As a cloud-native CAD and PDM system, Onshape makes it incredibly easy to share your design data with editors and viewers. For view-only users, Onshape can have a major impact that can be empowering, allowing extended teams to have direct, native access to data without the costs of an editing license and CAD workstation. Viewers in Onshape are first-class citizens, and this Tech Tip demonstrates 10 ways you can take advantage.
Link Sharing (Any Viewer)
Link sharing is the easiest way to provide view-only access in Onshape. With the click of a link, any Onshape viewer can access native metadata and inspection tools right in the browser.
Click this link to view a Link share to the document used in this example.
1. View Native Design Data with a Link
- Access native Onshape data in seconds: No install, no download, and no minimum hardware requirements.
- Interrogate the model: Rotate the view, hide/show components, and animate mates. More info on accessing different views can be found here.
- Explore 2D and 3D data: One link provides access to multiple sources of information.
2. Use Measurement and Analysis Tools
- Empower your viewers to access the full Onshape analysis toolset, which includes measure, interference detection, draft analysis, and more.
3. Access the Bill of Materials and Configurations
- View the live BOM: Cross-highlight, change templates, and add columns.
- Explore infinite configurations: Toggle checkboxes, choose from lists, and input custom variables.
4. Export 3D and 2D Data
- Empower collaborators to obtain the format of their choosing.
- Directly control this permission in the Share dialogue.
Named Viewer (Shared via Email)
Additional capabilities are enabled when the viewer is a named user, which allows for more controlled access and a direct impact on the design process.
These tips apply to any user who is signed in and has been shared with “View” rights. See this Tech Tip for instructions on adding viewers to your Onshape Standard and Professional data.
5. Create Comments and Tasks
- Real-time communication tools, centralized in one place.
- Create markups, tag features, and assign tasks to other users.
- Eliminate screenshots, slide decks, and emails.
- See more examples and tips here.
6. Review with Follow Mode
- View the actions of a collaborator without a video call and screen share.
7. Navigate Versions and History
- View the full history and iterations of the project: Releases, versions, branches, and edit history.
- If it is desired to limit the viewer to a specific reference (version or release), use Link sharing or a Publication.
8. Customize Account Preferences
- Set your preferences across all devices: Language, mouse controls, and even Dark Mode.
Light User (Enterprise Viewer)
This applies to Enterprise Light users, which inherit additional capabilities that are otherwise reserved for Professional users and Enterprise Full users.
9. View Simulation Results
- Access the results of static and modal analyses: Change load cases, toggle configurations, and capture results in comments.
10. Approve Releases
- Review release candidates and act as a full participant in approval workflows.
EXPLORE: More Light User use cases here.
In summary, using Onshape democratizes access to CAD data because anyone can be a viewer with the click of a link share or the addition of a Free/Light user. These 10 capabilities empower your teams to be more informed, more involved, and ultimately more productive in Onshape.
To learn more, search the Onshape Learning Center for additional tutorials, such as Onshape Enterprise for Light Users.
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