The temperature is dropping, the winds are blowing, the first snow has fallen, the holidays (and our families) are fast upon us, and the marking of a new era by the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is nigh! (Who knew the Mayans could predict this new level of SolidWorks awesomeness!?) It is once again time to check our emergency preparedness:
- Snow blower: Check
- Power Generator: Check
- Canned goods: Check
- Can Opener : (Got to go pick one up)
- Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit: Check
- SolidWorks upgraded to 2013 in case we need to redesign the wh—… everything: (Oh, got to work on that)
I’m going to use the same method I used to prepare my Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit:
- Prepare the Environment
- Practice and Tweak
- Go Time!
- Keep the Checklist Handy
Prepare the Environment
Before an upgrade, (or the first installation, for that matter), prepare your environment for a quick back-up-restore, or upgrade. This means gathering into one common location all templates and databases that are custom to your company. These may include, but are not limited to: SolidWorks Toolbox, Document templates, Sheet formats, Design Libraries, Material Databases, Custom Properties file, Weldment profiles, and Bend Tables. If you’re performing an upgrade, then you already have all of these files somewhere on your system. Most of them can be found in C:\ProgramData\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2012. If you’ve created custom Weldment Profiles, Bend Tables, BOM Templates, Costing Templates, etc, then most of those are in C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp 2012\SolidWorks\language\English .
The key is to herd them all into one secure folder. Make a folder on a network drive called “SolidWorks Common”. Inside of that, create a subfolder called “User Specific”.
Navigate to one folder above your Toolbox, (if you haven’t moved it, it gets installed to your root drive, C:\ ) and copy the SolidWorks Data folder (or whatever you renamed your Toolbox to be) to the SolidWorks Common folder.
Browse to the C:\ProgramData\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2012 folder, and copy its contents into your SolidWorks Common folder.
Browse to the C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp 2012\SolidWorks\lang\english folder, and copy its contents into your SolidWorks Common folder.
Copy any other file type you customized into the SolidWorks Common folder – creating subfolders as desired. When all transfers are complete, open SolidWorks , and in System Options > File Locations, point the following file types to the following locations: (or wherever you decided to organize them)
- Document Templates:<Network UNC Path>\SolidWorks Common\templates
- Design Library: <Network UNC Path>\SolidWorks Common\design library
- Material Databases: <Network UNC Path>\SolidWorks Common\Custom Material> <Network UNC Path>\SolidWorks Common\Sustainability
- Custom Properties File: <Network UNC Path>\SolidWorks Common
- Sheet Formats: <Network UNC Path>\SolidWorks Common\sheetformat
- Weldment Property File: <Network UNC Path>\SolidWorks Common\weldments
- Etc…
Once you’ve finished creating subfolders in the SolidWorks Common folder moving all your files into one place, use the Copy Settings Wizard to save your 2012 settings into the User Specific folder you created.
This serves as a backup for you, so make sure to include your name and the date:
Now you’re ready for:
Practice and Tweak
Make sure to Log in as local administrator and turn off Anti-virus and anti-malware services (See step 2 of this page for instructions).
Perform the upgrade to SolidWorks 2013 on your computer.
Create another User Settings file using the Copy Settings Wizard – this is your backup for 2013.
If you’re a CAD Administrator, and you’re in charge of upgrading all the systems, then Create a second settings file that includes only the System Options that will be common throughout the company. Save this one as Common SysOpt – 2013.sldreg.
Go Time!
Go to each client, making a backup of their general settings and customizations,
Upgrade with AV turned off, and apply the Common SysOpt – 2013 settings to each client.
Then save a new general settings file for each client.
Don’t forget to download the correct graphics driver for each client machine!
Keep the Checklist Handy
Download your checklist and make sure to add any customized file types to your checklist before printing it so you won’t skip one. Laminate so it won’t be ruined by zombie fluids.
You are now ready for the winter … the holidays … the Zombie Apocalypse … the end of a human era … the beginning of a new era … SolidWorks 2013! <queue dramatic orchestra music>.
Now go buy a can opener… those cans don’t just open themselves, you know!
