{"id":52946,"date":"2023-07-26T08:00:13","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/?p=52946"},"modified":"2023-07-24T12:49:02","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T16:49:02","slug":"share-and-markup-step-by-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/2023\/07\/share-and-markup-step-by-step.html","title":{"rendered":"Share and Markup \u2014 Step by Step"},"content":{"rendered":"

Need to collaborate with various stakeholders who don\u2019t have the 3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE platform or SOLIDWORKS? Sam the supplier, no problem. Elaine in marketing, check. Whether you need to share designs inside or outside of your company, we\u2019ve got you covered!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s now easier than ever to collaborate with ANYONE with the new Share and Markup capabilities in the cloud-connected roles, 3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS and Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS.<\/p>\n

The beauty of it all is you don\u2019t ever have to leave SOLIDWORKS. With the click of a button, you can share the current model you are working on right from the main toolbar under Lifecycle and Collaboration with the new \u201cShare a File\u201d command.<\/p>\n

In this blog I will walk you through the Share and Markup capabilities step-by-step so you can see how easy it is for all parties involved to use. Plus, I\u2019ve got a video below so you can see how it works, which includes some various use case scenarios I will also discuss.<\/p>\n

First, in order to start using these capabilities your platform administrator must turn on the \u201cEnable sharable link\u201d and \u201cEnable comments\u201d options from the Platform Management dialog.<\/p>\n

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Once platform administrators enable the Share and Markup settings mentioned above you are good to go!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

After that, you are ready to start sharing! Just click on the new \u201cShare a file\u201d command, choose the format you\u2019d like to share it in, such as 3DXML, PDF, or STEP, and the dialog box will pop up in which you can set \u201cEnable guest comments” and \u201cRestrict access to specific users.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next, all you have to do is enter the recipient\u2019s email address and add a message like \u201cplease review.\u201d You can include multiple emails at this time.\u00a0 For example, you can invite Sam, the supplier, to get his fabrication input on design for manufacturability, and also invite Eric, the engineer, which is another designer on your team, to make sure the design fits with other components since you are both working on the same project.<\/p>\n

Then, just hit the Share button.<\/p>\n

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Simply hit the \u201cShare a File command, choose the format you\u2019d like to send the file as, and enter the email address of all recipients, add your message, and hit \u201cShare.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The recipient will get an email clearly stating from who and what in the subject line. For example, \u201cDan the Designer\u201d shared Rear Swing arm.3dxml…<\/p>\n

Then they can select \u201cClick here to see more\u201d to access the file.<\/p>\n

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Recipients will get an email with a clear subject line of who sent what, and a link to access the model.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

When they click that link, they will be prompted to set up a free 3D<\/strong>EXPERIENCE ID account, if they don\u2019t already have one, or if they do, they can just click on the link and access the model by signing in. They must use the same email address you shared the model with to access the link. Once they click the link, they can access the model right from their browser, which will take them to the shared model in the 3DPlay viewer, so they can rotate, view, mark up, and comment on it using the intuitive tools in 3DPlay.<\/p>\n

All the recipient has to do is hover over the icons to get a description of the various tools so they can start \u201credlining.\u201d For example, they can click on the Edit Clipping tool, which cuts through objects using a section plane to see and access details inside an object, and to measure hidden items. Or they can hit the \u201cText Annotation Command\u201d to enable comments. I will cover more on 3DPlay in another blog coming soon, so stay tuned!<\/p>\n

When they are done, they can save their markups\/comments as a snapshot by hitting the \u201cShare as Comment\u201d command, which will then show up in the Comments window to the right of their screen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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When recipients have added their markups\/comments they can save as a snapshot, and it will show up under the Comments window and they can send it back to the designer from there.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

To send the snapshot with markups\/comments back to the designer, all the recipient has to do is hit the Send button right from the Comments window. They can add a message at that time as well.<\/p>\n

When it\u2019s sent back, you will get an instant notification directly in the SOLIDWORKS task pane and you can click on the notification to access the snapshot, which will open in 3DDrive. You can click on each snapshot to review the markups\/comments from the recipient(s) in the Comments section. For example, you will see \u201cSam the Supplier\u2019s\u201d snapshot and \u201cDan the Designer\u2019s.\u201d The whole thread of everyone\u2019s markups\/comments will be attached to the model and saved and tracked in 3DDrive so you can review any time in the Comments tab.<\/p>\n

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You will get a notification in SOLIDWORKS when a recipient sends it back to you and you can click on it to view the model in 3DDrive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can easily manage access to the models you\u2019ve sent to recipients, and revoke access at any time. For instance, once the supplier has weighed in with their feedback and won\u2019t need access to the model or comment thread going forward, or if someone is taken off the project for whatever reason, you can simply revoke access.<\/p>\n

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Easily revoke access on a shared model at any time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s discuss some various use cases. You can easily share a 2D drawing with a manufacturer or in some cases you might even need to send a native file so a model can be modified by a stakeholder before its manufactured or 3D printed. Or maybe you just need to share a lightweight file with someone in marketing.<\/p>\n

Sharing 2D drawings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say you need to send a supplier a 2D drawing for a quote on how much it will cost to machine a part. You can send the model in a 2D format, such as DXF or DWG and send it in a PDF. In this case the recipient can download, review, and share their feedback using the same sharing process I described earlier.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sharing for machining<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say the design is approved and ready for manufacturing and you need to send it in a 3D file format. You could send as a STEP file or if the stakeholder needed to do some modifications before machining or 3D printing, you could send a native SLDPRT file. When you get it back from the machinist and make the modification and need to resend the file to Sam, you will be asked when you hit \u201cShare a File\u201d whether to update the existing file or upload as a new file. Sam can just open the same link again and see the updated model, as well as any other previous markups\/comments from others.<\/p>\n

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Once a link has been shared it is valid for 30 days. When you need to send an updated model just select \u201cUpdate existing\u201d and the recipient can use the same link to see the updated model.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sharing lightweight design for viewing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say that Elaine, an executive at your company, is at a conference and would like to view the latest design so she can show it to potential customers. In this case you\u2019d want to send it to her in the 3DXML format, which is a lightweight viewing format that she can instantly access on any device. Elaine can easily open the model on her tablet, rotate the model and zoom in and out.<\/p>\n

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Share your models in the lightweight 3DXML format so \u201cElaine the Executive\u201d in marketing can show off the design to potential customers on any device and rotate it and zoom in\/out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Doesn\u2019t this sound easier than eDrawings? Well, it is. With Share and Markup there are no downloads, and no hassles. It provides a fast and simple way for designers and partners to collaborate conveniently and effectively so that you can focus on design and get products to market faster.<\/p>\n

Watch the video below to see just how quick and easy the collaboration process is and to see these various use cases in action.<\/p>\n

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