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Advanced use > Add or Remove CAD Drivers


What is a CAD driver?

A CAD driver is a program that enables use of TraceParts with a given CAD software.
E.g.:
  • It is the SolidWorks driver that allows TraceParts to insert parts directly in the "SolidWorks" software.
  • It is the "CATIA V5" driver that allows TraceParts to insert parts directly in the "CATIA V5" software.

Special cases:
  • The Parasolid driver allows creation of files in "Parasolid" format but does not allow automatic insertion in the software using the "Parasolid" modeler. To insert directly in the software using the Parasolid modeler, you must use the appropriate driver (e.g.: use the SolidWorks driver to insert in SolidWorks).
  • The same applies in the case of the 3DXML, ACIS, Granite One, IGES, Images, Sketchup, STEP and VRML drivers.
  • The "CATIA V4" driver does not allow automatic insertion in CATIA V4, but only to generate files readable by CATIA V4.

Why Add or Remove CAD Drivers?
    1. In case of a driver update (so that TraceParts can use a version of a CAD software that did not exist at the time of TraceParts installation, following a driver correction).
    2. In case of installation on the workstation of a new version of the CAD software (in order not to reinstall all TraceParts).
    3. In case of an insertion problem.

Add CAD driver(s)

Where do you find a driver?
There are two sources to find drivers:
  • On the Web through the menu "/ Internet / www.traceparts.com" of TraceParts.
  • On the TraceParts CD.
In general, the Web update should be preferred; the drivers there are always the most up-to-date.

Add a driver from the TraceParts site
IMPORTANT:
  • The driver can be downloaded from any workstation – even if TraceParts is not installed on it. The downloaded driver then merely has to be moved to the workstation where TraceParts is installed..
  • The driver installation on the workstation where TraceParts is installed does not require Internet access.
  • The driver must be installed on all the workstations where TraceParts is installed (to date there is no mass deployment available for the drivers).
Adding the driver:
  • Go to the Web update page via the menu "/ Internet / www.traceparts.com" of TraceParts
  • Download the driver corresponding to the CAD software to be used.
  • Open a session as administrator.
  • Close TraceParts and the CAD software.
  • Double click the downloaded executable.
  • Follow the displayed instructions.
  • End of procedure.

Add a driver from the TraceParts DVD
  • Open a session as administrator.
  • Close TraceParts and the CAD software for which a driver is to be installed.
  • Go to the start menu/All programs/TraceParts



  • Select "Add-Remove CAD Drivers".
  • Click "Next" in the welcome box


  • In the "CAD Software selection" dialog box:
    • Select "With CAD software" as type of use for the library.
    • Check the driver to be added (if it is already checked, this means that it is already installed).


      • Notes:
      • A checked driver is installed; an unchecked driver is not installed.
      • Certain CAD software MUST be installed on the PC for their driver to appear in the list of the CAD formats. This is the case for:
        • Alibre
        • CATIA V5
        • Autodesk Mechanical Desktop
        • thinkdesign
        • TopSolid
      • If you uncheck a driver that is checked on opening of the selection box, it will be uninstalled (see "Remove CAD driver(s)").

  • Click "Next".
  • TraceParts will then install the newly checked CAD driver(s).
  • At the end of the installation, click on the "Finish" button.

When there are several versions of the same CAD software on the computer

TraceParts can be used only with a single version of the same CAD software at a time. If several versions of the same software, compatible with TraceParts, are installed on the PC, you have to specify which version of the software must be used with TraceParts.

This additional step appears automatically after selection of the CAD format(s) (whether the driver comes from the CD or the update Web site).

The installation program will then display a list of all the found CAD software versions compatible with TraceParts, and the user merely has to select which version must be linked with TraceParts.

For instance, in the case of CATIA, this additional selection step is as follows:



Note: This additionnal step is always written in English.

  • Click on "Next" for the driver to be installed.



    • Remove CAD driver(s)
  • Open a session as administrator.
  • Close TraceParts and the CAD software for which a driver is to be uninstalled.
  • Go to the start menu/All programs/TraceParts/



  • Select "Add-Remove CAD Drivers".
  • Click "Next" in the welcome box.



  • In the "CAD Software selection" dialog box:
            - Uncheck the driver to be removed (if it is already unchecked, this means that it is not installed)

             


    Notes:
    => A checked driver is installed; an unchecked driver is not installed
    => If you check a driver that is unchecked on opening of the selection box, it will be installed (see "Add CAD driver(s)").

  • Click "Next"
  • TraceParts will then uninstall the CAD driver(s) that were unchecked.
  • At the end of the uninstallation, click on the "Finish" button.


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