Table of Contents
Get a 7-day trial No commitment or credit card required. Professional email required.
PDMShell trial PDMPublisher trial

PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS

PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS is the SOLIDWORKS add-in version of PDMPublisher. It publishes the document open in SOLIDWORKS and can process its referenced files without requiring a SOLIDWORKS PDM task.

Important

This documentation describes the SOLIDWORKS add-in, not the PDMPublisher task configured in the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration tool.

See PDM Task vs SOLIDWORKS Add-in for a side-by-side comparison and links to the settings shared by both products.

PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS 2026.08.08 open in SOLIDWORKS 2026

Install and Enable the Add-In

Before using PDMPublisher, download and install PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS. Close SOLIDWORKS before running the MSI installer.

After installation:

  1. Start SOLIDWORKS.
  2. Select Tools > Add-Ins.
  3. Locate PDMPublisher (SOLIDWORKS) under Partner Solution Add-Ins.
  4. Select Active Add-ins to load it now.
  5. Select Start Up to load it automatically with SOLIDWORKS.
  6. Select OK.

PDMPublisher for SOLIDWORKS enabled under Partner Solution Add-Ins

Start a Publish Job

  1. Open the part, assembly, or drawing to publish in SOLIDWORKS.
  2. Open the PDMPublisher (SOLIDWORKS) task pane.
  3. Select an existing profile, or create one.
  4. Review the Options, Annotations, and Conditions tabs.
  5. Select PUBLISH.

The current profile controls the export location, filename, formats, reference processing, annotations, conditions, and other publishing behavior.

Main Tabs

Tab Purpose
PDMPublisher Configure output files, drawing sheets, reference processing, configurations, flat patterns, and PDF behavior.
Annotations Add text, properties, watermarks, or QR codes to exported drawings and PDFs.
Conditions Filter the active document and references using property-based rules and AND/OR groups.
Logs Review the steps, results, warnings, and errors from each publish job.
About View the installed version, update and licensing links, and appearance settings.

Documentation Structure

The SOLIDWORKS add-in documentation follows the same category order as the PDM task documentation. Shared settings link to one common reference page so their explanations remain consistent. Add-in-only pages cover profiles, interactive publishing, logs, and About settings.

Settings that require the PDM task framework are intentionally excluded from the add-in TOC. This includes scheduling, task-launch prompts, BOM templates, task-host SOLIDWORKS selection, and vault activity logs.

Select Minimize at the bottom of the navigation to leave more room for settings.

Minimize navigation command

When minimized, the tab names are displayed vertically. Select the arrow at the bottom to restore the full navigation.

Collapsed PDMPublisher navigation

Profiles and Presets

Profiles let you keep separate publishing configurations for different outputs, customers, departments, or workflows. Built-in presets provide starting configurations for DXF, combined PDF and STEP, and STEP publishing. Version 2026.08.10 and later can share selected profile sections using a six-digit PIN. See Profiles and Presets for profile setup and file-based transfer.

Download and Licensing

For support, contact support@bluebytesystemsinc.zohodesk.com.

Edit this page