28 Replies Latest reply on Sep 8, 2014 8:54 AM by Don Carrington

"An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.

Daniel Herzberg Feb 4, 2011 9:38 PM

I get this error ALMOST every time I create a folder in the FeatureManager tree (not every time, I think it happens more often for more complex parts)

After this error appears the first time, it then appears whenever I try to perform and action (create/edit a feature or sketch, save, etc). It's not a crash, but since it forces me to restart SW, it might as well be.

Anyone else have this problem?

SW 2011 SP1.0

Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.

Deepak Gupta Feb 4, 2011 10:08 PM (in response to Daniel Herzberg)

If you restart SolidWorks and try again on same file, does this happens again??
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- Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
  
  Daniel Herzberg Feb 4, 2011 10:50 PM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
  
  Yup, it just happened again, and this time it's hanging.
  
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  - Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
    
    Deepak Gupta Feb 4, 2011 11:26 PM (in response to Daniel Herzberg)
    
    How about a reinstallation if possible?
    
    OR
    
    Do you have any other machine to replicate the issue?
    
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Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.

Kelvin Lamport Feb 4, 2011 11:44 PM (in response to Daniel Herzberg)

Try running a repair and/or updating to SP2
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Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.

Jerry Steiger Feb 5, 2011 3:21 PM (in response to Daniel Herzberg)

Daniel,

I would try and help, but I think I'm better at fixing camera lenses than I am at diagnosing SW errors.

Jerry Steiger
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Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.

P. Clark Feb 8, 2013 4:59 AM (in response to Daniel Herzberg)

Hi Daniel, I just found the same problem in one of my parts. I am using SW 2012 SP4 - I have NEVER seen this before. Last week I had a couple of crashes, after one this message started to appear on folder creation in the design tree. I have a suspicion it is either Graphics card related or the "Quick and dirty" copy I made of the assembly using Pack and go to another folder for R&D experiments - obviously all the models have the same number and naming in a different folder - gonna take a look using explorer to see if I can find any links messing things up..

PS. I have been using SolidWorks for 3D modeling since 1995/6 so I have seen some interesting error messages but this one is new to me...

Peter.
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- Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
  
  Eddie Smith Feb 11, 2013 2:35 PM (in response to P. Clark)
  
  I'm getting the same problem on 2012 SP5. Invalid argumeent on folder creation. It seems to be limited to one particular part file.
  
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Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.

Mike Russell Aug 7, 2013 1:28 PM (in response to Daniel Herzberg)

Hi all,

Well I just upgraded to 2013 X64 SP4.
New part just created in the upgraded version
I created a folder in the tree and I got the "An invalid argument was encountered" Error.
Seem that all functions are locked can't save or use any commands.
Guess I have to Reboot Solidworks.
As of 2013 SP4 this is still an issue.
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- Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
  
  John Layne Oct 30, 2013 10:53 PM (in response to Mike Russell)
  
  Same problem, I'm going to ask VAR for support on this. Just installed 2013 SP 5 (upgraded from 2012 SP5). We normally upgrade at SP5 when SolidWorks should be stable. This bug is frustrating, we use Folders a lot to maintain readability of the tree!
  
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  - Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
    
    John Layne Oct 31, 2013 1:10 AM (in response to John Layne)
    
    I logged into the same PC with a different user account and didn't have the problem. Deleting the user account and recreating user solved the problem.
    
    Steps to delete user account when connected to a domain, when connected as a local Administrator of PC.
    1/ Added another domain user and set as Administrator.
    2/ This new user was able to delete my user profile (BACKUP USER DATA FIRST).
    3/ Added original user and set to Administrator
    4/ Log back on as orginal user and was able to add folders to the tree.
    
    Things I tried and didn't work:-
    1/ deleted the SolidWorks Registry Key
    2/ rebooted multiple times
    3/ repair install
    
    John Layne
    
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Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.

Karl Motherwell Aug 13, 2013 4:25 AM (in response to Daniel Herzberg)

As Mike Russell above - I have the same problem with SW2013 SP4 on x64.

First time I have ever tried using folders to organise my tree.
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Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.

Glen Kleinsasser Aug 27, 2013 8:25 AM (in response to Daniel Herzberg)

I've had this problem several times in the last couple months. Updated to a new service pack twice without solving the problem. It only happens on certain files that contain multibody parts.

Just had all my folders mysteriously disapear on one file and it no longer gives me the "Add to New Folder" option.
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- Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
  
  Christian Chu Nov 7, 2013 4:16 PM (in response to Glen Kleinsasser)
  
  just happend to me today - SW2013 sp4 - the mesg pop-up when I tried to create a new folder in an assembly
  Is there an anwser for this error???
  thx
  
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  - Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
    
    John Layne Nov 7, 2013 7:32 PM (in response to Christian Chu)
    
    Hi Chris,
    
    Try logging with a different user account, if that works see my post above.
    
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    - Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
      
      Christian Chu Nov 8, 2013 10:30 AM (in response to John Layne)
      
      John,
      Before trying your method,
      how to backup user data?
      thx, CHris
      
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      - Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
        
        John Layne Nov 10, 2013 10:13 PM (in response to Christian Chu)
        
        Hi Chris,
        
        I'm a little reluctant to advise on this as losing data could cost you and your company a lot of time and money.
        
        Talk to your IT guy first.
        
        But otherwise http://www.maketecheasier.com/3-ways-to-backup-user-profile-in-windows-7/ is a good place to start.
        
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      - Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
        
        Christian Chu Nov 21, 2013 11:45 AM (in response to Christian Chu)
        
        This problem happened in the earlier releases or just SW2013
        Anyone who has experienced this problem, please confirm
        Thx
        
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        Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
        
        Jerry Steiger Dec 14, 2013 3:22 PM (in response to Christian Chu)
        
        Chris,
        
        The original poster was using SW2011.
        
        Jerry S.
        
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Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.

Alex Rich Feb 18, 2014 5:17 PM (in response to Daniel Herzberg)

Figured this one out! Was having the exact issue in SW2014, it seems to be caused by a corrupt temp file. You don't need to create a new user account, just close solidworks, browse to your temp folder and clear everything, then restart solidworks. Temp file is located here in windows 7:

C:\Users\<your username here>\AppData\Local\Temp

for example mine was C:\Users\ALEX\AppData\Local\Temp\
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- Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
  
  Muhamad El Ayat Mar 3, 2014 6:59 AM (in response to Alex Rich)
  
  Hello Guys,
  
  I had the same problem on Win 7 64bit, SolidWorks Premium 2014 Sp2, I tried what Alex said and it solved the problem. Thanks Alex.
  
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- Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
  
  Pablo Rohrssen Mar 4, 2014 4:20 AM (in response to Alex Rich)
  
  Hi guys!
  
  I have the same problem: SW 2013 and a complex model. I tried Alexes solution and it didn't solve it. Don't quite understand how changing user would have anything to do with it though(?)
  
  Any suggestions?
  
  Regards
  
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  - Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
    
    Alex Rich Mar 17, 2014 5:28 PM (in response to Pablo Rohrssen)
    
    I have found that this procedure stops the onslaught of "invalid argument" popups, typically after you get the error once the errors start to popup every time you do anything within the part file.
    
    What it doesn't do is prevent the error from ever happening again, I find the error still happens sometimes when creating feature folders, especially in multi-body parts where I have put the solid bodies into folders to organize them. Not sure why this happens and it pisses me off because folders are essential to keeping organized CAD. This hack-workaround at least allows me to keep working. I have no clue how effective it is in SW2013.
    
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    - Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
      
      Don Carrington Sep 6, 2014 9:28 AM (in response to Alex Rich)
      
      Has this been fixed?
      If not, when will it be?
      
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      - Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
        
        John Layne Sep 7, 2014 9:08 PM (in response to Don Carrington)
        
        Hi Don,
        
        The answer is in this Forum Thread.
        
        "Alex Rich wrote:
        
        Figured this one out! Was having the exact issue in SW2014, it seems to be caused by a corrupt temp file. You don't need to create a new user account, just close solidworks, browse to your temp folder and clear everything, then restart solidworks. Temp file is located here in windows 7:
        
        C:\Users\<your username here>\AppData\Local\Temp
        
        for example mine was C:\Users\ALEX\AppData\Local\Temp\"
        
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        Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
        
        Don Carrington Sep 8, 2014 12:32 AM (in response to John Layne)
        
        Thanks John. I appreciate you taking the time to reply.
        
        I was aware of Alex's solution and it works. Once and once only for each time you create a folder.
        
        I'm quoting Alex's most recent post regarding this bug:
        
        QUOTE: What it doesn't do is prevent the error from ever happening again, I find the error still happens sometimes when creating feature folders, especially in multi-body parts where I have put the solid bodies into folders to organize them. Not sure why this happens and it pisses me off because folders are essential to keeping organized CAD. This hack-workaround at least allows me to keep working. I have no clue how effective it is in SW2013.
        
        Going thru the litany of ending SW via the Task manager, restarting SW, then reopening all the files I'm working on isn't an acceptable work around in my opinion. It's time someone at Solidworks corrected this annoying and time-wasting bug, especially since it's been a problem since 2011.
        
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        Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
        
        John Layne Sep 8, 2014 1:10 AM (in response to Don Carrington)
        
        Hi Don,
        
        Sorry, the reason I suggested Alex's answer was that it worked for me.
        
        I've only had this problem twice it's never happened again (about a year ago). Deleting the temp folder contents solved the issue on the file I was working on and it hasn't happened to me since. When this first happened to me (before finding Alex's answer) I deleted my user profile and created another, this aso solved the issue but is is bit more drastic. Deleting the troublesome user profile might solve the issue in your case, although it might just be achieving the same result as deleting the user profile is also deleting the temp folders.
        
        The problem might be related to the folder attributes or security permissions on the temp folders? Deleting and recreating the user profile might solve those issues.
        
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        Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
        
        John Layne Sep 8, 2014 1:15 AM (in response to John Layne)
        
        Running SolidWorks Rx - System Maintenance will delete the temp files
        
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        Re: "An invalid argument was encountered" when creating a feature folder.
        
        Don Carrington Sep 8, 2014 8:54 AM (in response to John Layne)
        
        John,
        Thanks again for helping.
        
        I have never run SW Rx until you called it to my attention. I haven't yet attempted to run SW and test for the 'folder add' bug, but I will a bit later.
        We use EPDM and Solidworks, and I suppose there may be an interaction there causing a problem -- obviously I don't know. I run everything as admin (against the advice of most knowledgeable IT pros) on the two computers I use, for whatever that's worth.
        
        I'm quite reluctant to create a new user profile as this typically leaves a lot of "stuff" on the computer from the old profile. I'm not sure why it can't be completely obliterated, but my IT guy tells me he's had serious trouble when completely erasing a user profile, so I'll oblige him by following his instruction.
        
        I'm under the impression this bug doesn't affect very many users and probably isn't on the SW software maintenance teams' radar. Oh well, this sort of thing helps teach me patience, which is certainly a good thing!
        
        Again, thank you.
        
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