DriveWorksXpress provides entry-level Design Automation inside world-leading, 3D CAD design software, SOLIDWORKS.
DriveWorksXpress is ideal for everyday repetitive design tasks. Use it to create multiple variations of SOLIDWORKS Parts, Assemblies and Drawings quickly and accurately. Save time, reduce repetitive tasks and minimise costly errors.
The DriveWorksXpress Training and Certification is a free certification for all engineering professionals and students who have access to SOLIDWORKS.
Improve your SOLIDWORKS and DriveWorks skills by becoming a Certified DriveWorksXpress Associate (CDWXA). The certification is free and easy, just 3 steps, in 3 hours.
Becoming a CDWXA gives you new skills to add to your résumé, opens doors in a competitive jobs market and differentiates you from your peers.
Take the certification online today and your certificate will be emailed to you immediately.
• Capture and re-use your design knowledge
• Drive SOLIDWORKS Model geometry
(Part and Assembly Dimensions, Features and Custom Properties)
• Create an input form to enter your requirements
• Use rules to link the values on your form to files to be generated
• Run – Generate your new SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD Part, Assembly and Drawing files
DriveWorksXpress is Rules-Based software included in SOLIDWORKS and is ideal if the designs and projects you work on are the same but different. It is widely used in many industries from trailers to conveyors, furniture to machinery, mechanical seals to pressure vessels, windows & doors.
From stand-alone seats to company-wide solutions, DriveWorks software can be used for Design Automation and Sales Configuration by most companies creating ‘Same but Different’ products.
Whether you are an engineer looking for a Design Automation solution or a company wanting to provide CPQ Product Configurators and Guided Selling for your own teams, distributors dealers and even customers, DriveWorks software is modular and scalable so you can set up and use the products to your advantage and at your own pace.
To find out more about each feature, simply click on the ticks in the product columns!
Supported Operating Systems and Browsers
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (DriveWorks Desktop Applications) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
All of the above plus Windows Server (2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016) (DriveWorks Live Web application) | ✓ | ||
Google Chrome 8+, Mozilla Firefox 4+, Microsoft Edge 12+, Microsoft IE 11+, Safari 5.1+ (Configuring products in a Browser through DriveWorks Live) | ✓ |
CAD – Controlling SOLIDWORKS 3D Models and 2D Drawings
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
Drive Dimensions, Features and Custom Properties | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Drive Color, Material and Textures | ✓ | ✓ | |
Drive Advanced Feature Properties (Hole Wizards, Sheet Metal, Weldments) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Drive Advanced Feature Properties | ✓ | ✓ | |
Drive Instances | ✓ | ✓ | |
Replace Components (with existing files or dynamically driven files) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Create additional model file formats (drive3D, STEP, STL, PDF, DXF, JPEG, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Full control over new model file names and locations | ✓ | ✓ | |
Control multiple model sets from a single project | ✓ | ✓ | |
Run SOLIDWORKS Model Macros | ✓ | ||
Generative design – create new features on the fly (configurations, insert components, mates, etc.) | ✓ | ||
Create a drawing for each part and assembly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Create multiple drawings for each part and assembly | ✓ | ✓ | |
Full control over new drawing file names and locations | ✓ | ✓ | |
Create additional drawing file formats (PDF, DXF, DWG, JPEG, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Control Drawing Sheets (Re-scale, Rename, Delete) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Control Drawing Views (Re-scale, Re-position, Delete) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Control Annotations (Dimension Text, Notes, Symbols, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Control Dimension positions | ✓ | ✓ | |
Control Custom Properties, Break Lines and Layers | ✓ | ✓ | |
Run SOLIDWORKS Drawing Macros | ✓ | ||
Run additional tasks on the fly (Auto Balloon, Arrange Dimensions, Rescale and Position Views, etc.) | ✓ |
Document Creation
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
Create documents (such as Sales Quotes, Purchase Orders, Bills of Materials, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Built in document templates | ✓ | ✓ | |
Fully customizable document creation (from Word, Excel, XML, etc.) | ✓ | ||
Send HTML emails with attachments | ✓ | ||
Create Additional File Formats (PDF, HTML, TXT, XML, etc.) | ✓ |
Output Generation
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
Immediate generation of SOLIDWORKS models and drawings | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Real Time Preview (On Demand) – updates model while specifying | ✓ | ✓ | |
Manual release of generation queue – allows multiple specifications to have their models generated from a queue | ✓ | ||
Automatic generation – unattended generation of outputs | ✓ | ||
Load balancing – distributes output generation over multiple machines | ✓ | ||
Priority processing – Change the order that outputs are created based on rules | ✓ | ||
Output Tagging – Generate outputs on targeted machines or in specific locations | ✓ |
User Interface Design
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
Automatic Form designer | ✓ | ||
Expert Form Designer (Resolution and Control Guides, Control Grouping, Control Property Grid, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Multiple form creation with dynamic navigation | ✓ | ✓ | |
Basic Form Controls (Text Box, Numeric Text Box, Drop Down, Spin Button, Check Box) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Enhanced Form Controls (Hyperlink, Label, List Box, Option Group, Picture Box, Slider) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Advanced Form Controls (3D Preview, Child Specification List, Data Table, Date Picker, Frame Control, Macro Button, Upload Control, etc.) | ✓ | ||
Dynamic options for list controls | ✓ | ✓ | |
Dynamic control of Enable and Visible properties of form controls | ✓ | ✓ | |
Dynamic control over fonts and colors | ✓ | ✓ | |
Static validation and validation messages | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Dynamic validation and validation messages | ✓ | ✓ | |
Copy and paste form controls | ✓ | ✓ | |
Re-skin controls | ✓ | ✓ | |
Support for responsive forms (allows re-positioning of controls when used on screens of different sizes) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Project hierarchy (run a specification inside a specification to any level (For example a contract with multiple configurable line items) | ✓ |
Working with Data and Rules
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
Use tabular data to calculate rules | ✓ | ✓ | |
Copy and paste Excel data | ✓ | ✓ | |
Create internal data tables | ✓ | ✓ | |
Use dynamic data from ODBC Data sources in rules (SAP, Oracle, MySQL, SQLServer, etc.) | ✓ | ||
Export data to ODBC data sources (for example SAP, Oracle, MySQL, SQLServer) | ✓ | ||
Pull and Push data dynamically to and from SQL Server Databases using SQL or Windows authentication | ✓ | ||
Create Group Level Tabular data for use across an entire implementation | ✓ | ||
Create Calculation tables where each cell can be calculated from other cells | ✓ | ||
Create Rollup data tables – where information such a price or BOM Quantities is rolled up through the project hierarchy | |||
Web Service integration – communicate with any web service OR use DriveWorks as a web service | ✓ | ||
Over 240 engineering, mathematic and scientific functions | ✓ | ✓ | |
Rules builder with function wizard and rule insight (rule breakdown and drill down, function assistance, syntax highlighting and function helper text) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Reusable rules (Variables) | ✓ | ✓ | |
Pervasive search/filtering capabilities | ✓ | ✓ |
Maintainability, Reporting and Diagnostics
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
Rules commentary | ✓ | ✓ | |
Rules revisioning | ✓ | ✓ | |
Reporting on model generation success or failure | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Reporting on specification process success or failure | ✓ | ||
Real time testing during form design | ✓ | ✓ | |
Rules analysis and breakdown | ✓ | ✓ | |
What-if scenarios (Specification Test Mode) | ✓ | ||
Interactive step through of model generation | ✓ | ||
Rule Profiling (rule specific error debugging, performance solving and insight features) | ✓ |
Scale-ability
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
Import DriveWorksXpress Projects | ✓ | ✓ | |
Import DriveWorks Solo Projects | ✓ | ||
Underlying database – Microsoft SQL Server | ✓ | ||
Security – Users and Teams | ✓ | ||
Security – Active Directory compatibility | ✓ | ||
Granular permissions | ✓ | ||
Zero-Conversion web access | ✓ | ||
Unattended model generation | ✓ | ||
Standalone user seats | ✓ | ||
Fully customizable work flow – (who, what and when) | ✓ | ||
Automatic processing of external data | ✓ | ||
Fully documented API with Software Development Kit | ✓ | ||
Plugins | ✓ |
Integration
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional (Automatic check-in of models, drawings and documents) | ✓ | ||
Salesforce | ✓ | ||
3rd party system Integration through file import and export | ✓ | ||
3rd party system Integration through SQL\ ODBC connections | ✓ | ||
3rd party system Integration through web services | ✓ | ||
3rd party system Integration through fully documented Application programming Interface | ✓ |
Online Configurator and DriveWorks 3D
DriveWorks Xpress | DriveWorks Solo | DriveWorks Pro | |
Direct web access through the application | ✓ | ||
Run as a service through Internet Information Services (IIS) | ✓ | ||
Application Mode – replicate desktop running directly on the web | ✓ | ||
Web Theme with basic re-skinning | ✓ | ||
Choice of fully responsive skins | ✓ | ||
Session Management – control license usage over the Internet | ✓ | ||
Image gallery – display image files as they are created | ✓ | ||
Configurable 3D in a browser | ✓ | ||
Server side rendering of web optimized DriveWorks 3D files | ✓ | ||
Image fall back mode when no WebGL on client machine | ✓ | ||
Model click interaction | ✓ | ||
Transparent image support | ✓ |
SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD solutions enable companies to speed up product development, reduce manufacturing costs, and improve product quality and reliability across a wide range of industries and applications.
Intuitive product development tools give you the capabilities to create, validate, communicate, and manage your product designs so you can rapidly bring your products to market.
The software can be purchased via the SOLIDWORKS Value Added Reseller Channel.
SOLIDWORKS® delivers robust 3D design capabilities, performance, and ease-of-use. Not only can you create fully detailed parts, assemblies, and production-level drawings, but you can access all the tools required to generate complex surfaces, sheet metal flat patterns, and structural welded assemblies.
SOLIDWORKS also includes DriveWorksXpress to automate designs, and other wizards to perform stress analysis, and determine the environmental impact of components.
SOLIDWORKS Premium is a comprehensive 3D design solution that adds powerful simulation and design validation to the capabilities of SOLIDWORKS Professional, as well as ECAD/MCAD collaboration, reverse engineering, and advanced wire and pipe routing functionality.
SOLIDWORKS Professional builds on the capabilities of SOLIDWORKS Standard to increase design productivity, with file management tools, advanced photorealistic rendering, automated cost estimation, eDrawings® Professional collaboration capabilities, automated design and drawing checking, and a sophisticated components and parts library.
Get up to speed quickly with SOLIDWORKS Standard and unlock the benefits of this powerful 3D design solution for rapid creation of parts, assemblies, and 2D drawings. Application-specific tools for sheet metal, weldments, surfacing, and mold tool and die make it easy to deliver best-in-class designs.
Dassault Systemes has chosen to include the Xpress version of DriveWorks (DriveWorksXpress) inside all licenses of SOLIDWORKS Premium, Professional and Standard. This is a great measure of market demand for Design Automation and for proven DriveWorks technology.
DriveWorks Solo and DriveWorks Pro are SOLIDWORKS Certified Gold Products.
Our own experienced Applications Engineers and Developers provide training and support for DS SOLIDWORKS. Join in, ask questions & chat in the DriveWorksXpress area inside the SOLIDWORKS Forum. Training classes can be arranged through DriveWorks Resellers.
You’ll find Help inside DriveWorksXpress by clicking F1 or the Help icon inside the product.
Check out other resources such as our Getting Started Webinars, How to Video Clips and posts on the SOLIDWORKS Forum.
Entry level product built inside SOLIDWORKS. Set up and use in the engineering department to automate your design process and reduce repetitive tasks.
More powerful Design Automation for SOLIDWORKS CAD Engineers and Product Designers. Download the software and try it FREE for 30 days. Online Training resources available.
Configurator for desktop, mobile and tablet. Add specific software modules as you need them and as you automate more. Extend and share the benefits of Automation to others in the organization AND online.
.
You’ll also be able to create customizable forms, preview your results on screen, use more functions and variables in your rule building, together with advanced drawing-view capability and control. These are just some of the additional features that you can take advantage of in DriveWorks Solo.
Use DriveWorks Pro Administrator to set up and manage your projects. Once set up, add more DriveWorks Pro Modules such as DriveWorks Pro Live and DriveWorks Autopilot so others can fill out the forms to design and configure new variations.
Other users can be other engineers, non-technical staff, colleagues on the network or external users, such as distributors or customers. They will be able to specify new variations simply by filling out the forms which can be integrated within your existing website. Specifications can be processed by DriveWorks Pro Autopilot, automatically taking care of the creation of 3D Parts, Assemblies, 2D Drawings as well as any documents (DWG, DXF, PDF, Word, Excel, JPG, XML) required.
Results such as quotes and eDrawings can be emailed using functionality in DriveWorks Pro Autopilot and even passed to other company systems such as ERP and SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional.
It is a ‘must have’ for all businesses using DriveWorks Pro as an Online Product or Sales Configurator. The app allows mobile-friendly versions of configurable 3D CAD files to be viewed, used and even shared by anyone using an iPad, iPhone, Android or Windows 8 tablet and who wants to show off their products in 3D.