Purging Inactive Toolbox Configuration Data

The Toolbox Settings Purge Inactive Data tool lets you purge inactive configuration data from Toolbox part files.

By removing unused data that increases file size, Purge Inactive Data improves performance for actions like opening the Insert Component PropertyManager.

Inactive configurations are configurations that are not listed in Toolbox Settings and are not in the part file. If a configuration existed in the past and was used in an assembly, it is still considered active even if it is not listed in the configuration list in Toolbox Settings.

Purge Inactive Data purges the following data from inactive configurations:

  • Custom properties
  • Configuration names
  • Designations
  • Part numbers
  • Descriptions
  • Comments

The command does not:

  • Purge geometry data or active configuration data.
  • Affect custom configurations you create using the Insert Component PropertyManager when you insert a Toolbox part into an assembly.
It is highly recommended that you back up your data before purging inactive data.

To purge inactive Toolbox configuration data:

  1. From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS Tools > Toolbox Settings .
  2. In the Toolbox dialog box, click 2 Customize your hardware.
  3. Expand the hardware display to the level where you want to purge inactive data.
    You can purge at the folder level or on a part-by-part basis.
  4. Click Purge Inactive Data.
  5. In the Purge Inactive Data dialog box, expand Options and select from the following:
    • Purge inactive configuration data from disabled hardware. Available if you purge at the folder level. Purges data from enabled and disabled configurations.
    • Save Purge Report. Browse to the location to save the report. Generates a purge report summarizing the results of the data operation. The report is a tab delimited text file that you can open in Microsoft Excel.

      The file name is in the following format:

      hierarchical address of the selected component data purge results date and time stamp

      For example:

      Ansi Inch_bolts and screws_hex head data purge results -2016-03-25_01-55-02-PM.txt

  6. Click one of the following:
    • Yes, purge all inactive configuration data. A progress bar indicates that the purge is taking place.
      Folders or parts containing large numbers of configurations may take a long time to purge.
    • No, do nothing and cancel the operation. The dialog box closes without purging any data.