Tech Tip: Navigating Onshape Publications as a View-Only User

Onshape Publications are a powerful way to share locked-down design data in a view-only format. Whether accessed via Link Sharing or shared to a named view-only user (sign-in required), publications provide direct, controlled access to CAD data in any web browser.

For more information about creating and sharing publications, check out this previous Tech Tip.

This week’s Tech Tip focuses on how view-only users can access and pull data from publications in Onshape. Follow along with these examples via the links listed below, which can be accessed without an Onshape account in any web browser.

• Ultramicrotome
• Open Source Conveyor
• Sheet Metal Bracket
• Configurations

Navigating a Publication

Publications are view-only buckets of Onshape data, scoped by item and revision, and accessed from the browser (or the Onshape mobile app). Each publication has its own unique URL, so you can bookmark the tab and access it as many times as you need. This also means that a new revision does not require a new publication; the owner can simply update the items in the publication.

When viewing a publication, you can cycle through the different items by double-clicking on the tabs in the top left of the window. These tabs are not just limited to Onshape-native data (parts, assemblies, and drawings), but also other files such as images, PDFs, G-code, and more. Each tab displays the item’s name, status (released or in progress), and its version/revision. If you have export permissions, right-clicking the tab lets you export its contents. For more details on exporting from a publication, skip to the last section of this Tech Tip.

Publication Notes

Publication notes can provide crucial information about the entire dataset, including descriptions of what you’re looking at, instructions for next steps, and even links to other resources. Notes are not editable by viewers; the Comments panel (see below) enables chatting and markup. If you want to hide these notes, click the x in the top right corner (toggle the button in the view-only toolbar to bring it back). Note that you can also resize any panel on screen to improve visibility, particularly when exploring the active tab in the graphics area.

Navigating a Model

One of the main advantages of Onshape Publications is that it makes it easier to access and interrogate 3D models. Using the default controls (displayed below), you can zoom, rotate, and pan the model. The View cube (top right) and the dropdown below it provide additional viewing tools. For more information on view navigation and keyboard shortcuts, refer to the Help Documentation, or create an Onshape account to customize your preferences.

Using the View-Only Toolbar

The view-only toolbar provides direct access to a variety of actions, many of which are also available by right-clicking elements in the graphics area or feature list. See below for a summary of these features, or check out the Help Documentation for a more detailed list.

View-Manipulation Tools: Tools for rotating and positioning the view, particularly helpful when you don’t have a mouse.

Special View States: Allow you to access existing exploded views, named positions, and display states, or create a section view (select any flat or circular entity).

Geometry Tables (Parts Only): Toggles open side panels with additional model details. May include a hole table, frame cut list, sheet metal flat pattern, and more, depending on the model.

Measurement Tools: Provide access to all of Onshape’s analysis features. Measure distance, area, mass, and more. Run interference, thickness, or draft analysis with a click.

Export Tools: Allow you to download data in a neutral format. This includes 3D and 2D data, and provides the option to export specific elements. For more details, skip to the last section.

Bill of Materials / Properties: Provide access to part and assembly properties. As a viewer, you can toggle between different BOM formats and templates, add additional columns, highlight entities in the graphics area, and download a CSV (if you have export access).

Viewing Different Configurations

Publications also make it easy to access different product variations via configurations. From the top left of the graphics area, you can explore the different permutations of the 3D model, and even type in custom values to generate brand new geometry. A configuration change automatically updates the model properties, BOM, and geometry for export.

Adding Comments/Markups

If you have an Onshape account (free or paid), and you are shared into a Publication with the Comment permission, you can leave design feedback directly on the model. Tag other users, tag specific entities/features, and even capture specific view states with the markup feature (3D and 2D).

Exporting Data

There are several ways to export geometry from a Publication, provided you have the appropriate permissions. If you don’t see the export/download option, contact the person who sent you the publication to add that capability.

As previously noted, right-clicking a tab lets you export its contents, and you can also do so from the view-only toolbar. On that toolbar, the “Select and export…” option lets you export a single part or subassembly. Similarly, right-clicking a specific item in the graphics area or instance list enables a targeted export. All of these methods allow you to specify the file format (and version of your choosing). Check out the full list of available file formats here.

Looking to share design data more effectively with Publications? Sign up for the Discovery Program today to get free access to a private, professional trial, and use this Tech Tip (and the video below) to enable your collaborators.