{"id":2194,"date":"2014-08-04T10:05:00","date_gmt":"2014-08-04T09:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2194"},"modified":"2014-08-04T10:05:00","modified_gmt":"2014-08-04T09:05:00","slug":"how-to-create-a-custom-interface-for-entering-file-properties-in-solidworks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/2014\/08\/how-to-create-a-custom-interface-for-entering-file-properties-in-solidworks\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Custom Interface for Entering File Properties in SOLIDWORKS"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>SOLIDWORKS Property Tab Builder is a stand-alone utility you use to create a customised interface for entering properties into SOLIDWORKS files.<\/p>\n<p>The tabs you create with Property Tab Builder appear in the SOLIDWORKS interface on the <strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">Custom Properties<\/span><\/strong> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"doc1292869943394__image_185BC85B33434FD9AFC54953CCC88AA0\" src=\"http:\/\/help.solidworks.com\/2014\/English\/solidworks\/oh_propertytabbuilder\/doc1292867156309.image\" alt=\"\" \/> tab in the Task Pane. You create different tab templates for parts, assemblies, and drawings.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/UpgradeNetworkLicenses9.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1993 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/UpgradeNetworkLicenses9.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" \/><\/a>You can also enter properties on the <strong>Custom<\/strong> and <strong>Configuration Specific<\/strong> tabs in the Summary Information dialog box in SOLIDWORKS.<\/p>\n<p>The video below shows how Property Tab Builder can be used to setup a custom interface for entering file properties.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/y97588CGfTE?rel=0\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In companies with multiple SOLIDWORKS users, typically one person, such as the lead user or administrator, creates the customized tabs for everyone to use. In this example, the administrator is referred to as <span class=\"q\">&#8220;you&#8221;<\/span>; people who use the tabs in the SOLIDWORKS interface to enter properties are referred to as <span class=\"q\">&#8220;users&#8221;<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"sectiontitle\">Opening Property Tab Builder<\/h2>\n<p>Do one of the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><!-- --><span class=\"listitem\">In SOLIDWORKS, on the\u00a0<span class=\"wintitle\">SOLIDWORKS Resources<\/span> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/help.solidworks.com\/2014\/English\/solidworks\/oh_propertytabbuilder\/doc1292867192718.image\" alt=\"tab_SolidWorks_Resources.gif\" \/> tab of the Task Pane, click <span class=\"uicontrol\"><strong>Property Tab Builder<\/strong><\/span> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/help.solidworks.com\/2014\/English\/solidworks\/oh_propertytabbuilder\/mal1341945024171.image\" alt=\"task_pane_property_tab_builder\" \/>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span id=\"doc1292869943394__li_46513CEECD6E47FEBC5F24CB1BD462FB\" class=\"listitem\">From the Windows <\/span><strong><span id=\"doc1292869943394__li_46513CEECD6E47FEBC5F24CB1BD462FB\">Start <\/span><\/strong><span id=\"doc1292869943394__li_46513CEECD6E47FEBC5F24CB1BD462FB\" class=\"listitem\">menu, click <span class=\"menucascade\"><strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">All Programs<\/span> <\/strong>&gt; <strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">SOLIDWORKS <em>version<\/em><\/span><\/strong>&gt; <strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">SOLIDWORKS Tools<\/span> <\/strong>&gt; <strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">Property Tab Builder<\/span><\/strong><\/span>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span id=\"doc1292869943394__li_6EB7DBC520B04F9B85591DE0C3FB278F\" class=\"listitem\"><!-- -->In SOLIDWORKS, on the <strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">Custom Properties<\/span><\/strong> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"doc1292869943394__image_E0E6F75CA5D04F8086B63DBB99CE263A\" src=\"http:\/\/help.solidworks.com\/2014\/English\/solidworks\/oh_propertytabbuilder\/doc1292867156309.image\" alt=\"\" \/> tab in the Task Pane, click <strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">Create now<\/span><\/strong>. (Available if a tab template does not yet exist for the active document type.)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"wintitle\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014-07-CT-SOLIDWORKS-Property-Tab-Builder_2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2196\" src=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014-07-CT-SOLIDWORKS-Property-Tab-Builder_2-266x300.png\" alt=\"2014-07-CT--SOLIDWORKS---Property-Tab-Builder_2\" width=\"266\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014-07-CT-SOLIDWORKS-Property-Tab-Builder_2-266x300.png 266w, https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014-07-CT-SOLIDWORKS-Property-Tab-Builder_2.png 788w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/><\/a>Property Tab Builder<\/span> opens. The center pane contains the template you are creating for the tab. You drag elements such as text boxes and radio buttons from the palette on the left, and set attributes for those elements in the pane on the right.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014-07-CT-SOLIDWORKS-Property-Tab-Builder_2.png\">\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"doc1292869943394__section_924664FD9F2740C5BD0CA65DBB8E2035\" class=\"section\">\n<p><!-- --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"sectiontitle\">Storing Templates<\/h2>\n<p>Save the tab templates in the location where you store your <em><span class=\"filepath\">properties.txt<\/span><\/em> file. You can create multiple templates for each document type. The file extension indicates the template type:<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><\/p>\n<ul id=\"doc1292869943394__ul_01D5834F55474A3EBD1BA0A7EA8B5252\">\n<li><span id=\"doc1292869943394__li_1B440E497FA74D1F82B8D1BD71F593B6\" class=\"listitem\"><!-- --><em><span class=\"filepath\">.prtprp<\/span><\/em> for parts<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span id=\"doc1292869943394__li_203D4A83E32C43FEA0780EEE6F51C7F1\" class=\"listitem\"><!-- --><em><span class=\"filepath\">.asmprp<\/span> <\/em>for assemblies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span id=\"doc1292869943394__li_C32266AB32194BFEABD63AFD776465F4\" class=\"listitem\"><!-- --><em><span class=\"filepath\">.drwprp<\/span><\/em> for drawings<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/UpgradeNetworkLicenses9.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1993 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/UpgradeNetworkLicenses9.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" \/><\/a>To find the location of your existing<em> <span class=\"filepath\">properties.txt<\/span><\/em> file, in SOLIDWORKS, click <span class=\"menucascade\"><strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">Options <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"doc1292869943394__image_01A85F067B964D8287BF037835C4611D\" src=\"http:\/\/help.solidworks.com\/2014\/English\/solidworks\/oh_propertytabbuilder\/doc1292865713717.image\" alt=\"\" \/> <\/span><\/strong>&gt;<strong> <span class=\"uicontrol\">File Locations<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>. Select <strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">Custom Properties Files<\/span> <\/strong>in <span class=\"uicontrol\"><strong>Show folders for<\/strong><\/span>. The path appears under <span class=\"uicontrol\">Folders<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>To share the customised tab, store it on a network drive that is accessible by all SOLIDWORKS users on the design team. Then have the users set their file location for <strong><span class=\"uicontrol\">Custom Properties Files<\/span><\/strong> to that location.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DoubleRedArrow.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2090\" src=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DoubleRedArrow.png\" alt=\"DoubleRedArrow\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/products\/products-solidworks\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #830000;\">Find out more on SOLIDWORKS<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DoubleRedArrow.png\"><span style=\"color: #830000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2090\" src=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DoubleRedArrow.png\" alt=\"DoubleRedArrow\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" \/><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/company\/contact\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #830000;\">Contact Sales<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DoubleRedArrow.png\"><span style=\"color: #830000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2090\" src=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DoubleRedArrow.png\" alt=\"DoubleRedArrow\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" \/><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/demo-request\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #830000;\">Request a Demo<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mkt.solidworks.com\/emarketing_enu\/start.swe?SWECmd=InvokeMethod&amp;SWEMethod=StartSS&amp;SWEView=URLRouter&amp;SWEApplet=SSRoute&amp;SWENargs=SSId=1-2NJRLWU,SSName=REP+ENG-INTL+SW+3D+for+2D+-+Part+Design,SSLC=,SSCC=,CID=1-2OC1GHL,OID=1-2NJOHVK,COID=1-2OC1GHM,PRO=1-NKZ7N\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2147 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/REP_3Dfor2DEngineering_PartDesign_600x90_SAL.jpg\" alt=\"REP_3Dfor2DEngineering_PartDesign_600x90_SAL\" width=\"600\" height=\"90\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/REP_3Dfor2DEngineering_PartDesign_600x90_SAL.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/REP_3Dfor2DEngineering_PartDesign_600x90_SAL-300x45.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SOLIDWORKS Property Tab Builder is a stand-alone utility you use to create a customised interface for entering properties into SOLIDWORKS files. The tabs you create with Property Tab Builder appear&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,5],"tags":[19,23,37,40,25,26],"class_list":["post-2194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-solid-applications","category-solidworks","tag-cad","tag-design","tag-hints-tips","tag-solid-applications-2","tag-solidworks-2","tag-support"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2194"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2198,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2194\/revisions\/2198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}