We would like to add hole sizes for other standard components that we use that are not currently in the hole wizard. It looks like to implement them into the hole wizard we would need to manual modify the hole wizard database. is anyone capable of doing this this? We tried using other methods such as library features and hole favorites but neither of these options work as well as the hole wizard.
Thanks.
It's been forever, but where I used to work we used the Hole Wizard Favorites for a lot of our "custom stuff" - We didn't have a ton of them, so the drop down box under Favorite made it really fast & easy. What is it that makes Favorites not work as well for you?
Once it was set up correctly, the Favorites were way faster than any using any of the standard holes.
todd
The problem with the favorites is that we are going to have so many different hole types and sizes that I fear the drop down menu is just going to be agony to search for the correct hole that you want to put in.
Nick
Nicholas Scherer - Gotcha . . . That's why I wanted to double check. We only had 5-10 "special holes", so it wasn't a big deal.
I wonder if Deepak Gupta might have some ideas . . .
todd
Just to clarify on my previous comment, the Toolbox Settings Wizard, though the name doesn't allude to it, also controls the hole wizard, you can create, copy, modify to your hearts content in there.
My end goal is to add additional categories of hardware that solidworks doesn't include in the hole wizard. For example, we need to create holes for shouldered and shoulderless bushings, shouldered and shoulderless leaderpins, guided ejector bushings, etc...
Nicholas, it is possible. Check this: How to Add a Custom Hole Size to the Hole Wizard Database in SolidWorks
Deepak, This is close, but not exactly. What i am looking for is to create new categories to populate with new holes. I want a category called shoulder bushings under the c-bored holes, a category called support pillars under drilled holes. I don't believe the hole wizard allows you to do this. I can create all the custom hole sizes I want but if they aren't easily found then nobody will use them.
Look for the Hole Wizard file in the Forum Search
You can hack into the database (not recommended) and add the types but I would suggest to use the custom hole method as that is clean and easy to use.
Unfortunately what you are asking is very difficult (or was in 2014, I haven't had time to spend to figure out if there are better tools in 2017). My scenario isn't the same, but I created a custom entry in the calloutformat.txt and added a hole with a description. See the attached calloutformat.txt "Turned Bolt" section. You may be able to make a custom callout by copying and pasting one of the existing holes and making a new one with a description of what you want.
wrote:
It's been forever, but where I used to work we used the Hole Wizard Favorites for a lot of our "custom stuff" - We didn't have a ton of them, so the drop down box under Favorite made it really fast & easy. What is it that makes Favorites not work as well for you?
Once it was set up correctly, the Favorites were way faster than any using any of the standard holes.
todd
The most and never unsolved problem with favorites in hole wizard is that you can not sort it.
It makes it so hard to find what you are looking for in a long list of favorites.
It can be done but as Deepak stated it is not recommended (or supported by SW). If you know anything about SQLite3 databases (SW2015 and later), that will be a big plus. If you really want to do this, I recommend first creating your own standard; do not try modifying an existing standard because SolidWorks makes changes to the database file almost every year and the update file most likely will not work if you modify an existing standard. You also need to work on a copy of the database file, do not work on the original. One mistake and you could be SOL (saved my a%% many times). Once you have done all this, then open the database and look for the Standards table. Follow the trail from here and once you understand how the tables interact with each other you will be ready to create your own categories. Good Luck.
Habib,
The favorites file can be sorted; it is just an SQLite3 file like the Hole Wizard database. Since I know nothing about databases, I must export the table to excel, sort it then imported back into the favorites file. Hope this helps.
Solid Air wrote:
Habib,
The favorites file can be sorted; it is just an SQLite3 file like the Hole Wizard database. Since I know nothing about databases, I must export the table to excel, sort it then imported back into the favorites file. Hope this helps.
Solid Air,
I'm a sql expert and most of my job is based on databases. (I use Solidworks only for my second job)
A while back, I tried to sort SW favorite using SQLite and Microsoft Access like 5,6 times and each time I ended up with a corrupted database and SW stopped showing me my favorites and I had to restore everything and start fresh.
Each time I made a mistake I learned something and after all I was able to sort my favorite.
But what I can't understand is why SW doesn't have a sort function and users have to use third party applications to do what is supposed to be a built in feature?
And then adding new favorites was like a nightmare. I have to go through all the steps to sort it again.
I ended up not bothering with favorites any more.
You can read this post and the steps to sort favorite if you're interested. But I warn you. Have a copy of your favorite before you start.
We're living in IT age where almost every application gives the ability to drag and change Bookmarks order and SolidWorks still is suffering of sorting its favorite.
Fully aware of having a back up copy before "playing" inside the favorites file. For us favorites are a necessity due to the limitations in hole wizard and not wanting to go "playing" inside the swbrowser file for only a couple of favorites. Also looking forward for SW to fix advanced call outs so I can create favorites of combo holes.
I have fumbled through this in the past to add a couple of categories, but i'm not very good with databases. I'm looking for somebody who is more competent than myself to help me out with this larger project.
I have to admit if hole favorites were more user friendly for large catalogs of holes this would probably be my way to go. but there is just no good way to work with this. I might look into creating my hole catalog in favorites which really shouldn't change after its complete and then doing the custom sort. I will have to look at this more closely.
Like this?
Those are the types I've added for my thread standards.
Not really hard to do but I would strongly recommend a backup!
You must be proficient working with SQLite databases. Took me quite awhile to create something similar.
David Matula - I modified this file : swbrowser.sldedb to add different types.
I actually never opened a SQLite database before this file and figured it out pretty quickly.
Just make sure to do a backup file before playing around in that file!
Hi Kevin,
could you add some help as to how to achieve this please?
I'm creating some extra company hole wizard standards and would like to customise more than tool box allows.
changing / adding / deleting tables within standards would be really useful if possible.
I ahve been browsing the toolbox database file with SQlite but have not found the location of this data.
Hi Nicholas, I've been referencing this video a lot. It's pretty thorough Configuring the SolidWorks Toolbox - YouTube