Best Practice Information

Domain and Role/Product

SOLIDWORKS Design Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS SOLIDWORKS Design with Cloud Services 

What's covered? Jump to each section using the Contents List in the top right!

• Prerequisite Learning

• Introduction to Selective Loading

• Understanding 3DEXPERIENCE Advanced Filters

  • Creating and Saving Filters

  • Understanding the Rule Types

• Selective Loading with SOLIDWORKS Design

• Best Practices for Setting Up Your Data for Filtering

   

Revision History

Note
All SolidPractices are written as guidelines. It is a strong recommendation to use these documents only after properly evaluating your requirements. Distribution of this document is limited to Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks employees, VARs, and customers who are on an active subscription. You may not post this document on blogs or any internal or external forums without prior written authorization from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation.
This document was updated using version SOLIDWORKS 2026 SP03. If you have questions or need assistance in understanding the content, please contact your designated reseller.

Your Feedback Requested
We would like to hear your feedback and suggestions for new topics. After reviewing this document, please take a few minutes to fill out a brief survey. Your feedback will help us create the content that directly addresses your challenges.

1. Prerequisite Learning

Before reading this guide, you must be familiar with the following:

• Storing SOLIDWORKS designs in a collaborative space on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform
• Saving to and Opening SOLIDWORKS Designs from the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
• Opening SOLIDWORKS designs in the Product Explorer app

2. Introduction to Selective Loading

There are many ways to manage large and complex assemblies, but you can still end up opening thousands of files just to find or edit the few components you actually need. This adds unnecessary loading time, consumes computer resources, and slows down your ability to make design changes.

Existing approaches such as Lightweight Mode, Large Design Review, SpeedPak, and simplified representations remain valuable. Selective loading introduces another method that can be used when you need a more targeted way to work with a large product structure.

The concept is based on two layers of interaction with your SOLIDWORKS models: an exploration layer and an authoring layer. Instead of opening the full assembly directly in SOLIDWORKS Design, you begin in a lightweight viewer on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. From there, you can graphically browse the product structure, identify the parts and subassemblies relevant to your task, and define rules that determine what should be included.

Using 3DEXPERIENCE Advanced Filters, you can save the selected portion of the product structure as a reusable Filter object. That Filter can then be opened directly in SOLIDWORKS Design, allowing you to work only with the components you need. Filters can also be reused and shared with collaborators, helping teams establish consistent and repeatable ways of working with large assemblies.

The same Filter can support design work, reviews, drawings, BOM preparation, and other downstream activities. This document explains what Filters are, the different types of rules available, and how you and your team can create, share, and maintain them effectively.

3. Understanding 3DEXPERIENCE Advanced Filters

To better understand Selective Loading, it is useful to understand what a 3DEXPERIENCE Advanced Filter is and how you create one.

A Filter is a rule set that isolates parts of your product structure. You decide the rules and save the result as an object. You can then open the Filter in SOLIDWORKS, modify the parts, and save your work back to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The changes are reflected in the top-level assembly without compromising the overall product structure.

Creating and Saving Filters

1. Filters can be created in several applications:

   1. From Product Explorer on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform:

      

      Tip: Create a new tab on the SOLIDWORKS Design Cockpit and add the Product Explorer app to it. 

       

   2. From Product Structure Explorer in MySession:

      

2. To create a Filter, click on the Filter button Tools tab on the Action Bar: 

   
3. Choose your filter criteria. There are four rule types:
   1. Selection: Keep and/or remove subassemblies or parts based on what you manually select.
   2. Attributes: Select the object type, name, maturity state, or other PLM properties.
   3. Configuration: Choose defined product configurations. 

   4. Volume: Define the region around your part of interest using a bounding box, bounding sphere, or proximity range.

      

      Note: You can apply multiple rule types in a single Filter, and you can reuse and share the same Filter for design work, collaboration, reviews, BOM checks, and other downstream tasks.

4.  Click Apply to validate the rules. 

5. To save a Filter, click Save. Name your Filter and choose the Collaborative Space to save it in.

   

Understanding the Rule Types

1. Selection

   1. To include objects, click the Added node field. In the main structure view, select the physical products that you want to include in the filtered structure. 
   2. To exclude objects, click the Excluded node field. In the main structure view, select the physical products that you want to exclude from the filtered structure.
   3. Click the check mark at the bottom to finish the Selection rule.

   4. Add additional rules to the Filter or click Apply to see the filtered structure.

      

   Tips:

   1. Click on a part in the graphic window and use the level indicator to easily select different levels of a sub-assembly.

      

   2. Right click on a part and select Hide/Show to help navigate parts you can't see

       

2. Attributes

   1. Type of Object - specify a type of object (Object, Physical Product, etc) to include or exclude in the filtered structure 
      1. If you want to keep a selected type of object, then Keep is already the default behavior.
      2. If you want to remove a certain type of object, click on Keep to switch it to Remove.
   2. Single Attribute
      1. Select an attribute to filter by, then enter the Attribute Value. Depending on how your attributes were mapped, it could be an open field or a list selection. 
      2. Add another attribute by clicking the +.
   3. Group of Attributes
      1. Select Add a group of attributes to specify the scope of attributes you want to include in the filter.
      2. When this filter is applied, the whole group of attributes and values are evaluated as a single expression.
      3. Make sure you validate the attribute group by clicking the check mark. 
   4. Attribute Sequence
      1. Filter your structure sequentially by clicking on Add an attribute in sequence.
      2. Make sure you validate the attribute sequence by clicking the check mark. 

   5. Add additional rules to the Filter or click Apply to see the filtered structure.

      
   6. Different operators are available depending on the selected attribute.

   Note: See Section 5 for setting up your data for filtering. 

    

3. Configuration(*)

   1. In order to filter by configuration, you will need to have an assembly that is assigned to a Configuration Context with Configurations already defined. See Configurations with Model Version [link to PDM role]
   2. To filter by configuration, select the Configuration and click Apply
   3. To filter by variants and option groups, click on the pencil icon. Select desired variants and options groups and click Apply.

    

    

4. Volume
   1. This rule type is only accessible on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with Product Explorer and 3DNavigate. Plan your workflow accordingly if a Volume rule is required. 
   2. Shape Type - select the shape you want to filter with and use the robot manipulator to move and resize the bounding region
   3. Intersection Mode - select based on if you want components that are partially in the bounding region to be included or excluded
   4. Shape Parameters - more precise way to modify the parameters of the bounding region

   5. Advanced Filter Options - update the existing volume criteria in a filter

      

Note: Remember that you can combine multiple criteria to create a single Filter. Combining rule types is usually more precise than any single rule on its own!

4. Selective Loading with SOLIDWORKS Design

Selective Loading is the functionality for opening these Filters in SOLIDWORKS Design. Once you have created Filters for portions of your large assembly, you can open just the portion you need by opening the Filter instead of the top-level assembly. SOLIDWORKS Design requests only the components defined in the Filter, so you start working sooner while the full assembly context remains intact on the platform.

A Filter is a separate database object, so you can find and open it much like any other object on the platform. There are several ways to search for a Filter:

• On the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, using 3DSearch or an app such as Product Explorer or Bookmark Editor.
• In the MySession panel inside SOLIDWORKS Design.
• Through File > Open > Open from 3DEXPERIENCE in SOLIDWORKS Design.

Once you have located the Filter, drag and drop it into the working area of SOLIDWORKS Design to open it. Because searching by the term "filter" surfaces these objects quickly, a consistent naming convention (see Section 5) pays off every time you open one.

Indicators of Working with a Filtered Assembly

When you open a Filter inside SOLIDWORKS Design, there are indicators to show you are working with a filtered product structure rather than the complete assembly. 

• A filtered assembly banner appears above the CommandManager

  

• Top-level assembly has a filter icon in the FeatureManager design tree

• Sub-assemblies that have components filtered out are marked with an asterisk (*)

• Mates that are not resolved due to filtered out components also have a different icon. 

  • You cannot make changes to these mates.

  • You can create new mates with components that are loaded or new components that are inserted.

  • You can edit mates with components that are loaded.

After making edits, Save to the 3DEXPERIENCE, and the changes will be reflected in the top level assembly. Added components will respect the assembly structure.

Working with Envelopes

• Filters do not treat Envelopes any differently from a typical assembly or part file. If an assembly or component is marked as an envelope, it'll load as such when opened in SOLIDWORKS Design. If they are excluded from the Filter, then they won't be loaded.

• You can Envelope components and use Envelope Publisher while in a Filtered assembly. 

   

Working with Filtered Assemblies

• While the assembly is filtered:

  • You can still create, open and edit Design Tables.

  • You cannot create new Physical Products or Product Representations in ConfigurationManager.

  • You cannot view another Physical Product or Product Representation in ConfigurationManager.

Creating Drawings from Filters

You can create drawings that are associated with a Filter. This is particularly useful for creating BOMs, cut lists, or part lists for specific needs, and for quick high-level sheets for design reviews, inspection, or service documentation, all without loading the whole assembly. Drawings that are related to the Filter will be updated automatically when the Filter is updated.

• Open your saved Filter in SOLIDWORKS Design and create a new drawing like you typically would. 

• Use the Relations app to see the relationship between objects on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

  

   

5. Best Practices for Setting Up Your Data for Filtering

The value of Filters depends heavily on the quality of the data behind them. A small investment in setup pays off every time anyone on your team creates or uses a Filter. 

Define Attributes That Work for You

• Attributes can be the foundation of powerful, reusable Filters. Leverage the default attributes that are available on every object, such as Description, Approved By, Maturity State, etc. 

• Set up custom attributes that align with your organization, product, or project. Refer to the Attributes Mapping for SOLIDWORKS Design SolidPractices guide on how to map your custom attributes.

• Populate these attributes consistently as components are created. Attributes that are filled in reliably allow anyone, from designers to procurement, to isolate exactly the components they need with a single Filter.

• Attributes only work as filter criteria when everyone uses the same values in the same way. Agree on a controlled list of values (for example, a fixed set of Discipline names) and document it. Inconsistent entries such as "Hydraulic", "Hydraulics", and "HYD" will fragment your filter results and undermine trust in the workflow.

Establish Standards Across the Team

• Define a naming convention to stay organized. What are you filtering by? What is the Filter for?

• Write meaningful descriptions when saving a Filter. Include a description that communicates the scope of the Filter, for example: "Excludes fasteners & purchased parts. Includes steel frame members." A good description lets teammates decide whether a Filter fits their need without opening it first.

• Filters have their own maturity states, and these states control visibility:

  • Keep a Filter as Draft if it is for your own use.
  • A Filter must be In Work to be visible to other users.
  • Filters can also be Released and kept with your design documentation.
  • There is also an option to set In Work as the default maturity state in the Collaborative Spaces Configuration Center. Consider enabling this if your team's Filters are generally intended to be shared.

Your Feedback Requested
We would like to hear your feedback and suggestions for new topics. After reviewing this document, please take a few minutes to fill out a brief survey. Your feedback will help us create the content that directly addresses your challenges.