How to Remove the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Flag for Custom Fasteners

The SOLIDWORKS Toolbox is a great way to improve efficiency by using a standardized database of fasteners for components in an assembly. Each Toolbox part file contains a “flag” property to differentiate between standard parts and Toolbox parts.

The flag has advantages for Toolbox components, allowing you to leverage automation tools, streamlined placement, and better BOM control. Below, we discuss why the flag exists, why it’s important, and how to remove it.

What is the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Flag?

A flag property is written in each Toolbox part so SOLIDWORKS knows to reference the database for information. This is visible in the FeatureManager Design Tree ,where the component icon shows a bolt rather than a yellow part.

Why is the Flag Beneficial?

This flag property helps identify the components. The bolt icon in the FeatureManager Design Tree provides a clear indication that they are fasteners. SOLIDWORKS Toolbox components can also be moved into a new folder in the tree for better organization.

Selection Tools

Selection Tools also provides an option to quickly select all Toolbox components. Since there can be hundreds, even thousands, of Toolbox components in large assemblies, creating a new display state with all fasteners hidden can improve performance. This is an easy way to quickly hide these components.

Using Select Toolbox to identify all fasteners

File References

The Toolbox flag property also helps with file references. If someone sends a Pack and Go including Toolbox components, you may want the assembly to redirect to the Toolbox folder rather than the copies. The Toolbox System Option “Make this folder the default search location for Toolbox components” ensures the reference is always to the Toolbox database.

SOLIDWORKS System Option for Toolbox components

Why Remove the Toolbox Flag?

In some cases, a separate library of fasteners outside of the Toolbox may be needed. If the fastener needs to be modified in a way that cannot be done in the Toolbox configuration tool, a component can be saved as a copy to a different folder.

However, with the option for making the Toolbox folder the default enabled, the Toolbox flag in the copied part will force the reference from your custom library back to the Toolbox folder.

How to Avoid Changing References for Custom Fasteners

Disable Hole Wizard/Toolbox Search Setting

The first option is to disable the “Make this folder the default search location for Toolbox components”. This is found under Tools > Options > System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox.

With this disabled, the Toolbox flag remains in the custom components, but assemblies will not reference back to the Toolbox directory. This option will need to be disabled on each user machine individually or using a SOLIDWORKS Admin Image.

Using the Set Document Property Tool

SOLIDWORKS provides a utility that can be used to remove the Toolbox flag from custom components. It is important not to use this utility on master part files stored in the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox directory.

Custom Toolbox components without the flag

To remove the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox flag:

1. Close all files in SOLIDWORKS.
2. Browse to C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\Toolbox\data utilities.
3. Run sldsetdocprop.exe as Administrator.
4. Set the File Types to Part Files *.sldprt.
5. Add files or directories for your custom fasteners.
6. Set the Property state to No.
7. Click Update Status.

Using the Set Document Property tool

These part files will now act like standard SOLIDWORKS components with the yellow component icon in the FeatureManager tree. As there is no longer a flag, the option for default component locations no longer applies.

Best Practices for the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox

Be sure to change the file name of the copied part to be different than the master Toolbox part files. As an example, “TriMech_hex_bolt_inch.sldprt” rather than a second copy of “hex bolt_ai.sldprt”. If you create a separate Toolbox library or customize the existing SOLIDWORKS Toolbox database, be sure to keep consistent backups.

To learn more about the power of the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox, watch our on-demand webinar here