How to Use the Create eDrawings Task in the Task Scheduler

This is an article showing how to use the Create eDrawing task in the Task Scheduler. You can find a full list of tasks performed by the Task Scheduler here:
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The Create eDrawings task in the Task Scheduler allows you to SOLIDWORKS Part, Assembly and Drawing files to eDrawings files. This can be done for multiple files of a specified type within a folder which can be extremely useful if you need to have a batch of files converted. 

Create eDrawings Task Workflow

1. Select the Create eDrawings Task from the SOLIDWORKS Task Scheduler 

Steps 2 - 8 will utilize the image below:

2. Set up a custom Task Title if needed.

3. Add the file or folder that contains the documents that need to be updated. Either files or Folders can be specified. You cannot select both.

• If adding individual files from different folders: use the button Add File > browse to the file's location > select the file > click "Open".
  
  
  • File name will be populated in the File Name or Type column
    
    
• If there are folders that all files within need to be updated: use the button Add Folder > browser to the folder's location > select the folder > click "Select Folder". You can then check on "Include sub-folders" to include files in sub-folders.
  
  
  • File type will be populated in the File Name or Type column below. In this task part, assembly, and drawing file types can be selected.

4. Running mode can be set to Once, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. If the Start time and Start date are set in the past, before clicking "Finish", the task will start immediately.

5. The Task output folder is where the eDrawings files that are created will be saved. 

• Same as original file: This ill save the converted files in the same folder location as the source files. 
  
  
• This Folder: This will allow you to specify a different folder for the converted files. 

6. In the eDrawings Export Options:

• OK to measure this eDrawings file: This enables measurement of the geometry in this file. Recipients of the file can measure the geometry in the eDrawings Viewer. 
  
  
• Allow export to STL for parts & assemblies: Recipients of the file can save the file as an STL file from the eDrawings Viewer
• Save shaded data in drawings: For SOLIDWORKS Drawings only. This option will save the shaded data from the SOLIDWORKS Drawing document in the published eDrawings file. 
  
  
• Save table features to eDrawings file: If the part or assembly document that is being saved includes Bills of Materials or Title Block Tables, this option will include this information in the exported eDrawings file. 
• Save Motion Studies to eDrawings file: For models with SOLIDWORKS Motion Studies. Note: saving motion studies can increase file size and creation time.
  
  • Save each motion study in every configuration: This option will recalculate all out-of-date motion studies automatically before exporting to eDrawings. 
  • Save only in last calculated configuration: Th configuration of the most recently calculated motion study is used. 
    • Recalculate the motion study if the results are out of date: This will recalculate any out-of-date motion studies in that configuration. 
• Include Layers set to not print: This option will include any layers in drawings that are set to "Will not print" from the Layers dialog box. 

7. In the Advanced option:

• Set where the task working folder is. The task working files can include backup files, reports, and so on.
• Set when the task would timeout, ending the task whether or not the task completes.
• Run SOLIDWORKS in the background minimized or not.

8. After everything is set up for the requirements, click Finish to set the task in motion.

SOLIDWORKS will launch itself, perform the actions according to the task, and close itself when the scheduled time is reached.

For further assistance, please contact our HawkSupport team at 877-266-4469(US) or 866-587-6803(Canada) and support@hawkridgesys.com.