Export a Solidworks file as a DWG, or DXF

The help files tell me that I should be able to export a Solidworks
file as a DXF, or DWG, into Autocad, and yet I do not have the option
when I open "save as". Do I have a switch turned off that I need to
turn back on, in Object Properties, maybe? I could swear that I have
done this before, however it must have been a while back, because I am
clueless here.
Jen Axiotis

 

You need to save it to a SW drawing first - then you can save as DWG.

WT

 

A 2-D sketch is exactly what I am trying to save as a DWG. This is a
simple profile sketch before extrusion.
Jen Axiotis

 

It is saved as a Solidworks drawing.
I do have it saved as a sldprt, I still do not get the option to save
it as a dwg or dxf. Everything but.
I am using v2007, if that matters, it shouldn't.
Thank you all for your concern, I will have to make the drawing in
Autocad, as the particular Wire EDM machine service
that I am dealing with demands an Autocad Format. What bothers me
most is how I can be misreading the help files so badly, is all.

Jen Axiotis

 

You can export a drawing file to DXF, or DWG using the save as command.

Solid body would need to use step, or iges for Autocad.

 

when the others said to save as a swx drawing first, they meant that you
must make a drawing from the model and save the drawing as a *.slddrw file.
What you've been doing is working with a model file (*.sldprt) and trying to
save as dwg file.
I think you're confusing the sldprt file with other software where the part
geometry and the drawing or paper layout is all done within the same file.
create a drawing first from your model. Remember the difference between
the model (sldprt) and the drawing (slddrw) files.

hth
bill

 

A sketch in a SolidWorks part file may translate to visible elements in
a SolidWorks drawing file, but it will NOT translate to visible elements
in a DWG or DXF. Apparently, therefore, SolidWorks doesn't give you to
option to save the drawing as a DXF for DWG. You need to actually
create the extrusion from the sketch in the part file. The the visible
elements in the SolidWorks drawing file should be exportable.

'Sporky'

 

Thank you all. You were all right on the money. I did save the
sketch as a drawing file first, opened it up as a drawing file, then
had the option to save as a dxf, or dwg.

Many thanks,
Jen Axiotis