SOLIDWORKS Add-in User Interface

This topic describes the user interface of CUSTOMTOOLS SOLIDWORKS add-in.

CUSTOMTOOLS uses the single-window integration model in the most of its commands. The single-window integration means that the commands utilizes the different kind of side panes instead of using popup windows.


Command related side panes:

CUSTOMTOOLS Search The CUSTOMTOOLS Search feature is used to search documents by using free search string or specific document properties.
CUSTOMTOOLS taskpane The CUSTOMTOOLS taskpane used to show the product information and news for the user.
Properties pane The Properties pane is used to set the values for the custom properties of the selected component or an active document.
Copy pane The Copy pane and the CUSTOMTOOLS pane are used to setup the CUSTOMTOOLS Copy feature to copy, compress, rename, move or write new proeprty values to your SOLIDWORKS documents.
Data pane The Data pane is used to insert drawing annotations based on your SOLIDWORKS document's reference data.

TIP: You can use the CUSTOMTOOLS Data feature also to insert a revision table to the drawing.
Comment pane The Comment pane is used to insert customized comments into the parts and assemblies.



CUSTOMTOOLS right-click menu items:

CUSTOMTOOLS adds some of its commands also to the component related SOLIDWORKS right-click menu. The menu items are shortcuts into the CUSTOMTOOLS commands:

  Document Types
  Command name Command description Parts Assemblies Drawings
MenuIcon Properties View the Properties of the selected document. The values of Properties are stored into the SOLIDWORKS document properties and CUSTOMTOOLS Database.
MenuIcon Export CUSTOMTOOLS command that allows you to export whole SOLIDWORKS structures with the desired property data into an external information system.

You can also generate various kind of reports with help of the Export feature.

 
MenuIcon Copy Copy, move, rename or compress (to .zip) your SOLIDWORKS files. With Copy, you can also write new Property values to your SOLIDWORKS documents in batches using the Write Property Values action available.
MenuIcon Comment Add comments to the documents.
MenuIcon Explore Open the currently active/selected document file location in the Windows Explorer.
MenuIcon Notes You can use the Notes feature to add customized notes into your drawings.    
MenuIcon Data Command used to customize drawing templates allowing you to insert custom property values or a revision table into the drawing.    
MenuIcon Cutting Profile The Cutting Profile feature creates DXF Sheet to the active SOLIDWORKS drawing, from the selected drawing view. The DXF Sheet created by the Cutting Profile could be used e.g. to cut the sheet metal part with a cutting device like a CNC machine.    
MenuIcon Bend Sheet Use the Bend Sheet command to create a bend sheet to the selected drawing. The bend sheet is created based on the drawing view selected from the active sheet. The bend sheet can be used to bend the sheet metal plate with a bend machine.    
MenuIcon Coord Note Use the CUSTOMTOOLS Coord Note feature to mark the coordinate points to the drawing views. Coordinate points added by the Coord Note feature could be used to cut complex shapes in components using different kind of cutting devices.    
MenuIcon Open Drawing View and open the related drawings of the selected entity. If any entity is not selected the command refers to the open document.  
MenuIcon Print/Convert Batch print and convert your SOLIDWORKS files.
MenuIcon Import Import different document information such as file references into the CUSTOMTOOLS database. No open documents required
MenuIcon Where Used View and locate where the selected entity is used. If any entity is not selected the command refers to the open document.
Customize Menu Define the items to be shown in the CUSTOMTOOLS menu in SOLIDWORKS.



CUSTOMTOOLS toolbar:

The CUSTOMTOOLS toolbar contain shortcuts for accessing the CUSTOMTOOLS commands. The CUSTOMTOOLS toolbar appear into your SOLIDWORKS user interface once the CUSTOMTOOLS is set as an active add-in in the SOLIDWORKS Add-ins options.

See the SOLIDWORKS help for the further instructions about customizing toolbars in SOLIDWORKS.



CUSTOMTOOLS command manager:

CUSTOMTOOLS SOLIDWORKS add-in contains a command manager. The command manager has the shortcuts to CUSTOMTOOLS commands like the CUSTOMTOOLS toolbar.

The CUSTOMTOOLS command manager with the document type based commands appear when you open a document in SOLIDWORKS while you also have the CUSTOMTOOLS add-in set as an active add-in in the SOLIDWORKS Add-ins options.

See the SOLIDWORKS help for the further instructions about SOLIDWORKS command manager customization.




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Related Topics

Use the CUSTOMTOOLS Search feature to find SOLIDWORKS documents based on their reference data stored into the CUSTOMTOOLS database
Use the CUSTOMTOOLS task pane to see your CUSTOMTOOLS license and reseller information
Use the Properties pane to add reference data into your SOLIDWORKS documents
Use the Copy feature to copy your SOLIDWORKS documents with their reference data into other location
Use the Data feature to insert reference data annotations into your SOLIDWORKS drawings
Use the Comment feature to add customized comments to your SOLIDWORKS models
Use the Print/Convert feature to execute CUSTOMTOOLS batch operations against your SOLIDWORKS documents
Use the Bend Sheet command to create a bend sheet to the selected drawing

Commands available in CUSTOMTOOLS menu

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