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Cannot create assembly, please help

Question asked by Damon Sisk on May 20, 2011
Latest reply on May 20, 2011 by Kelvin Lamport

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I've used Solidworks for several years and have never encountered this problem.

I cannot create or even open assembly files. When I try to open an assembly, an error message says 'Can't open C:\Documents and Settings\Damon.Sisk\Desktop\Pool Table.SLDASM. The system could not recognize this file.'

I also cannot create drawing files, but I have none to try opening. I'm working a contract job and don't have access to my previous work.

I think it is an installation problem, because SW2008 was just installed on my machine yesterday (fresh install), and the assembly and drawing icons are grayed out (see attached image).

I copied two .asmdot and two .drwdot files I found to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2008\templates

but that did not fix it, even after restarting SW.

Any ideas?

Wayne Tiffany May 20, 2011 9:31 AM

Correct Answer

What's the chance that the version that was installed was actually one that came with a CAM program and therefore only has part functionality? That would explain why you can't do anything with assy's or drawings.

See the reply in context

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Icons_Grayed.JPG74.2 KB

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Scott McFadden May 20, 2011 8:58 AM

Hi Damon,

Check your pathing under tools>options>system options>fole locations

and see if you are pathed correctly to your templates. That is what it is looking for.

But what is strange is SW usually will resort to its defaults.

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Damon Sisk @ Scott McFadden on May 20, 2011 9:11 AM

Thank you for the response, but I had already checked there and added two more directories to the list. The list reads:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2008\templates

C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\lang\english\Tutorial

C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\data

C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\samples\tutorial\advdrawings

Any other thoughts?

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Greg Hynd May 20, 2011 9:12 AM

What version were the files created in?

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Damon Sisk @ Greg Hynd on May 20, 2011 9:15 AM

The assembly files were created in SW2004.

I just attempted to open a sample assembly from C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\samples\tutorial\advdrawings

and got the same error message (with the new file and path).

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Greg Hynd @ Damon Sisk on May 20, 2011 9:22 AM

Could you post one of the parts you are having a problem with? Sounds like you need to do a re install, but could just have a look for you to be sure the file isnt corrupt.

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Damon Sisk @ Greg Hynd on May 20, 2011 9:32 AM

Here are the files I tried to open. Of course, I have not included the parts. But I can't even create a new assembly, so it's like SW doesn't know it can work with assembly files.

I think a clean install might fix the problem, from information I found at http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=97878&page=565

I wonder if the latest service pack would make things work? I'll try it but I doubt it will work.

Attachments

bowl and bottom.sldasm.zip144.5 KB
Pool Table.SLDASM.zip21.5 KB

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Wayne Tiffany May 20, 2011 9:31 AM

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Damon Sisk @ Wayne Tiffany on May 20, 2011 9:33 AM

That might be the problem. I think this SW came with ASAP which is an optical engineering package. How can I find out if it is a limited version?

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Kelvin Lamport @ Damon Sisk on May 20, 2011 9:42 AM

Go to Help > About SolidWorks or Help > Show Licenses. Details may be shown there.

What does the Splash Screen show when SW is started?

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Damon Sisk @ Kelvin Lamport on May 20, 2011 9:46 AM

The information in Help > About SolidWorks and Help > Show Licenses looks like all the other Solidworks I've used. It could be buried in the legalese, I did not read it all.

The splash screen looks very normal too, a variety of raytraced images of machinery/mechanical designs.

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Damon Sisk @ Wayne Tiffany on May 20, 2011 9:57 AM

I'm going to assume this is the correct reason for the issue. If the service pack (or my system administrator) fixes the problem, I will reply here for posterity.

In the mean time, I'll just use Pro/E.

Thanks for all the replys!

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11 Replies

Scott McFadden May 20, 2011 8:58 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Hi Damon,
Check your pathing under tools>options>system options>fole locations
and see if you are pathed correctly to your templates. That is what it is looking for.
But what is strange is SW usually will resort to its defaults.
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- Damon Sisk @ Scott McFadden on May 20, 2011 9:11 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Thank you for the response, but I had already checked there and added two more directories to the list. The list reads:
  
  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2008\templates
  C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\lang\english\Tutorial
  C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\data
  C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\samples\tutorial\advdrawings
  
  Any other thoughts?
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
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Greg Hynd May 20, 2011 9:12 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
What version were the files created in?
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- Damon Sisk @ Greg Hynd on May 20, 2011 9:15 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  The assembly files were created in SW2004.
  I just attempted to open a sample assembly from C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\samples\tutorial\advdrawings
  and got the same error message (with the new file and path).
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Greg Hynd @ Damon Sisk on May 20, 2011 9:22 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Could you post one of the parts you are having a problem with? Sounds like you need to do a re install, but could just have a look for you to be sure the file isnt corrupt.
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
    - Damon Sisk @ Greg Hynd on May 20, 2011 9:32 AM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Here are the files I tried to open. Of course, I have not included the parts. But I can't even create a new assembly, so it's like SW doesn't know it can work with assembly files.
      I think a clean install might fix the problem, from information I found at http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=97878&page=565
      I wonder if the latest service pack would make things work? I'll try it but I doubt it will work.
      Attachments
      bowl and bottom.sldasm.zip144.5 KB
      Pool Table.SLDASM.zip21.5 KB
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
      Actions
Wayne Tiffany May 20, 2011 9:31 AM
Unmark Correct
Correct Answer
What's the chance that the version that was installed was actually one that came with a CAM program and therefore only has part functionality? That would explain why you can't do anything with assy's or drawings.

WT
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- Damon Sisk @ Wayne Tiffany on May 20, 2011 9:33 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  That might be the problem. I think this SW came with ASAP which is an optical engineering package. How can I find out if it is a limited version?
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Kelvin Lamport @ Damon Sisk on May 20, 2011 9:42 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Go to Help > About SolidWorks or Help > Show Licenses. Details may be shown there.
    
    What does the Splash Screen show when SW is started?
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
    - Damon Sisk @ Kelvin Lamport on May 20, 2011 9:46 AM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      The information in Help > About SolidWorks and Help > Show Licenses looks like all the other Solidworks I've used. It could be buried in the legalese, I did not read it all.
      The splash screen looks very normal too, a variety of raytraced images of machinery/mechanical designs.
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
      Actions
- Damon Sisk @ Wayne Tiffany on May 20, 2011 9:57 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  I'm going to assume this is the correct reason for the issue. If the service pack (or my system administrator) fixes the problem, I will reply here for posterity.
  
  In the mean time, I'll just use Pro/E.
  
  Thanks for all the replys!
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions

Cannot create assembly, please help

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