What is a ʼProjected Viewʼ in SolidWorks?
Short Answer
A Projected View in SolidWorks is a 2d drawing view created from an existing parent view using the Projected View command, typically to generate aligned top, right, left, or isometric views automatically. This is the most common professional method for standard orthographic drawing layouts. It only works from an existing drawing view.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: If the parent view orientation is not correct, every projected view created from it will inherit that alignment and may produce the wrong drawing layout. Hidden or tangent edge display settings in the parent can also affect clarity and downstream documentation quality.
How to Create a Projected View in SolidWorks
Command: Projected View
Shortcut: No default keyboard shortcut
Quick Steps:
- In a drawing, go to the CommandManager View Layout tab and click Projected View.
- Select the existing parent drawing view from which you want to project.
- Move the cursor up, down, left, right, or diagonally, then click to place the projected view; in the PropertyManager, confirm settings such as display style or Use parent scale if needed.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Use parent scale
Expert Setting: This option keeps the projected view synchronized with the parent view scale, which is the standard professional choice for clean drawing sets. Turn it off only when a projected view needs different readability or sheet-space fit.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): The parent view is based on the wrong model orientation, so the projected result does not match the intended top, side, or front view.
- Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The target drawing sheet or view annotations may be on hidden layers, making the projected view appear missing or incomplete.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): A projected view cannot be created independently; it must reference an existing drawing view, and its direction is constrained by that parent.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: Delete the incorrect projected view, correct the parent orientation with model view or replace the base view, then recreate it using Projected View.
- Manager’s Verdict: Use projected views for standard manufacturing drawings because they stay aligned and update predictably. Avoid forcing them when the base view orientation is poorly defined; fix the parent first.
FAQ
Can a Projected View be moved freely in SolidWorks?
No, it stays aligned to its parent unless alignment is broken manually.
Does a Projected View update when the model changes?
Yes, it updates with the parent drawing view when the model rebuilds.
Can you create an isometric projected view?
Yes, by projecting diagonally from the parent view if the drawing setup allows it.
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