DP - DriveWorks vs. Design Tables
                     DRIVEWORKS VS. DESIGN 
TABLES
3D SOFTWARE & HARDWARE SOLUTIONS
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 SOLIDWORKS design tables boost 
your productivity by allowing you 
to build multiple configurations of 
parts or assemblies by specifying 
parameters in an embedded 
Microsoft Excel worksheet. You 
might be thinking, why do I need 
DriveWorks if I am already saving 
time in SOLIDWORKS by using 
design tables? DriveWorks can 
help automate repetitive tasks, 
re-use existing designs, and 
generate new parts and 
assemblies quickly and easily, 
and even more reasons for 
choosing DriveWorks over design 
tables! Here are a couple of our 
favorite features of DriveWorks.
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• DRIVING RULES
DriveWorks rules determine which calculation or value is required to drive a 
certain action. Rules and calculations that affect multiple parts and 
assemblies can be easily linked together in the DriveWorks rule editor. Many 
of the rules and syntax used in DriveWorks is a carbon copy of corresponding 
rules and syntax you can find in Microsoft Excel. DriveWorks uses a lot of the 
same math and logic functions, such as IF statements and VLOOKUP, making 
the transition to using DriveWorks a breeze.
• FILE SIZE
DriveWorks creates new files for every project. As a result, this keeps file size 
to a minimum. Instead of storing a lot of data within one file and dealing with 
degrading performance, DriveWorks keeps your master models to a 
respectable size.
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• EASE OF USE
You can use the DriveWorks interface to control your assemblies, sub-
assemblies, and parts without having to worry about opening each file to 
update its respective design table. As a result, you save time by only dealing 
with one interface instead of you having to remembering the contents of 
each unique design table in your project.
• SCALABILITY AND SHARING
DriveWorks can allow your colleagues or clients that are using SOLIDWORKS 
to create assemblies, parts, and drawings by filling out a customized form
 you create that contains all the changing variables in your project. Those 
individuals do not need to know how you set up your project, or which 
models to open and modify to implement the changes they want to make.
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 DriveWorks was originally developed to supplement design tables with 
the SOLIDWORKS API, and it has continued to evolve from there! The 
best part about this is that if you are already a SOLIDWORKS user, 
then you already have access to DriveWorks Xpress so you can 
begin to see for yourself how DriveWorks can save you time and 
energy!
 Want to step up your DriveWorks game even further? Contact us today 
to learn about DriveWorks Solo and DriveWorks Pro.
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