How to transfer template files and settings from SOLIDWORKS Desktop to SOLIDWORKS Connected

This guide is for you who are making the switch from SOLIDWORKS Desktop to SOLIDWORKS Connected and wants to bring along any custom templates and/or settings from the old installation to the new installation.

 

The following step explains backup of various templates and settings and should be done BEFORE uninstalling SOLIDWORKS Desktop. Skip any step regarding templates or settings irrelevant to you.

 

 

Step 1

Backup your SOLIDWORKS settings from SOLIDWORKS Desktop

This step covers backing up your SOLIDWORKS Settings file. If you haven’t made any customizations to your settings (User Interface, Shortcuts etc.), please skip to step 2.

An easy way to backup your SOLIDWORKS settings, is to launch SOLIDWORKS Desktop and use the “SOLIDWORKS Copy Settings Wizard” tool to make a copy of your settings file. The tool can be found under Tools->Save/Restore Settings.

With the SOLIDWORKS Copy Settings Wizard open, click “Save Settings” and click “Next”.

On the next page specify a location to save the settings file (or keep the default location – just make sure you know where the file ends up). You can also alter the name of the file by typing directly in the address window. Mark the checkboxes for the settings you would like to keep. Click Finish.

The SOLIDWORKS Copy Settings Wizard will notify you that the SOLIDWORKS Settings has now been saved to the specified location. Click “OK” to dismiss the info box and close the tool.

Browse to the previously specified location to find your SOLIDWORKS settings file. Your settings are now backed up and you are ready to move to the next step.

Note: From SOLIDWORKS 2021 and upwards it is possible to login with your 3DEXPERIENCE ID and synchronize your settings. The Synchronize settings can be found under “Tools->Options->System Options->Synchronize Settings”.

 

 

Step 2

Backup your custom templates and libraries in Windows File Explorer

This step covers backing up various templates and custom libraries. If you don’t use any custom templates or libraries (document templates, sheet formats, toolbox databases, weldment profiles, design library, etc.), please skip to step 3.

If you are using any custom templates or libraries, it is recommended that you make a backup of these before uninstalling SOLIDWORKS Desktop. 

Examples of custom templates are:

• Custom Document Templates.
• Custom Sheet Formats.
• Custom BOM Table Templates (or any other table, i.e. Revision Table, Hole Table, Weldment Cut List, etc.).
• Custom Weldment Profiles.
• Custom Appearances, Decals or Scenes.
• Custom Property files

Examples of custom libraries are:

• Customized Design Library
• Customized Toolbox Database and Toolbox Components
• Customized Routing Files Library

 

If you are unsure where you keep your custom templates or libraries, an easy way to figure this out is by opening checking the file locations in various menus of System Options.

 

For Custom Templates go to System Options and navigate to File Locations. In this menu navigate to the first category on the dropdown list you wish to backup (i.e., Document Templates).

You will then be presented with a list of all locations that SOLIDWORKS refers to for this template type. Use Windows File Explorer to navigate to each of these folders and copy them to your backup folder location. Repeat this step for each additional template type on the dropdown list relevant for you.

Note: Any files in custom locations will not be removed during uninstallation, but custom files placed in in any of the default folders will. Therefore, it is important to double check that files from these folders are backed up before proceeding with the uninstallation of SOLIDWORKS Desktop.

 

For Customized Design Library go to System Options and navigate to File Locations. In this menu navigate to the Design Library category on the dropdown list. You will then be presented with a list of all locations that SOLIDWORKS refers to for Design Libraries. Use Windows File Explorer to navigate to each of these folders and copy them to your backup folder location.

Note: Any files in custom locations will not be removed during uninstallation, but custom files placed in in any of the default folders will. Therefore, it is important to double check that files from these folders are backed up before proceeding with the uninstallation of SOLIDWORKS Desktop.

 

For Customized Routing Files and Settings go to System Options and navigate to Routing->Routing File Locations. In this menu click Launch Routing Library Manager.

In the Routing Library Manager the file paths specified under General Routing tells you the location of your Routing Library and your Routing Template. Use Windows File Explorer to navigate to each of these locations and copy both the Library folder and the template to your backup folder location. To backup your settings proceed by clicking the Save Settings button.

This will open a new window that let’s you specify a location and a name for your Routing Settings file. Click Save to continue. 

Browse to the previously specified location to find your Routing Settings file. Your settings are now backed up. 

 

For Customized Toolbox Database and Custom Toolbox Components go to System Options and navigate to Hole Wizard/Toolbox. In this menu the file path specified under Hole Wizard and Toolbox folder tells you the location of your Toolbox Database and Components. Use Windows File Explorer to navigate to this location and copy the folder to your backup folder location. 

 

Now all your custom templates, libraries, settings and databases should be backed up and you can proceed to the next step. 

 

 

Step 3

With all your templates and settings safely backed up, you can now uninstall SOLIDWORKS Desktop and afterwards install SOLIDWORKS Connected. See our guide: How to install SOLIDWORKS Connected on a PC where SOLIDWORKS Desktop is already installed – in three steps – PLM Group Support Center

 

The following steps explain restoring your backed up templates, libraries and settings and should be done AFTER installing SOLIDWORKS Connected. Once again skip any step regarding templates or settings irrelevant to you.

 

 

Step 4

Restoring your SOLIDWORKS Desktop settings in SOLIDWORKS Connected

This step covers restoring your SOLIDWORKS Settings file from your backup. If this is irrelevant to you, please skip to step 5.

In SOLIDWORKS Connected open the “SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard” tool to restore your settings from your backup. The tool can be found under Tools->Save/Restore Settings.

With the SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard open, click “Restore Settings” and click “Next”.

On the next page specify the location of your backup settings file. Then mark the checkboxes to specify the settings you would like to restore. Click Next.

On the next page choose whether to create a backup of the existing settings, and click Finish.

The SOLIDWORKS Settings Wizard will notify you that the SOLIDWORKS Settings has now been successfully restored. Click “OK” to dismiss the info box and close the tool.

Note: In SOLIDWORKS Connected you can synchronize your settings using your 3DEXPERIENCE ID. The Synchronize settings can be found under “Tools->Options->System Options->Synchronize Settings”. This can be used to save and restore settings.

 

 

Step 5

Restore your custom templates and libraries in SOLIDWORKS Connected

This step covers restoring your backed up custom templates and custom libraries, by mapping their locations in SOLIDWORKS Connected. If this is irrelevant to you, please skip this step.

To restore access to your custom templates and custom libraries in SOLIDWORKS Connected you must map the file paths in various menus of System Options.

 

For Custom Templates go to System Options and navigate to File Locations. In this menu navigate to the first category on the dropdown list you wish to restore (i.e., Document Templates), and click Add.

Browse to the folder containing your backed up files (in this case, Document Templates) and click Select Folder. Repeat this for any other item on the dropdown list relevant to you. When done mapping file locations, finish by clicking OK.

In the dialog box asking if you want to make the following changes to your search paths, click Yes.

You can now access your custom templates in SOLIDWORKS Connected.

Note: With the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform it is also possible to store all custom templates and custom file libraries directly on the Platform for all users to access.

 

For Customized Design Library go to System Options and navigate to File Locations. In this menu navigate to the Design Library category on the dropdown list and click Add.

Browse to the folder containing your backed up Design Libraries and click Select Folder. Like when mapping the custom templates, finish by clicking OK and confirming the change in search paths.

Note: In SOLIDWORKS Connected it is possible to create a Design Library in a Bookmark. 

You can now access your custom Design Library in SOLIDWORKS Connected.

 

For Customized Routing Files and Settings go to System Options and navigate to Routing->Routing File Locations. In this menu click Launch Routing Library Manager.

In the Routing Library Manager set the file paths specified under General Routing to the locations for your backed up Routing Library and Routing Template. To restore your settings proceed by clicking the Load Settings button.

This will open a new window that let’s you browse to the location of your Routing Settings file. Mark the file and click Save to continue. Click OK in the Routing Library Manager to close it.

You can now access your customized routing files and your Routing Settings have been restored in SOLIDWORKS Connected.

 

For Customized Toolbox Database and Custom Toolbox Components go to System Options and navigate to Hole Wizard/Toolbox. In this menu the file path specified under Hole Wizard and Toolbox folder tells you the location of your new Toolbox Database and Components. Use Windows File Explorer to navigate to this location and copy the content of your backed up folder into this folder and overwrite any existing files if/when prompted. Restart SOLIDWORKS.

You can now access your customized Toolbox Database and your Custom Toolbox Components in SOLIDWORKS Connected.