DRIVEWORKS PRODUCTS
Xpress, Solo
or Pro.
The three packages do the same kind of work, but how far they go differs. This page sets out the differences side by side, part by part.
Book an intro callSEVEN COMPARISONS
What each package
can handle.
Driving models
| Capability | Xpress | Solo | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions, features and custom properties | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Colour, material and texture | No | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced feature properties | No | Yes | Yes |
| Creating new configurations | No | Yes | Yes |
| Adding mates | No | No | Yes |
| Using SolidWorks macros | No | No | Yes |
Drawings
| Capability | Xpress | Solo | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of drawings per part or assembly | One | Multiple | Multiple |
| Controlling sheets, views and dimension positions | No | Yes | Yes |
| Driving drawing macros | No | No | Yes |
| Automatically arranging balloons and dimensions (Auto Balloon, Arrange Dimensions) | No | No | Yes |
Documents and output
| Capability | Xpress | Solo | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export formats besides SolidWorks | None | STEP, STL, PDF, DXF, DWG, JPEG | STEP, STL, PDF, DXF, DWG, JPEG and more |
| Generating bills of materials, quotes and covering letters | No | Yes, via templates | Yes, via templates |
| Export to Word, Excel and HTML | No | No | Yes |
| Custom XML templates | No | No | Yes |
Storage
| Capability | Xpress | Solo | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Determining where files land | No | No | Yes, with rules for folder creation |
| Automatically placing in SolidWorks PDM | No | No | Yes |
| Automatic check-in | No | No | Yes |
Input form
| Capability | Xpress | Solo | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available fields | Text, number, drop-down list, spin button, checkbox | Full control over layout | Full control over layout |
| Placement of the fields | Automatic, stacked | Freely arranged | Freely arranged |
| Multiple pages with conditional visibility | No | Yes | Yes |
| Form on a website | No | No | Yes |
Data and rules
| Capability | Xpress | Solo | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tables | None | Static tables, import from Excel | Dynamic data |
| Searching tables based on rules | No | Yes | Yes |
| Integration with an SQL database | No | No | Yes |
| Dynamic import from Excel, XML and text files | No | No | Yes |
| HTTP requests | No | No | Yes |
Preview and validation
| Capability | Xpress | Solo | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preview before the model is generated | No | Yes, with automatic refresh | Yes |
| Interactive 3D preview | No | No | Yes |
| Feedback on errors | Succeeded or failed | A message per field | A message per field |
What the table does not tell you: the package determines what is possible, not how much work it takes. That depends on how the models are built. Models with equations or an inconsistent structure need preparation, regardless of which package sits underneath.
See what an implementation involvesTHE NEXT STEP
Torn between
two packages?
An analysis of the process shows which package fits,
and why the other one does not.