Hello everyone, I'm on Solidworks 2024 Sp5 on which I've created an ASM, parts and about fifty plan files.
I manage to make a " pack and go " in previous version (2022 and 2023) however this is only functional for parts and assembly. The drawings checked and exported via the " pack and Go " remain in 2024...
After contact and exchange with the support the answer is: " this is the normal operation of solidworks " (understand: get on with it! it's none of our business!)
I tried the task scheduler, I tried to go through a macro... in short I'm dry! The only method that works is to open the plans one by one, then save them in an earlier version. In my logic of fenicant (and quality!) it seems unthinkable to me for 50 shots as well as for future projects.
Has anyone figured out a trick to exploit this WONDERFUL " save as an early version" feature for batches of drawing files?
Yes, widely reported (but not officially recognized as a bug)
Normal behavior?
Officially yes... but highly contested
Fix announced?
No
Viable workaround?
VBA macro or manual backup
Reliable pack and go for retro DRW?
VBA macro solution to convert a plan folder (Not tested output as-is by AI copilot):
Option Explicit
Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim errors As Long
Dim warnings As Long
Sub main()
Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
' ⚠️ MODIFIER LE CHEMIN DU DOSSIER ICI
Dim folderPath As String
folderPath = "C:\TEMP\Plans_2024"
' Choisir la version cible :
' swSaveAsVersion_e.swSaveAsCurrentVersion
' swSaveAsVersion_e.swSaveAs2023
' swSaveAsVersion_e.swSaveAs2022
Dim targetVersion As Long
targetVersion = swSaveAsVersion_e.swSaveAs2023
Dim fileName As String
fileName = Dir(folderPath & "\*.slddrw")
Do While fileName <> ""
Dim fullPath As String
fullPath = folderPath & "\" & fileName
Set swModel = swApp.OpenDoc6( _
fullPath, _
swDocumentTypes_e.swDocDRAWING, _
swOpenDocOptions_e.swOpenDocOptions_Silent, _
"", _
errors, _
warnings)
If Not swModel Is Nothing Then
swModel.ForceRebuild3 False
Dim savePath As String
savePath = folderPath & "\OLDVER_" & fileName
swModel.SaveAs4 _
savePath, _
targetVersion, _
swSaveAsOptions_e.swSaveAsOptions_Silent, _
errors, _
warnings
swApp.CloseDoc swModel.GetTitle
End If
fileName = Dir
Loop
MsgBox "Conversion terminée !", vbInformation
End Sub
Not possible for me to test the macro because sw2023, but the code seems correct at 1st sight.
Try and give us feedback, if bug and where (capture of the error). If the functionality (save in previous version) does not exist in the API, we won't do much. If there is another bug, we can help you debug.
Try this one just in case with SaveAs3 Method (IModelDocExtension) instead of saveas4. This feature exists after it is well documented with a version option, so to be tested.
Option Explicit
Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim swExt As SldWorks.ModelDocExtension
Dim errors As Long
Dim warnings As Long
Sub main()
Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
' ⚠️ CHEMIN À ADAPTER
Dim folderPath As String
folderPath = "C:\TEMP\Plans_2024"
' Version cible
Dim targetVersion As Long
targetVersion = swSaveAsVersion_e.swSaveAs2023
' swSaveAs2022 possible aussi
Dim fileName As String
fileName = Dir(folderPath & "\*.slddrw")
Do While fileName <> ""
Dim fullPath As String
fullPath = folderPath & "\" & fileName
Set swModel = swApp.OpenDoc6( _
fullPath, _
swDocumentTypes_e.swDocDRAWING, _
swOpenDocOptions_e.swOpenDocOptions_Silent, _
"", _
errors, _
warnings)
If Not swModel Is Nothing Then
Set swExt = swModel.Extension
swModel.ForceRebuild3 False
Dim savePath As String
savePath = folderPath & "\OLDVER_" & fileName
swExt.SaveAs3 _
savePath, _
swSaveAsOptions_e.swSaveAsOptions_Silent, _
targetVersion, _
errors, _
warnings
swApp.CloseDoc swModel.GetTitle
End If
fileName = Dir
Loop
MsgBox "Conversion terminée", vbInformation
End Sub
Hello Isn't it possible to tell a macro to open all the clips one by one, and print them? under 2024 extraordinary Do you have PDM? It was a macro that did this to us in another era after selecting MEPs.
The limits of AI! Last attempt, not easy when you can't test. Apparently you have to use " AdvancedSaveAsOptions.SaveAsPreviousVersion' ":
Option Explicit
Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim swExt As SldWorks.ModelDocExtension
Dim advOpts As SldWorks.AdvancedSaveAsOptions
Dim errs As Long
Dim warns As Long
Sub main()
Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
' >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
' A MODIFIER
Dim folderPath As String
folderPath = "C:\TEMP\Plans_2024"
' -1 = version précédente
' -2 = deux versions précédentes
Dim previousOffset As Long
previousOffset = -1 ' 2024 -> 2023
' previousOffset = -2 ' 2024 -> 2022
' >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dim fileName As String
fileName = Dir(folderPath & "\*.slddrw")
Do While fileName <> ""
Dim fullPath As String
fullPath = folderPath & "\" & fileName
Set swModel = swApp.OpenDoc6( _
fullPath, _
swDocumentTypes_e.swDocDRAWING, _
swOpenDocOptions_e.swOpenDocOptions_Silent, _
"", _
errs, _
warns)
If swModel Is Nothing Then
Debug.Print "❌ Impossible d’ouvrir : " & fileName
GoTo NextFile
End If
Set swExt = swModel.Extension
Set advOpts = swExt.GetAdvancedSaveAsOptions( _
swSaveWithReferencesOptions_e.swSaveWithReferencesOptions_None)
advOpts.SaveAsPreviousVersion = previousOffset
advOpts.SaveAllAsCopy = True
Dim savePath As String
savePath = folderPath & "\OLDVER_" & fileName
If False = swExt.SaveAs3( _
savePath, _
swSaveAsVersion_e.swSaveAsCurrentVersion, _
swSaveAsOptions_e.swSaveAsOptions_Silent, _
Nothing, _
advOpts, _
errs, _
warns) Then
Debug.Print "❌ ERREUR SaveAs : " & fileName & _
" | Code = " & errs
Else
Debug.Print "✅ OK : " & fileName
End If
swApp.CloseDoc swModel.GetTitle
NextFile:
fileName = Dir
Loop
MsgBox "Traitement terminé (voir Ctrl+G pour le log)", vbInformation
End Sub
``
Sorry for the cold trails. The most serious lead is this:
Test it on a MEP if it works, it means that it is possible to do it in batches. (Via Integration, or by modifying this macro). Codestack is a reliable source unlike AI...
Yes, widely reported (but not officially recognized as a bug)
Officially yes... but highly contested
No
