Override Document Level Tree Display to Change How Components are Listed

The FeatureManager Tree in a SOLIDWORKS assembly contains a wealth of information. However, the tree display can get a bit cluttered with information you don’t particularly need for the job at hand. One such case is how assembly components are listed in the tree.

SOLIDWORKS 2024 and earlier have a document-level setting to control Component Name and Description as the values shown in the tree. The tree looks a little busy because the terms “Default” and “Display State 1” show up a lot. SOLIDWORKS 2025 added a new system-level option, which we’ll look at soon.

Tree Display of Configurations and Display States

Following the part icon in the example above, we have details about the component “(f) Tube<2> (Default) <<Default>_Display State 1>” which provides more information than just its name:

• (f) = State of the Component
  The State of the Component will be (f) for fixed, (-) for underdefined, or just missing if the component is fully defined.
• Tube = File Name
  The name of the SOLIDWORKS file minus the file extension.
• <2> = Instance Number
  The Instance Number, which will be greater than one if the component is not the original instance, even if the original is no longer present in the model.
• (Default) = Configuration
  The Configuration will show which configuration is active for the component.
• <<Default>_Display State 1> = Display State
  The Display State will show which display state is active for the component.

In case you aren’t already familiar with these items, configurations are physical variations of a model existing in the same file. Think of them as different variations on the same basic product.

Display states store graphical information only. By default, they are attached to a particular configuration and store appearances. There is an option to unlink them from configurations and make every display state available for every configuration.

Component Name and Description

Every part or assembly model is created with a default configuration and default display state. In many cases, no more are ever added to the model. So, we wind up with what we see in the image above. Each component has a long string of information, mostly just showing the default configurations and display states. While it doesn’t really hurt anything for this information to be displayed, it does make it a little harder to look at than if the tree were less crowded.

Long ago, SOLIDWORKS gave us Component Name and Description options so we could customize exactly what the tree shows us. In SOLIDWORKS 2024 and earlier, these are document-level settings accessed by right-clicking the assembly’s name (top of the tree), and selecting Tree Display > Component Name and Description…

Changing tree display options in SOLIDWORKS 2024 and earlier

The dialog box gives us options to display the Component Description instead of the Component Name (file name), and either the Component Description or Configuration Description in place of the Configuration Name, and whether or not to show the Display State Name. However, it also gives us a very useful conditional checkbox.

If you check Do not show Configuration or Display State name if only one exists that information will only be displayed if a component has more than one configuration. This can really help make the tree look cleaner. However, it is a document-specific setting, so you’d have to change the setting for every assembly model you work on if you want to use it. If you activate it in your assembly templates, then at least you won’t have to set it in future assemblies.

How to Override Tree Display Settings

SOLIDWORKS 2025 added a new system-level option that overrides the old document-level settings for Component Name and Description. If you try to access these options by right-clicking the top of the tree, you’ll see that all the options are greyed out, and a note points you to the new setting in the SOLIDWORKS System Options.

Tree display setting dialog in SOLIDWORKS 2025 and newer

When you go to Options > System Options > FeatureManager, there is a new Override document level tree display checkbox. There is also a new Component Name and Description button just to the right of the new option. Hitting that button gives you the same dialog box and options as the old document-level setting, but now it will apply to every assembly you open!

Override document level tree display in the SOLIDWORKS System Options

If you prefer controlling these options the old-fashioned way, one assembly at a time, you can always uncheck the Override document level tree display box. But I suspect you’ll be a lot happier with the new system-level controls. I know I am!

What’s New in SOLIDWORKS

Just like how this quality of life update was added in SOLIDWORKS 2025, there are hundreds of enhancements added to the software each year. Across all the different SOLIDWORKS products, you’ll surely be able to find something that can help increase your working efficiency and give you incredible time savings.

To see what’s new with SOLIDWORKS 2026, register for our Global Launch Event here.