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Open SOLIDWORKS assembly in quick view mode from Windows file explorer

Opening large design review form SOLIDWORKS{ width=450 }

SOLIDWORKS enables an option to open large assemblies or drawing in Large Design Review mode (aka Quick View). This allows to only load visual information of assembly and drawing and significantly improves the performance (large assembly usually opens in just few seconds instead minutes or even hours). Individual components can be later loaded on demand.

Assembly opened in large design review mode{ width=650 }

However this mode is not supported when opening documents from Windows File Explorer.

The following guide explains how to enable Quick View mode directly from the Windows File Explorer.

  • Create new folder which will contain the script to open the file in Quick View mode
  • Create a text file with an extension of .vbs and name it opener.vbs
  • Paste the following code into this file
Dim swApp
Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")
swApp.Visible = True

Dim filePath
filePath = WScript.Arguments.Item(0)

If filePath <> "" then

    Dim docSpec
    Set docSpec = swApp.GetOpenDocSpec(filePath)
    docSpec.ViewOnly = True

    Dim swModel
    Set swModel = swApp.OpenDoc7(docSpec)

    If swModel is Nothing Then
        MsgBox "Failed to open document"
    End If
    
Else
    MsgBox "File path is not specified"
End If
  • Create another text file and name it install.cmd
  • Add the following line into the install.cmd which will enable a Quick Mode for assemblies
reg add "HKCR\SldAssem.Document\shell\Quick View\command" /ve /d "wscript.exe """%~dp0opener.vbs""" ""%%1""" /f
  • If you want to enable Quick View model for drawings, add the following line as well
reg add "HKCR\SldDraw.Document\shell\Quick View\command" /ve /d "wscript.exe """%~dp0opener.vbs""" ""%%1""" /f
  • Save both files. It is important to keep those files in the same folder

Files for enabling the quick mode from the Windows Explorer{ width=250 }

  • Run install.cmd. You might need to run this as an administrator

As the result the Quick View context menu command is added to the Windows File Explorer. Select any assembly and click right mouse button. Click Quick View and the file will be opened in the quick view mode in SOLIDWORKS:

Quick View context menu when assembly is selected{ width=450 }

Watch video demonstration