CATI Technotes: How to Configure SolidWorks Toolbox and Hole Wizard

Welcome to part 3 of our SolidWorks Toolbox and Hole Wizard series. In this section we will be discussing the options for configuring User Settings and Permissions.

User Settings

User Settings are controlled under the 3^rd tab in the Toolbox configuration

Let's go over the different options available.

Files:

The first option is how should Toolbox react when you use different size hardware of the same component. The initial Toolbox database has one component per part (the master part file).

Create Configurations – This is the default setting. Let's say you insert a ¼-20 X 1" Socket Head cap screw. This configuration is now added to the master part in the database. If you then insert a ¼-20 x 1.5 Socket Head cap screw, an additional configuration will again be added..and so on. This option creates fewer part files, but files with many configurations can grow large, which can increase assembly sizes. See the previous article in our series on how to reduce the total number of fasteners that can be created.

Create Parts – If using this option, Toolbox will create an individual part file each time you used a new size of a particular component.

Create Part on Ctrl-Drag - For a standard drag, behaves like Create Configurations. For a Ctrl-drag, behaves like Create Parts.

Create Parts in this folder - Specifies the folder for parts created when you select Create Parts or Create Parts on Ctrl-Drag.

So which is better Configurations or Parts?

I prefer configurations. Yes the part files may be larger if you have a large number of configurations; however it is easier to work with in the long run.

What if you need to replace a component in an assembly with another size? -If you are using configurations, you can simply change the configuration. If you are using parts, you will be required to replace the component entirely. This may cause mating issues.

Writing to read-only documents:

Always change read-only status of document before writing:

Specifies that Toolbox temporarily changes the read-only attribute of a file to make a change, such as creating a configuration for a new component size. After a change is done, Toolbox resets the file attribute to read-only.

This option allows multiple users to make changes to the same document because write access occurs briefly during the change. Documents that are read-only because of user rights or security settings in your operating system are not affected.

Error when writing to a read-only document

Specifies that Toolbox cannot change read-only documents; an error message appears – Select this options when you manage Toolbox component files from a PDM system.

Part Numbers:

You can assign the same part number to more than one configuration of a Toolbox part if the parts are geometrically equal. For example, you might want to change the value of a custom property but retain the same part number because the geometry is the same.

Allow duplicate part numbers for geometrically equal components - Allows you to assign the same part number to more than one Toolbox part.

Designation (For AS, DIN, GB, ISO, IS, and KS only)

A designation is the component name specified in the governing standard. Designations are listed under Designation in the component configuration list on the Customize Hardware page.

Select one or more options to use the designation for the component as a SolidWorks property:

Show as Component Name in FeatureManager

Show as Part Number in Bill of Materials

Show as Description in Bill of Materials

Permissions:

Permissions are controlled under the 4^th tab in the Toolbox configuration.

Password

Users can view restricted functions without the Toolbox password, but cannot modify them.

-Be aware: If you forget your password, there is no way to retrieve it-

Create/Change

Lets you set or modify a password. The next time you configure Toolbox, click Please Login and enter the password to gain change access.

Remove Eliminates password protection.

Permission Options

Administrators can control access to different parts of Toolbox.

Allow editing of Content - When cleared, the Customize Hardware page is view-only for users who are not logged in.

Allow editing of Custom Properties - When cleared, the custom properties on the Customize Hardware page are view-only for users who are not logged in.

Allow adding of parts to Toolbox - When cleared, you cannot add parts to the library of Toolbox components.

Allow editing of part numbers - When cleared, you cannot save part number settings in the Toolbox PropertyManager.

Allow editing of Configuration Name/File Name - When cleared, you cannot add or change configuration names or file names in the Toolbox PropertyManager.

User Settings

Set separately for each - user Sets options on the User Settings page separately for each user as Windows Registry values.

Allow user to change - Lets users change their own settings.

Set the same for all users - Sets options on the User Settings page globally for all users.

Smart Fasteners

Set separately for each user - Sets Smart Fastener options on the Hole Wizard and Smart Fasteners pages separately for each user as Windows Registry values.

Allow user to change Lets users change their own settings.

Set the same for all users - Sets Smart Fastener options on the Hole Wizard and Smart Fasteners pages globally for all users.

Please check back to the CATI Blog as the Dedicated Support Team will continue posting our series of articles that goes further into the details of each section of configuring our Toolbox and Hole Wizard. All of these articles will be stored in the category of Daily Dose.....of SolidWorks Support and links to each article with their release date are listed below: