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Custom toolbox part numbers...toolbox configuration

Question asked by Clay Hamilton on Sep 15, 2011
Latest reply on Sep 15, 2011 by Scott McFadden

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Why do we have toolbox configuration menus that allow for setting custom part numbers and descriptions, but none of those changes show up when you use toolbox hardware and create a bill of materials? I don't want the toolbox part numbers and descriptions in my bill of materials, but using the method provided by Solidworks for having them change automatically after they've been entered once doesn't seem to do anything at all excet keep me busy typing part numbers into a screen array for a few minutes before they are ignored by the software.

Scott McFadden Sep 15, 2011 11:29 AM

Correct Answer

You are speaking to the exact reason I don't like toolbox. The place I used to work that

I hinted to above we modified the toolbox parts as we needed to one at a time. We had

5 or so years of history till we upgraded to 2009. Then I was on the phone for 2 hours with

my VAR and bottom line was that our toolbox path could not be recognized and it needed to be upgraded.

Because of that upgrade we lost all our history of company related info that was integrated into toolbox parts.

So my suggestion would be to create your own hardware outside of toolbox and build on those files.

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Scott McFadden Sep 15, 2011 10:01 AM

Clay,

I understand what you are saying, but at my old job we used to

RC on the tollbox part and select modify toolbox properties, change it to

configuration and modify the config name and description. I wish I had

toolbox available so I could show you a screen shot of what I am talking about.

But I know it can be done. Or at least in 2009 it could be.

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Clay Hamilton @ Scott McFadden on Sep 15, 2011 10:16 AM

The problem seems to be with all the toolbox files being locked to allow no changes, except for changes implemented through the "configure toolbox" screens. Anything I change there is ignored by Solidworks, though, and anything I change with custom properties on the part file cannot be saved, so it's lost the moment I close it.

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Scott McFadden @ Clay Hamilton on Sep 15, 2011 10:28 AM

Is your toolbox location on a network drive that write permissions on it?

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Clay Hamilton @ Scott McFadden on Sep 15, 2011 11:04 AM

No, local to me

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Clay Hamilton @ Clay Hamilton on Sep 15, 2011 11:23 AM

I'm just copying the toolbox files, as I need them, to something with my company initials in the name, then modifying that new file and replacing the toolbox components in my assembly with my new file. It's working, but it basicly means that I have to recreate the entire toolbox directory of components one at a time as I need them. At this rate, Solidworks needs to drop toolbox as a "product" that supposedly adds worth to the software, since it is garbage unless you can live with the names and part numbers that they arbitrarily assigned. I'm very disappointed that they put all the time into creating toolbox, and made it unusable in the process. Should I start holding my breath for how long it will be till a release comes out with a truly working toolbox?

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Scott McFadden @ Clay Hamilton on Sep 15, 2011 11:29 AM

You are speaking to the exact reason I don't like toolbox. The place I used to work that

I hinted to above we modified the toolbox parts as we needed to one at a time. We had

5 or so years of history till we upgraded to 2009. Then I was on the phone for 2 hours with

my VAR and bottom line was that our toolbox path could not be recognized and it needed to be upgraded.

Because of that upgrade we lost all our history of company related info that was integrated into toolbox parts.

So my suggestion would be to create your own hardware outside of toolbox and build on those files.

Actions

6 Replies

Scott McFadden Sep 15, 2011 10:01 AM
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Correct Answer
Clay,
I understand what you are saying, but at my old job we used to
RC on the tollbox part and select modify toolbox properties, change it to
configuration and modify the config name and description. I wish I had
toolbox available so I could show you a screen shot of what I am talking about.
But I know it can be done. Or at least in 2009 it could be.
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- Clay Hamilton @ Scott McFadden on Sep 15, 2011 10:16 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  The problem seems to be with all the toolbox files being locked to allow no changes, except for changes implemented through the "configure toolbox" screens. Anything I change there is ignored by Solidworks, though, and anything I change with custom properties on the part file cannot be saved, so it's lost the moment I close it.
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  - Scott McFadden @ Clay Hamilton on Sep 15, 2011 10:28 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Is your toolbox location on a network drive that write permissions on it?
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
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    - Clay Hamilton @ Scott McFadden on Sep 15, 2011 11:04 AM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      No, local to me
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      - Clay Hamilton @ Clay Hamilton on Sep 15, 2011 11:23 AM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        I'm just copying the toolbox files, as I need them, to something with my company initials in the name, then modifying that new file and replacing the toolbox components in my assembly with my new file. It's working, but it basicly means that I have to recreate the entire toolbox directory of components one at a time as I need them. At this rate, Solidworks needs to drop toolbox as a "product" that supposedly adds worth to the software, since it is garbage unless you can live with the names and part numbers that they arbitrarily assigned. I'm very disappointed that they put all the time into creating toolbox, and made it unusable in the process. Should I start holding my breath for how long it will be till a release comes out with a truly working toolbox?
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
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        Scott McFadden @ Clay Hamilton on Sep 15, 2011 11:29 AM
        Unmark Correct
        Correct Answer
        You are speaking to the exact reason I don't like toolbox. The place I used to work that
        I hinted to above we modified the toolbox parts as we needed to one at a time. We had
        5 or so years of history till we upgraded to 2009. Then I was on the phone for 2 hours with
        my VAR and bottom line was that our toolbox path could not be recognized and it needed to be upgraded.
        Because of that upgrade we lost all our history of company related info that was integrated into toolbox parts.
        So my suggestion would be to create your own hardware outside of toolbox and build on those files.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions

Custom toolbox part numbers...toolbox configuration

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