Overview
SolidWorks is a solid modeling CAD (computer-aided design) and CAE (computer-aided engineering) program that is available for purchase through the Texas A&M Software Center. However, SolidWorks only supports Windows operating systems, which means that MacOS cannot run it. This article details alternatives that can be pursued if SolidWorks is needed when MacOS is the only available operating system.
Information
If you obtain a SolidWorks license from the software.tamu.edu website, it will only come in one version: Windows OS. This is because the software itself is made only for the Windows operating system, and will not run on MacOS. If you have a Mac computer, you will not be able to run this program on your computer by itself.
If you need to use SolidWorks on your computer but do not want to purchase a device that runs Windows as its operating system, there are three alternative methods for running SolidWorks (or other Windows-only applications) on a Mac operating system.
Boot Camping
It is possible to install a partition of Windows on a Mac. After purchasing a Windows license from the Software Center, you can use Boot Camp Assistant to create a Windows partition and switch between that and the Mac partition. The Knowledge Article on how to do this can be found here, but you can also bring your device in to Help Desk Central and the partition can be created by a tech.
Please be aware that you will need to purchase a license from the Software Center, as they are not given out for free.
Parallels
Parallels Desktop for Mac is desktop virtualization software that allows users to run a Windows OS on a Mac without the need to boot into anything. This is done by opening the OS in a windowed application inside of the user's MacOS. This option can be costly, as it requires a yearly subscription in order to access. However, they do offer a student pricing plan that is 50% off of the normal price.
You will also need a Windows license for this option.
TAMU Open Access Lab
Texas A&M has its own SolidWorks license which can be accessed either through an Open Access Lab computer on campus or the Virtual Open Access Lab. You can use the in-browser version of the VOAL or download the desktop application, but either will sufficiently be able to access SolidWorks. If you have any questions about using the VOAL, you can consult the articles in our Knowledge Base on the topic. You can also contact Help Desk Central if the articles do not help you.