How to Use Pack and Go in SOLIDWORKS

Pack and Go collects a SOLIDWORKS file and its related references into one folder or zip file. It is useful when sending an assembly to another user, archiving a project, copying a design, or moving files without breaking references.

When to use Pack and Go

Use Pack and Go when a model depends on multiple files. Assemblies often reference parts, subassemblies, drawings, design tables, decals, and other external files. Copying only the top-level assembly can leave the recipient with missing references. Pack and Go reduces that risk by collecting the related files together.

It is also useful before sending files to a vendor, moving a project to another computer, or creating a clean design copy. The tool helps avoid the common problem where an assembly opens correctly on your computer but fails on someone else’s because a referenced part was left behind.

Run Pack and Go

1. Open the SOLIDWORKS part, drawing, or assembly.
2. Go to File > Pack and Go.
3. Review the list of referenced files.
4. Choose a folder or zip file destination.
5. Add a prefix or suffix if you are creating a copy.
6. Click Save to create the package.

Include drawings when needed

If the package needs to include documentation, enable the option to include drawings. This is important when sending a project for review, manufacturing, quoting, or archiving. Check the list before saving because drawings may not be included if they are stored outside the expected folder structure.

Open the drawings from the packaged folder after the copy is made. This confirms that drawing views and references are pointing to the packaged models, not the original project folder.

Use prefixes and suffixes carefully

Pack and Go can add a prefix or suffix to copied files. This is useful when creating a new design version, but it can also create confusing file names if used casually. Use a clear naming rule and check that drawings, references, and BOMs still point to the correct files.

Check the destination package

After saving, open the copied assembly from the new folder or zip extraction location. This confirms that the package contains the needed references. If SOLIDWORKS asks for missing files, return to the original model and rerun Pack and Go with the missing references included.

For important transfers, test the package in a folder that does not contain the original source files. That makes missing references obvious instead of letting SOLIDWORKS silently find files from the old location.

Use Pack and Go for design copies

Pack and Go is safer than manually copying assembly files in File Explorer because it understands SOLIDWORKS references. When creating a copy for a new project, save the package to a new folder, rename files consistently, and open the copied assembly to verify that it references the copied parts instead of the originals.

Troubleshooting Pack and Go

If references are still missing, check whether some parts are suppressed, lightweight, stored on a disconnected network path, or managed by PDM. If the package is for a vendor or customer, open it on a different machine or a clean folder before sending it. That final check helps catch missing references while you can still fix them.

For important projects, keep the Pack and Go package as a record of exactly what was sent or archived. It can be useful later when comparing revisions or recovering an old assembly state.

Before sending the package outside your company, remove files that should not be shared and confirm that the package contains the correct revision level. Pack and Go collects references; it does not decide whether each file is appropriate to send.