Solid works version issue

[labeneator]

I have a colleague who has solidworks 2019 installed but can't open the files due to a 'future version' error. This seems to be a common issue requiring one to use a later solid works. Is it possible to use an earlier version to save the file or use a vendor neutral file format?

Email from the said person in verbatim

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Thanks for the links to the CAD files for the trial project. I hope we can collaborate so we can try out any other designs for equipment that will alleviate the current medical equipment availability.

I was able to access the zip file containing the Solidworks files. However, they are tagged as 'future version' meaning I can't open the attachments with my current Solidworks 2019.

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Thanks

[ElectricRCAircraftGuy]

I haven't used SolidWorks in 5+ years, so someone else chime in too please, but I'm pretty sure Solid Works goes to great lengths to ensure this is the case, and there may not be any work-around. When I was using a newer version of SolidWorks in 2013, there was absolutely no way to save it in an older format, specifically to force you to buy a license for the newer version so you don't have to. Therefore, a common strategy was to keep the same version for as long as possible between upgrades. That being said, if I was you I'd research it for hours to see if anyone has a clever work-around or tool to help.

[labeneator]

There seems to be a way to use vendor neutral files:

• https://forum.solidworks.com/thread/230295
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFrOpYIPtpk
• https://help.solidworks.com/2019/English/SolidWorks/sldworks/c_previous_release_interoperability.htm

However, you do seem to lose flexibility in editing the vendor neutral files. Perhaps we can have both file options published for better coverage.

[nimamoslemy]

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