We currently have AutoCad2007 and we are looking to upgrade. We are a manufactruing company that does some design but mostly need software to view a variety of files, such as: cmg, iges, stp, dwg, and pdf.
 
We have looked at Solid Works, but looking for more recommendations.
 
 

First you need to find out what 75% or better of the companies/people you deal with the most are using and buy that. 
 
This is mainly so you have to do the least amout of file converting.  Secondly, most of the top name software (i.e., Solidwork, Autodesk, Pro-E, etc.) current versions will be able to convert most if not all of the files you deal with.  So file conversion these days is not as much of an issue as it used to be.
 
So ask the companies you deal with and find out what most of them are using and purchase that one, it will save you some headaches in the long run.  But just remember that if the change in software is to radical there will be a learning curve to deal with as well.

Our #1 customer uses Unigraphics. Will that alone convert the other files?

You will have to do some research on Unigraphics to find out what it can/can't do.
 
 
Does your best company make up over 50%+ of the work you do?  If not then I would say keep looking. 
 
One other thing to keep in mind is......Does any of the other software you are considering convert Unigraphics files?
 
I wouldn't make any quick decisions (if you can avoid it) on what software to buy.  Puting some serious thought into what best works for your company overall will benifit you greatly.Breeze1042010-06-24 21:22:40

That is why i am here researching. that customer is 65% of our business. I would rather have a user friendly software that converts unigraphics.

You said you "mostly need software to view a variety of files". If all you need to do is view files, why buy expensive software? There are free, or low cost, viewers out there for most file types. Just Google it.

What are the native files types of UniGraphics?




 
 
Do you have to do any editing to the files after they come in or are you just viewing them?
 
If you are just viewing them, thenI agree with the previous post...Just download free viewers.  Most of todays top software has free viewers and since they are free you can put multiple viewers on all your systems and you won't have to worry about converting anything.Breeze1042010-06-25 15:19:52