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Need help with toolbox

Question asked by Noah Thomlison on Jun 19, 2015
Latest reply on Jun 23, 2015 by Noah Thomlison

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Hello everyone,

I am having an issue with setting up the toolbox on my computer. It is a computer that used to be used by a different person and I am missing many of our company's toolbox parts. To resolve this I copied the folder from another computer as well as various other parts from this computers toolbox. The problem is when I place these in the folder which SolidWorks is directed to for toolbox parts the folder does not show up. All the other toolbox folders are located there ( CISC, BSI, ISO...) but the folder that I have placed does not show up in the tool box configuration. I have been able to go into the toolbox configuration and make a new folder with the proper name and then add files to it however SolidWorks only allows me to add the parts one at a time and this is more than impractical. Any idea how I can get SolidWorks to recognize the folder itself?

thanks for the help in advance

Noah

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Jeff Mirisola Jun 19, 2015 1:32 PM
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Your toolbox should be located on a server so that everyone accesses the same files. That would be the most logical, and correct, way to go about it, IMO.
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- Noah Thomlison @ Jeff Mirisola on Jun 19, 2015 1:40 PM
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  I whole totally agree and it is for other computer however this computer has not been used for many years and is not able to be hooked up to the server. I have tried talking to the IT company that services my company and they tried but were not able to hook it up. Also since I am only an intern here for the summer it is not worth the time to figure out how to get around this issue so now I need a workaround for this problem.
  
  To summarize I have placed a folder with the other toolbox parts folders (ISO, ANSI, ...) but it is not being recognized as being present when I go into the configuration for the toolbox. How would I resolve this issue?
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  - Jeff Mirisola @ Noah Thomlison on Jun 19, 2015 3:29 PM
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    Where did you put it and what does it contain? I stopped using toolbox a while ago because I was always having issues with it, so I need to jog my memory or hope that someone else chimes in.
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    - Noah Thomlison @ Jeff Mirisola on Jun 19, 2015 3:37 PM
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      I put it in the same folder as the other folders that contains the standard toolbox folder. For my computer the path is C:\SolidWorks Data\Browser and within that folder there as separate folders for the standards. for example I have an ansi inch folder, an ansi metric folder and so on. I have tried both placing the folder for my company's toolbox parts along those as well as adding it into a standard folder so within ansi metric place the folder along side the washers and what not folders for hardware. In both cases it simply does not show up as selectable folder when I go to tool box configuration within solidworks. The only thing that has worked so far is adding a folder within the solidworks toolbox configuration menu but this is a empty folder which I have to manually add the parts into. This wouldn't be a problem but the "add a part" button only allows one part to be added at a time.
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Bob Van Dick Jun 19, 2015 5:34 PM
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Sounds like a lack of foresight by SolidWorks. Why not just add a file location in the design library and stick your folders/files in there?
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- Noah Thomlison @ Bob Van Dick on Jun 19, 2015 6:00 PM
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  I was thinking about that as a possible solution as well but, I'm not sure if I was not seeing it, in the files locations drop down menu there is no selector for the toolbox location. There is a hole wizard/toolbox tab where you can locate the folder it should look in. This can only be one folder unfortunately and that is also where I have been attempting to add my own parts into. right now it is C:\SolidWorks Data\ a
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  - Bob Van Dick @ Noah Thomlison on Jun 19, 2015 6:04 PM
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    You can choose any location you want in the choose folder window, or you can create a new one...
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    - Bob Van Dick @ Bob Van Dick on Jun 19, 2015 6:10 PM
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      After you add the folder, go to system options/file locations/design library and add the path to your folder(s)....
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      - Noah Thomlison @ Bob Van Dick on Jun 19, 2015 6:20 PM
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        Ok I may be confused here. Are you saying I can add any location I want in the tools>system options>file locations section? Or do you mean in the toolbox configuration section?
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        Bob Van Dick @ Noah Thomlison on Jun 19, 2015 6:24 PM
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        Yes, under the show folders for, hit the drop down arrow and scroll to design library. Add as many paths as you want...
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        Noah Thomlison @ Bob Van Dick on Jun 19, 2015 6:30 PM
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        I just tried that out Bob, no change. I added both the folder that is holding the general toolbox parts, which has my added custom parts folder within, and also the actual folder I wish to add to my toolbox. When I look in the tool box the folder is not present and when I check the toolbox configuration menu they are not listed.
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        Bob Van Dick @ Noah Thomlison on Jun 22, 2015 9:57 AM
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        Sorry Noah, I wasn't meaning that you could add a custom folder to toolbox in this way. I just meant to say that you could create another location within design manager to have a place to go to access all of your custom files.
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Nick Patel Jun 23, 2015 8:22 AM
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Noah,

I had a situation where one of our custom parts was not showing up in the toolbox after an upgrade and I think our solution will work for you.
1. Close Solidworks.
2. Go to the Toolbox/Browser folder. Rename the 'ToolboxFiles.index' file
3. Open Solidworks and click on the Toolbox icon in the task pane

Solidworks will recreate the index file and should pick up the files in the Browser folder. It took a few minutes for the .index file to be recreated.

Good luck,
Nick
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Noah Thomlison Jun 23, 2015 12:15 PM
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I dont know how it happened but when I came back into the office after the weekend all the files had been added into my toolbox. Thanks for the help everyone guess solidworks decided to finally cooperate with me.
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