SOLIDWORKS Toolbox is a powerful and complex feature. This topic summarizes some concepts to consider before configuring a Toolbox using SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
Finding More Information About SOLIDWORKS Toolbox
For details about configuring, extending, and using SOLIDWORKS Toolbox,
click
in SOLIDWORKS.
To view this help, you might have to start the Toolbox
add-in, using .
Using a Shared Toolbox
When you install Toolbox, you can have Toolbox data on the local computer or
in a shared network location. Storing Toolbox data in a network location is recommended. By
using a common location, all SOLIDWORKS users share a consistent set of fastener
information.
If this is the first time installing, browse to the new shared location
where you would like to install the Toolbox.
Upgrading an Existing Toolbox
Upgrading a Toolbox to a new SOLIDWORKS major release version makes that
Toolbox incompatible with computers running prior major release SOLIDWORKS versions.
If other computers remain at that prior major release and continue to
require a Toolbox configured for that release, you should make a copy of that Toolbox and
upgrade that copy. The new SOLIDWORKS installation will upgrade the copy of the Toolbox and
the previous SOLIDWORKS installations will continue using the old Toolbox.
Configuring Toolbox Access
After installation, when you access Toolbox components SOLIDWORKS checks
how you have configured Toolbox and makes suggestions to improve access and performance.
For accessing the shared network Toolbox (recommended), use a UNC path to
the server on which the shared Toolbox was installed. For details, see UNC Format.
An administrator can create a password for Toolbox and set permissions and
preferences for the workgroup. Restricting access to configuration and setting common
preferences ensures consistent Toolbox data.
Upgrading Toolbox in a SOLIDWORKS PDM Environment
When you upgrade the SOLIDWORKS software, Toolbox is upgraded if parts have
been added. If the Toolbox root folder is in a SOLIDWORKS PDM vault, before you start the SOLIDWORKS upgrade, you must prepare
the Toolbox folder.
On the first system to perform the upgrade, you must use Get Latest Version to download the Toolbox files to the local
cache and check out the Toolbox database file. On other systems that are upgraded, the only
requirement is to download the Toolbox files.
Before you upgrade:
- Ensure that there is a full recent
backup
of the vault database and archive.
- Make sure that the Toolbox parts are not checked out or in use by any
currently checked out assemblies.
To upgrade Toolbox:
- In File Explorer, log in to the vault as a user with full permissions
(check out, check in, add, delete).
- Right-click the Toolbox folder and click Get
Latest Version to copy all Toolbox files and the toolbox database to the
local cache.
If your archive server is remote, this may take several
minutes.
- Check out the Toolbox database file (SWBrowser.mdb) from \Toolbox_folder_name\lang\your_lang.
- Run the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to perform the upgrade.
- On the Summary screen, ensure that
the Toolbox Options installation location is the
location in the vault.
If it is not, click Change, select Reference or upgrade an
existing Toolbox, and browse to the Toolbox location in the
vault.
- When the upgrade completes, in File Explorer, check in the Toolbox
folder to add any new or updated files to the vault so that other users can work with
Toolbox.
- For upgrades to SOLIDWORKS 2012 or later, navigate to your Toolbox
folder in the vault and ensure that the following are present:
- \Toolbox_folder_name\Updates
- \Toolbox_folder_name\ToolboxStandards.xml
- \Toolbox_folder_name\Browser\ToolboxFiles.index
If they are not, contact your Value Added Reseller.
- Upgrade the rest of the computers that use SOLIDWORKS PDM integration with Toolbox:
- In File Explorer, log in to the vault as a user with at least read
permission to the Toolbox folder.
- Right-click the Toolbox folder and click Get Latest Version to copy the Toolbox files to your local cache.
- Run the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to upgrade.
The installer detects that Toolbox is already upgraded.
For details about Toolbox configuration in SOLIDWORKS PDM, see Configuring Toolbox in the
SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration
Tool help.