What is the SLDDRW file format?
Files with the .slddrw extension store 2D drawings of a SOLIDWORKS part or assembly, along with additional metadata such as properties, designer name, and creation date. Users can add views, layers, dimensions, and comments to drawings. Any changes made to the source model are automatically reflected in the drawing file. Drawings are generated based on one or more projection views of the referenced 3D model. Internally, .slddrw uses Microsoft's OLE2 Compound File Binary container - the same D0 CF 11 E0 magic-byte signature shared with legacy .doc and .xls files; SOLIDWORKS-specific internal streams identify the file as a drawing rather than a SOLIDWORKS part or assembly.
Complete model information is stored in the drawing document, and access to full detail requires the source project to be open. To speed up the process, three optimized loading modes are available:
- Detached - the drawing is detached from the model, meaning users can work on it without loading the whole project into memory. If applied changes require the model to be loaded, users are notified before any changes are committed.
- Lightweight - the drawing uses only essential model data for faster editing.
- Limited resources - the drawing loads with a reduced subset of elements such as shaders.
Saving a drawing in one of these modes is done by selecting the appropriate option in the Save As dialog. Generated drawing files can also serve as the basis for .drwdot drawing templates.
By default, drawing files are named after the source model with the .slddrw suffix appended. Drawings saved in detached mode can be shared with other users independently of the original project file. For wider distribution, SOLIDWORKS drawings are best shared via eDrawings (.edrw format) or exported as PDF.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWSLDDRW is a passive CAD data file - drawing geometry, annotations and metadata, not executable code - so opening one in a viewer is safe. The practical cautions are non-malware: a drawing saved in a newer SOLIDWORKS may not open in an older release, and views can appear blank if the referenced part/assembly files were not sent with it. Treat shared drawings as intellectual property (they often contain exact manufacturing dimensions). Download eDrawings only from the official Dassault site.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open SLDDRW files
Windows3 apps
SolidWorks
Paid The native editor. File > Open the .slddrw (with referenced part/assembly available) to view and fully edit the drawing. 
eDrawings Viewer
Free Free official Dassault viewer. Open the .slddrw to view, zoom, measure and print the drawing - no SOLIDWORKS needed. 
Autodesk Fusion 360
Freemium Imports SOLIDWORKS files; useful if you need to bring the design (and its drawing) into a different CAD environment. 
macOS1 app
eDrawings Viewer
Free Free Dassault viewer for Mac; open the .slddrw to view, measure and print (SOLIDWORKS itself is Windows-only). 
Android1 app
eDrawings (mobile)
Free Open the .slddrw in the eDrawings Android app to view and pan/zoom the drawing. Technical details
deep spec| Container format | OLE2 Compound File Binary (CFB) - the same D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 header used by legacy .doc and .xls files |
| Magic bytes (hex, offset 0) | D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 |
| File purpose | 2D engineering drawing derived from a SOLIDWORKS 3D model (part or assembly) |
| Referenced model types | .sldprt (part files) and .sldasm (assembly files); the drawing document links to one or more source models |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
| Loading modes | Standard (full model in memory), Lightweight (essential data only), Detached (no live model link required) |
| Drawing template format | .slddrt - SOLIDWORKS Drawing Template; .slddrw files can be saved as .slddrt templates for reuse |
| Multi-sheet support | A single .slddrw file can contain multiple drawing sheets, each with independent views and title blocks |
| Annotation and table types | Dimensions, GD&T callouts, notes, BOM tables, weld symbols, hole tables, revision tables |
| Export targets | DXF, DWG, PDF, eDrawings (.edrw), STEP, IGES - selectable via Save As or Pack and Go |
| Version compatibility | Files are version-stamped; a .slddrw created in a newer SOLIDWORKS release cannot be opened by an older release |
| Authoring platform | Windows only for full authoring in SOLIDWORKS; view-only via eDrawings on macOS, iOS, and Android |
| Developer | Dassault Systèmes (SOLIDWORKS Corporation) |
| Drawing standard support | ANSI, ISO, DIN, JIS, BSI, and GOST drafting standards selectable per sheet |
| Parametric link to model | Dimensions in the drawing are bidirectionally linked to the 3D model; model changes propagate automatically to drawing views |
| Released | 1995 (SOLIDWORKS 95) |
| Specification | www.solidworks.com |
SLDDRW conversions
Community Q&A
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