Installation and update

Before installation

1. Check system requirements
   1. Vertex Flow 21.0.05 or later 
   2. SolidWorks 2018 or later

Installation

1. Download the setup program from here: Setup.exe. Flow for SolidWorks does not require a license.

2. Close SolidWorks

3. Run setup.exe as an administrator. The installer might ask you permission to install .NET and update the windows registry, as shown in the picture. These must be allowed.

   1. Make sure you have enough permissions to allow the operations mentioned above. 

   2. When the installation is complete, the program will show the registration path.

4. Start SolidWorks

If multiple SolidWorks users use the same workstation, install Flow for SolidWorks separately for all users

Windows registry updating must be allowed

After successful installation, a notification in the picture appears

Setting up a Flow connection

1. Make sure Flow for SolidWorks add-in is on SolidWorks add-in list.
2. Create a new folder in the path \Users\<username>\Documents. The folder is used as Flow workspace where the user's all documents are saved while working.
3. Open Flow for SolidWorks tab on SolidWorks.
   1. If the task pane is not visible in SolidWorks, you can set it visible in SolidWorks settings View→Task pane.
4. Add new connection
   1. Write the same Flow site address as written in the Internet browser address field - starting with http:// (and port if needed) e.g.  http://192.4.0.241:22050/
   2. Select the previously created workspace directory.
   3. Fill username and password.
5. Login

You can determine multiple Flow connections in case of test site or subcontracting. Before creating new connections, make sure you have created a new workspace folder for the new connection.

Create also a new workspace folder for each user.

Example: you have two Flow sites VertexFlow1 and VertexFlow2. For VertexFlow1 you use account John Smith. For VertexFlow2 you use accounts John Smith and Testuser. You have to create three workspace folders in total.

Do not use the same workspace folder with the SolidWorks add-in and Flowlet.

Updating Flow for SolidWorks

• By default, Flow for SolidWorks add-in updates automatically when Vertex Systems releases a new version.
  • You can check release content on release notes: Release Notes
• Flow for SolidWorks checks for the new versions during login to the Vertex Flow.
• You can prevent automatic updates by changing or clearing the default update URL from Flow systems settings
  • Flow systems settings keyword = sw.update.url
  • Flow system administrator rights are needed to change the keyword value

By default sw.update.url =  https://support.vertex.fi/apps/swaddin/rel/v1/