SolidWorks OneDrive: When to Switch to 3DEXPERIENCE?
Your company already uses Microsoft 365. Saving your SOLIDWORKS files in OneDrive or SharePoint therefore seems natural: documents are centralized, synchronized, and accessible from multiple computers.
But when multiple designers work on the same projects, certain questions arise.
- Who is modifying this part?
- Does the drawing correspond to the latest modification?
- Which revision was sent to the shop floor?
OneDrive allows you to store SOLIDWORKS files. The difficulty lies in managing the relationships between these files and coordinating their use.
Here are the differences to understand, the precautions to take, and the situations in which 3DEXPERIENCE becomes relevant.
Can You Save SOLIDWORKS Files on OneDrive?
Yes.
A OneDrive folder can contain SOLIDWORKS parts, assemblies, and drawings. However, you must distinguish between storing a project copy and daily work on shared files.
OneDrive can be used to transmit PDFs, STEP files, or a project archive to a client or supplier.
In this case, the recipient receives an identified set of documents. They do not necessarily participate in modifications to the original design files.
To transmit a native SOLIDWORKS assembly, you must include its components and the necessary references. The .SLDASM file alone does not automatically contain all the parts of the project.
Can You Modify Project Assemblies with Multiple Contributors?
The situation becomes more demanding when designers open and modify documents daily from their synchronized folders.
Each contributor must know which files they can modify and when a colleague can resume work. You must also verify that synchronization is complete before switching from one workstation to another.
The ability to save a file in OneDrive does not therefore guarantee that all collaborative work methods will be suitable.
What Are the Limits of OneDrive for Collaboration with SolidWorks?
OneDrive and SharePoint allow you to store and share SOLIDWORKS files.
Their limit appears when a recipient must view the model, understand its geometry, and provide feedback without having the design software.
For a design office, transmitting a file is only one step. You must also enable the client, supplier, or production manager to understand what they receive.
Is It Possible to View a SOLIDWORKS File Online Without Installing Software?
A client receives a link to your assembly. They can access the file, but can they actually open it, rotate it, and examine the details of your design?
OneDrive offers preview of certain 3D formats, including STL, OBJ, and GLB. However, native SOLIDWORKS formats .SLDPRT and .SLDASM are not included in the official list of previewable formats published by Microsoft.
The recipient may therefore need compatible software or prior conversion. Formats supported by Microsoft.
OneDrive does not allow you to view a SolidWorks file online directly
With 3DDrive and 3DPlay visualization, supported models can be viewed in the browser without installing SOLIDWORKS.
The recipient can examine the geometry and manipulate the view. Visualization capability depends on the transmitted format and file preparation.
For a machine manufacturer, this allows, for example, presenting equipment to a client who wants to understand the location of a motor or the arrangement of guards.
Here you can view your STEP or SolidWorks file directly online from a web browser
The user can even explode models, take measurements, and send these comments via message notification
How to Make Multiple Cloud Environments (OneDrive, GoogleDrive, Dropbox) Coexist Together?
A company may receive files in multiple environments: OneDrive for internal folders, Dropbox for a supplier, and another space for client exchanges.
This dispersion forces users to find the right location before even viewing the document.
Your 3DDrive environment can be configured to access compatible external storage services. Available connections and their permissions must be verified during deployment.
This approach allows for progressive adoption: the company retains its existing tools and organizes their access around its design needs. Consolidating access does not, however, mean automatically merging files, their permissions, or their histories.
3DEXPERIENCE provides you with a centralized view of all your cloud(s)
Can OneDrive Replace a PDM SolidWorks?
A standard SharePoint library does not directly replace a PDM integrated with SOLIDWORKS.
SharePoint can structure documents, but managing CAD dependencies requires specialized capabilities.
SharePoint offers document functions: metadata, permissions, history, check-out, and validation depending on configuration. These functions have real value for the company.
The comparison below concerns SharePoint and OneDrive without a specialized CAD connector or custom development.
| PDM capability | OneDrive / SharePoint | 3DEXPERIENCE |
|---|---|---|
| Manage CAD references | File storage without native management of SOLIDWORKS references. | Management of relationships between parts, assemblies and drawings through the appropriate CAD applications. |
| Retrieve a previous version | Version history for individual files, depending on retention settings. | Data history within the CAD environment to track changes over time. |
| Manage design revisions | Naming conventions and document management procedures must be defined. | Design revisions managed within the platform, beyond file naming. |
| Reserve a part before editing | Document check-out is available in SharePoint; CAD editing must be coordinated. | Data reservation or locking to coordinate changes between designers. |
| Distinguish work in progress from approved data | Document statuses and approval rules must be configured. | Maturity states for engineering data, with controlled transitions based on the defined process. |
| Approve an engineering change | A document workflow must be built, without native analysis of SOLIDWORKS dependencies. | Change and approval processes linked to engineering data, depending on the roles deployed. |
| Track changes | Document history and activity logs, depending on the configuration. | CAD data history and revision information, with decisions documented through the change process. |
| Release data to manufacturing | Files must be selected and checked for release using a defined procedure. | Controlled release based on the revisions and maturity states selected for manufacturing. |
This comparison covers OneDrive and SharePoint without a specialized CAD connector. The 3DEXPERIENCE capabilities shown relate to CAD data and lifecycle management, not 3DDrive alone. Availability depends on roles, licences and configuration.
A cloud PDM becomes relevant when relationships between files, shared modifications, and revisions become difficult to manage manually.
There is no universal number of designers from which it becomes essential. Two people sharing many components may need more coordination than a larger team working on independent projects.
The most revealing signs are concrete:
- Designers regularly ask which version to use;
- Components are difficult to find when opening;
- Multiple machines use the same parts;
- Modifications are redone because they were performed on the wrong copy;
- Projects circulate between multiple sites or partners;
- Validations must be documented.
To evaluate the economic value, measure the time spent on searches, reference corrections, and rework related to versions. Add manufacturing incidents actually attributable to poor document distribution.
These observations allow you to estimate the need without assuming that a PDM will automatically produce an identical gain in every company.
Our SOLIDWORKS PDM and 3DEXPERIENCE comparison then details the differences between a server-based solution and a cloud approach.
What 3DEXPERIENCE Brings to SOLIDWORKS File Management
3DEXPERIENCE offers a data management environment linked to SOLIDWORKS, with CAD storage, reference management, revision, and locking functions.
The objective is to provide designers with an organization suited to the documents they handle. Here is a non-exhaustive list of PDM advantages:
- Organize revisions
- Lock access to documents
- Structure validation and distribution
- Organize changes and approvals.
Are your SOLIDWORKS files stored on OneDrive or SharePoint?
Kotona Vision helps Quebec-based companies organize their SOLIDWORKS data and deploy 3DEXPERIENCE.
We assess your current workflows and identify improvements that make your projects easier to find, modify and release with the right level of control.
Assess my file managementFrequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About SOLIDWORKS and OneDrive
Can You Save SOLIDWORKS Files on OneDrive?
Yes. OneDrive can store SOLIDWORKS parts, assemblies, and drawings. To open a complete project, referenced files must also be available. Synchronization does not replace coordination of modifications between designers.
Can You View a SOLIDWORKS File Directly in OneDrive?
OneDrive allows preview of certain 3D formats, including STL, OBJ, and GLB. Native SOLIDWORKS formats SLDPRT and SLDASM are not included in the official list of previewable formats published by Microsoft. Conversion or compatible software may therefore be necessary.
How to Share a 3D Model with a Client Who Does Not Have SOLIDWORKS?
With 3DDrive and 3DPlay visualization, you can share a supported model via a link so your client can view it in their browser without installing SOLIDWORKS. Visualization depends on the transmitted format, and access conditions depend on sharing settings. External sharing must be authorized by the administrator.
What Is the Difference Between OneDrive and 3DDrive?
OneDrive is a general-purpose storage and sharing service. 3DDrive is integrated into the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and allows you to store, synchronize, and share files in this environment. Combined with 3DPlay, it facilitates viewing of supported 3D models and exchanges around designs.
Does OneDrive Allow You to Retrieve an Old Version of a SOLIDWORKS File?
Yes. OneDrive's version history can also apply to CAD files, depending on applicable retention settings. However, restoring a file does not guarantee retrieving the consistent state of an entire project: the versions of its parts, assemblies, and drawings must also correspond.
Does 3DDrive Replace a SOLIDWORKS PDM?
No. 3DDrive is primarily used for storage, synchronization, and sharing. Managing CAD references, design revisions, and validations requires appropriate data management functions, available in SOLIDWORKS PDM or in other 3DEXPERIENCE applications depending on licenses and configuration.
Do You Have to Abandon OneDrive and Microsoft 365 to Use 3DEXPERIENCE?
No. Your company can retain Microsoft 365 for its emails and administrative documents while using 3DEXPERIENCE for its design data. You must define where the reference copy of each document type is located and how deliverables are shared.
When Should a Small Company Consider a Cloud PDM?
A cloud PDM becomes relevant when multiple designers share components, revisions are difficult to track, or drawings must be validated before distribution to manufacturing. The need depends on work methods and errors to avoid, not solely on the number of users.