Check out a configuration item

To edit a CAD file, you must check it out. If the CAD file is linked to multiple configuration items, when you check out the CAD file from one configuration item, all linked configuration items are locked to you for editing at the same time. This means you may make changes to the CAD file and any of its configurations, and each configuration items’ attributes if desired.

Check out a CAD file from the cBOM view

If you have already downloaded a CAD file and have it open in read-only mode in SOLIDWORKS, you may check it out from the cBOM view to begin editing it.

1. With the CAD model open, refresh () the cBOM view.

2. Right-click the currently-opened item and select Check out from the drop-down.

3. Select the box beside each item you want to check out.

   Tip: Right-click the top level box to see options to select all, select Development, select Released, or unselect all to quickly select items by status.

4. Click Check out to confirm your selection.

When the process finishes:

• The selected items are checked out and locked to you as indicated by a green lock and green text.
• All linked configuration items are also checked out and locked to you. You can confirm this by switching between configurations and viewing the green lock beside each item.
• The selected items' CAD files are put into edit mode so that you may now edit them.
• If the selected items had drawings associated with them, the drawings are also checked out as indicated by the green drawing icon.

Check out a CAD file from the Project BOM

If you already know what changes need to be made to a particular part or assembly, you can check out the item directly from the Project BOM.

1. From the My Workspace or My Projects section, select the project in which the desired item is located.

   The project name and number appears at the top of the plugin to set the context for the rest of the plugin.

2. Click the BOM view icon () in the menu bar.

3. Select Project BOM from the drop-down.

4. Right-click the configuration item you want to edit and select Check out.

   The Check out files window opens. The selected configuration item’s cBOM is displayed.

5. (Optional) Select the desired load filter.

6. In the first column, select the box beside any child items that you also want to check out at the same time.

   Tip: Right-click the left-most column heading to select all, select none, or select CAD files by item status.

7. (Optional) In the Drawing column, select the box to check out the corresponding drawing (if one exists).

   Tip: Right-click the drawing column heading to select all, select none, or select drawings by item status.
   Note: The Check out files window displays a box next to every item regardless of whether it has a drawing. If you select a box beside an item that does not have a corresponding drawing, then no drawing is checked out.

8. Click Download to download the files to your local drive.

   All files are downloaded to your home folder.

9. When the files are finished downloading, click Open model (or Open drawing if you selected the parent-level drawing).

When the process finishes:

• The configuration associated with the item from which you initiated the check out is loaded as the active one in SOLIDWORKS.
• The selected items are checked out and locked to you as indicated by a green lock and green text.
• All linked configuration items are also checked out and locked to you. You can confirm this by switching between configurations and viewing the green lock beside each item.
• The selected items' CAD files are put into edit mode so that you may now edit them.
• If you selected drawings to check out as well, the drawing icon is green.

You may now edit the CAD file, drawings, and item attributes if desired.