs to one folder and STEP files to another.	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Custom output filename Generate output filenames using properties, variables, file names, configuration names, and naming rules.	Basic	✔️	✔️	✔️
Evaluate filename and path using PDM @ tab Use @ tab variable values when evaluating export locations and filename patterns.	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Map variables between source and destination files Map PDM variables from the source file to the exported destination file.	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Create references from exported files to source files Create PDM references between the generated output files and the original source files.	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Delete duplicate exported files outside target folder Help clean duplicate generated files outside the configured destination folder.	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Archive exported documents Create a ZIP archive containing all exported deliverables.	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Process Microsoft Word and Office documents Process Office documents through the PDM task environment as part of automated publishing workflows.	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Logs Generate detailed logs documenting the steps performed during the publishing task.	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
PDM task workflow integration Run as a SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional task add-in from the vault environment.	✔️	❌	❌	✔️
Run directly inside SOLIDWORKS Launch and run export automation directly from the SOLIDWORKS desktop application.	❌	✔️	✔️	❌
Open export folder on completion Automatically open the export location after publishing completes.	❌	✔️	✔️	❌

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