---
title: SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD | MECAD Systems Knowledge Base
description: SOLIDWORKS is a 3D CAD for product design with tools for creation, testing, simulation, and communication.
---
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1. [MECAD Systems Knowledge Base](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge)
2. [SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad)
# SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD
SOLIDWORKS is a 3D CAD for product design with tools for creation, testing, simulation, and communication.
- [eDrawings "invalid class" error.](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/draftsight-invalid-class-error)
- [SOLIDWORKS Auto-Recovery](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-auto-recover)
- [Tabs missing in SOLIDWORKS](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-tabs-missing)
## Activation
- [How to activate/deactivate your SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/how-to-activate/deactivate-the-solidnetwork-license-manager-snl)
- [SOLIDWORKS Xpress products and how to activate them.](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-xpress-products-and-how-to-activate-them)
- [SOLIDWORKS: Activation Count Exceeded Error](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-activation-count-exceeded-error)
## Tips & Tricks
- [SOLIDWORKS Cut Lists](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-cut-lists)
- [It's a kind of MECAD Magic](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-tips-and-tricks)
- [4 Surprising SOLIDWORKS tools you might not be aware of](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/4-surprising-solidworks-tools-you-might-not-be-aware-of)
- [Easy Steps to Maximize SOLIDWORKS Performance with an Nvidia GPU](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/quick-and-easy-steps-to-maximize-solidworks-performance-with-your-current-nvidia-gpu)
## Installation
- [What to do if the Installation Manager is blank](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/what-to-do-if-the-installation-manager-is-blank)
- [How to update SOLIDWORKS Service pack version](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/how-to-update-solidworks)
- [Resolving "The source folder is not versioned properly" Error in SOLIDWORKS Installation](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/resolving-the-source-folder-is-not-versioned-properly-error-in-solidworks-installation)
- [SOLIDWORKS Hole Callout File Error](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-hole-callout-file-error)
## Custom
- [How to create custom thread profiles in SOLIDWORKS.](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/how-to-create-custom-thread-profiles-in-solidworks)
- [Custom weldment profile not showing under structural members.](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/custom-weldment-profile-not-showing-under-structural-members)
- [SOLIDWORKS Structure System: Create Custom Connection Elements](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/stucture-system)
- [Dynamic Spring in SOLIDWORKS Assembly](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/dynamic-spring-in-assembly)
- [How to map entities when exporting to DXF/DWG](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/how-to-map-entities-when-exporting-to-dxf/dwg)
- [Using SOLIDWORKS Task Scheduler to automate file exporting.](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/using-solidworks-task-scheduler)
- [SOLIDWORKS CommandManager Tabs Missing](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-tabs-missing-1)
See less ▼
## Configurations
- [Configurations in SOLIDWORKS](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/configurations-in-solidworks)
## Drawings
- [Can I create a Perspective view as a drawing view?](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/can-i-create-a-perspective-view-as-a-drawing-view)
## PDM
- [PDM: View Setup shows error: "Attached, Missing Information"](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/pdm-view-setup-shows-error-attached-missing-information)
- [Error Opening PDM Archive](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/error-opening-archive)
- [How To Make Your SQL Server Port Static?](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/how-to-make-port-static)
- [PDM Vault - ‘The file format is not recognized’ warning.](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/one-reason-why-your-pdm-vault-would-give-the-the-file-format-is-not-recognized-warning)
- [Automatic PDM Task not executing](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/automatic-pdm-task-not-executing)
## Assemblies
- [Creating Global Variables in an Assembly that Drive Children Component Dimensions](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/creating-global-variables-in-an-assembly-that-drive-children-component-dimensions)
- [SOLIDWORKS PDM](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-pdm)
- [SOLIDWORKS CAM](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-cam)
- [SOLIDWORKS Visualize](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-visualize)
- [SOLIDWORKS Simulation](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-simulation#main-content)
- [SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-simulation#solidworks-flow-simulation)
- [SOLIDWORKS Simulation](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-simulation#solidworks-simulation)
- [SOLIDWORKS Electrical](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-electrical)
- [SOLIDWORKS Inspection](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-inspection)
- [General FAQ](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#main-content)
- [BOM](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#bom)
- [Sheet Metal](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#sheet-metal)
- [Files](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#files)
- [PDM](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#pdm)
- [Weldments](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#weldments)
- [Assembly](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#assembly)
- [Installation](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#installation)
- [SolidWorks Standalone License](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#solidworks-standalone-license)
- [File Locations](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#file-locations)
- [Certifications](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/general-faq#certifications)
- [3DEXPERIENCE Platform](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/3dexperience-platform#main-content)
- [FAQ](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/3dexperience-platform#faq)
- [Updates](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/3dexperience-platform#updates)
- [SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad#main-content)
- [Activation](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad#activation)
- [Tips & Tricks](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad#tips-tricks)
- [Installation](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad#installation)
- [Custom](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad#custom)
- [Configurations](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad#configurations)
- [Drawings](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad#drawings)
- [PDM](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad#pdm)
- [Assemblies](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-3d-cad#assemblies)
- [SOLIDWORKS Gold Products](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-gold-products#main-content)
- [myCADtools](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/solidworks-gold-products#mycadtools)
- [Licensing FAQ](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/licensing-faq#main-content)
- [July 2023 SOLIDWORKS License & Subscription Changes](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/licensing-faq#july-2023-solidworks-license-subscription-changes)
- [DraftSight](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/draftsight)
- [MECAD Events](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/mecad-events#main-content)
- [MECAD Accelerate](https://faq.mecad.co.za/knowledge/mecad-events#mecad-accelerate)
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