Stand-alone Properties+ for SOLIDWORKS in Windows File Explorer

This feature allows reading, adding and modifying custom properties for SOLIDWORKS files, configurations and cut-list items directly from Windows File Explorer. In general, this provides much better performance when modifying properties, as files do not need to be loaded in SOLIDWORKS to access custom properties.

Prerequisites

This feature does not use the SOLIDWORKS API, so SOLIDWORKS does not need to be installed on the machine to use it. However, the SOLIDWORKS Document Manager SDK must be installed. The SOLIDWORKS Document Manager SDK is available in the SOLIDWORKS download package.

Note that a Document Manager license key is not required to use Properties+ - only the SDK needs to be installed.

SOLIDWORKS Document Manager SDK is automatically installed with the following programs:

• SOLIDWORKS
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Client
• SOLIDWORKS eDrawings

If any of the above is installed on the machine - it is not required to install SOLIDWORKS Document Manager SDK.

File

Properties+ command can be found in the context menu of Windows File Explorer under the SOLIDWORKS file types (*.sldprt, *.sldasm, *.slddrw) and on the folder.

Please see the Properties+ Context Menu Is Missing knowledge base article to troubleshoot if the context menu command is not available

Properties can be managed by accessing the commands in the File backstage menu and ribbon toolbar

1. Source of the files
   • This Document - load properties for the input document only (e.g. assembly)
   • Top Level References - load properties for the source document and all top level children
   • All References - load properties for the source document and all references

Folder

When the Properties+ command is selected for a folder, all SOLIDWORKS files from the folder are loaded into the grid.

The Input group contains a new option to select Top Level Files Only or All Files from sub-folders:

1. Load properties for the document only (Custom tab)
2. Load properties for all configurations (configuration-specific properties)
3. Load properties for cut-list items (weldment and sheet metals)
4. Expand all items with one click
5. Collapse all items with one click
6. Hide the selected columns. This button is enabled when at least one column is checked
7. Show all hidden columns. This button is enabled when at least one column has been hidden
8. Export formula expressions to the Excel file
9. Import custom properties from the Excel file
10. Export resolved property value to the Excel file
11. Add new property
12. Remove selected properties
13. Revert non-saved changes of the selected properties
14. Path to the current file or folder
15. Save all changes to the files

Selection

In addition to the Windows File Explorer integration, Properties+ allows selecting the files to process.

This command can be accessed from the Windows start menu

User can add SOLIDWORKS files to the scope by selecting files via the Add File(s) command. Alternatively, files can be loaded from a text file by clicking Add File(s) From Text List.

The file should contain the full path of each file to load, one per line

D:\Demo\CAD+\Models\Roof Sheet\BL_600_PRODUCT.SLDPRT
D:\Demo\CAD+\Models\Roof Sheet\BL_600_PRODUCT_STAKING.SLDASM
D:\Demo\CAD+\Models\Roof Sheet\ROLLER_1A3410_0061_800.SLDASM

This feature can be useful for loading the file results of a SOLIDWORKS PDM search

Backstage Menu

Additional commands are available in the backstage File menu

1. Save current changes
2. Manage license
3. Register or Buy the copy of CAD+ Toolset
4. Check for updates (enable/disable auto updates)
5. Open help page
6. Open About dialog