Convert SLDDRW to PDF

Recipients often need a PDF to view or print a SolidWorks drawing without installing SOLIDWORKS. PDF also provides a fixed-layout copy for approvals, supplier exchanges, and released-document archives.

What the SLDDRW format is

SLDDRW is the native drawing format created by Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS. It stores one or more engineering drawing sheets, including projected views, dimensions, tolerances, annotations, notes, bills of materials, revisions, and links to referenced part and assembly files.

Mechanical designers, manufacturers, suppliers, and SOLIDWORKS PDM users commonly exchange SLDDRW files. A drawing is not always self-contained: its views can depend on .SLDPRT and .SLDASM files, configurations, drawing templates, fonts, and other linked data. The referenced files should be available when the drawing is opened or exported.

What the PDF format is

PDF is a fixed-layout document format supported by web browsers, operating systems, printers, mobile devices, and document-management systems. A correctly exported drawing PDF retains sheet dimensions, page order, line weights, annotations, and print layout while allowing recipients to view it without SOLIDWORKS.

PDF is suitable for issuing drawings, requesting approval, attaching documents to email, and archiving released revisions. It does not retain SOLIDWORKS feature history, parametric relationships, editable drawing objects, or native links to the 3D model. Keep the original SLDDRW and its dependent CAD files for future revisions.

How to convert SLDDRW to PDF

Using SOLIDWORKS

1. Open the SLDDRW file in SOLIDWORKS with its referenced parts and assemblies available.
2. Rebuild the drawing, resolve missing-reference warnings, and inspect each sheet, view, dimension, note, and BOM.
3. Choose File → Save As.
4. Set Save as type to Adobe Portable Document Format (*.pdf), select the destination, and open the PDF options if they are available.
5. Choose the required sheet scope, such as the current sheet, selected sheets, or all sheets, then save the PDF.
6. Open the result in a PDF viewer and verify the paper size, orientation, sheet order, line weights, fonts, symbols, and drawing scale.

SOLIDWORKS is generally the best option because it can resolve native references and apply the drawing’s own settings. For repeated conversions, SOLIDWORKS Task Scheduler or a SOLIDWORKS API program can automate PDF export, but the process must account for missing references, suppressed configurations, inactive sheets, and sheet selection.

Using a PDF printer

If direct PDF saving is unavailable, open the drawing and choose File → Print. Select Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows or another installed PDF printer, set the exact paper size and orientation, select the required sheets, and disable Fit to page or similar automatic scaling when the drawing must retain its specified print scale. PDF printing can be less predictable for multi-sheet drawings and may require separate print jobs.

Using eDrawings

The SOLIDWORKS eDrawings Viewer can open some SOLIDWORKS drawings and may allow printing through a system PDF printer, depending on the viewer version, file features, and license. Test the complete drawing before relying on it; use SOLIDWORKS when eDrawings cannot resolve references or reproduce the sheets correctly.

Using an online converter

Online services such as CloudConvert and Zamzar can be considered only if their current upload pages explicitly list .slddrw as a supported input. Support for this proprietary format is uncommon and may not include referenced parts, assemblies, configurations, fonts, or multi-sheet behavior. Do not upload confidential, unreleased, export-controlled, or customer-owned engineering data unless the service and company policy permit it. After conversion, inspect every page against the source drawing.

Quality and compatibility checks

• Preserve the intended paper size, such as A4, A3, or ANSI B, and check that the viewer or printer has not applied additional scaling.
• Install the fonts and symbol fonts used by the drawing before export. Missing fonts can alter text width, wrapping, symbols, and note placement.
• Resolve external references and rebuild large or lightweight assemblies before export. Unresolved components, inactive configurations, or unavailable model data can produce missing or incomplete views.
• Confirm whether the result is one multi-page PDF or separate files. The outcome depends on the save, export, or print settings.
• Compare critical dimensions and annotations in the PDF with the source drawing, then test printing at 100% or the required scale.
• A drawing PDF is a 2D visual document. Creating a 3D PDF requires model geometry and a SOLIDWORKS workflow that supports 3D PDF; exporting an SLDDRW alone does not preserve a manipulable 3D model.