Configuring macro buttons in Toolbar+ add-in for SOLIDWORKS

Adding Macro Buttons And Toolbars

Macro buttons can be configured by clicking on 'Configure Custom Toolbars...' command in Toolbar+ menu in SOLIDWORKS

Configuration dialog is displayed and existing toolbar and buttons can be modified as well as new can be added.

Click on green plus (+) button to add new toolbar or macro button.

Configure the parameters as shown below:

Configuring Macro Buttons In Toolbar

1. Path to toolbar file. This setting is stored locally to the user. UNC path is supported if required to configure a shared toolbar
2. Add new toolbar
3. Add new macro button in toolbar
4. Title of the macro button. It displayed as a bold header in the tooltip when mouse hovers a button in SOLIDWORKS toolbar
5. Description of the macro button. It displayed as a sub-header in the tooltip and in the SOLIDWORKS task bar in the bottom right corner when mouse hovers a button in SOLIDWORKS toolbar
6. Path to icon of the macro button. Raster image files - optimal size is between 16x16 and 120x120 in PNG format, however image will be automatically scaled and aligned which allows support for any size (including different width and height). Transparency is supported. Scalable Vector Graphics images in SVG (recommended option). Provides the best quality for icons as it will be scaled without quality loss depending on the resolution of the screen and button sizes.
7. Full path to macro to run
8. Macro entry point. This is the subroutine which should be run first when executing the macro. This is a parameterless subroutine (usually named main). Toolbar+ will try to automatically find the best suitable subroutine
9. Macro custom arguments. See Macro+ article for more information
10. Triggers. Macro trigger options. Follow triggers article for more information
11. Command scope. Identifies the scope (part, assembly, drawing, no documents) where macro can be run. Macro will be disabled in the not selected environments
12. Command location. Identifies where command should be added (menu, toolbar, tab box). This option is only available for Button and Toggle Button triggers
13. Unload After Run. If option is checked macro will be automatically unloaded after run. This option is useful when macro is shared across different users. In this case macro wil lbe released immediately enabling the possibility to replace the macro with new version. This option cannot be used if macro displays User Form as in this case it will be immediately unloaded and form will be closed. Uncheck this option if macro uses User Form or any other popup Window.
14. If this option is checked, Macro+ macros custom results will be displayed as the popup

It is possible to use relative path for icon and macro path options. Use ..\ to indicate the relative path to the toolbar.setts file. This is in particular useful when toolbar settings are moved across the computers or setup in the shared environment

Configuring Toolbar

1. Toolbar title to be displayed in the SOLIDWORKS toolbars manager
2. Toolbar tooltip
3. Toolbar icon
4. Preview of toolbar icon (default icon)

Modifying Commands

Select macro buttons and toolbars to load and edit the parameters. Use context menu or commands box to reorganize the commands as shown below.

1. Move selected macro button to the left or move toolbar up
2. Move selected macro button to the right or move toolbar down
3. Add new macro button left to the selected macro button or add new toolbar above the selected toolbar
4. Add new macro button right to the selected macro button or add new toolbar below the selected toolbar
5. Remove selected macro button or toolbar
6. Save changes and close dialog
7. Close dialog without saving changes

Saving Changes

If toolbar configuration changed the following message is displayed and SOLIDWORKS needs to be restarted for settings to take effect (unless toolbar is read-only in multi-user environment).

Toolbar+ attempting to preserve the IDs of the buttons to keep the customization. However SOLIDWORKS might need to clear the IDs after toolbar has been changed. When toolbar is changed and new commands are added or removed it might be required to restart SOLIDWORKS twice after the toolbar change to correctly display the commands within the toolbar.

Accessing Macro Buttons

Toolbars are available in the SOLIDWORKS toolbars list:

and in the SOLIDWORKS menu.

If command is added to Tab Box (ribbon) all the toolbars will be added under the Toolbar+ command tab box. Individual toolbars will be separated.

Toolbars can be reorganized and placed into the SOLIDWORKS command manager area. Visit Customization page for additional customization options for the toolbars and commands.