What Version of 3DVIA Composer Do I Download?

For those of you downloading your 3DVIA Composer from the SolidWorks Customer Portal, you may notice there are two different downloads available.

What is the Difference?

1. If you already HAVE SolidWorks installed, use "3DVIA Composer (xx-bit)".  This is a smaller download because it can use the existing SolidWorks files for certain needed conversion functions. 
2. If SolidWorks is NOT installed, use the "xx-bit DVD Content 1 of 2 \ 2 of 2" download.  This download is the DVD equivalent and is a larger download.

If you are using the DVD version from #2, it consists of two separate downloads.

• Download part 1 and 2 ("...DVD Content, 1 of 2" & "...DVD Content, 2 of 2") depending on the edition needed (32-bit or 64-bit). 
• The two downloads are self-extracting executables; after downloading, double click on the "1 of 2" executable to open the WinZip Self-Extractor and click Unzip.  After the executable has been extracted, close the self-extractor. 
• Repeat step 2 for the "2 of 2" executable

NOTE!! By default, the install data will be extracted to "C:\swdist\3DVIA_V6RXXXX_ComposerFull_x86" or "C:\swdist\3DVIA_V6RXXXX_ComposerFull_x64".  The extraction location can be changed, but ensure that both packages are extracted to the same location.

• Browse to the extraction location and double click on "install.exe" to initiate the installation as would be done with a DVD