SOLIDWORKS 2018 Import and Export Hole Wizard Data with Excel

You can now import and export Hole Wizard data with Excel files in the Configuration tool with SOLIDWORKS 2018. 

Previously this could only be done with SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Hardware. This provides an easier way to add custom Hole Wizard sizes within the Excel interface.

The Hole Wizard/Toolbox Configuration tool is found under Tools > Options > System Options tab > Hole Wizard/Toolbox. Select the ‘Configure’ button. The tab “1 – Hole Wizard” defines available Hole Wizard hole sizes.

SOLIDWORKS 2018 Import and Export Hole Wizard Data

An Excel file can be exported first to obtain the proper setup and existing sizes. This Excel file has 3 tabs at the bottom, corresponding to the Standard Properties of each Hole Wizard type:
Sizes
Thread Data (except for Straight Holes)
Screw Clearances (except for Tapped Holes)

Once you have customized the exported Excel file, save as a separate filename (so you have a copy of the original Excel setup) and then use Import Hole Data Tables.

SOLIDWORKS 2018 Hole Wizard Export – Sizes

SOLIDWORKS 2018 Hole Wizard Export – Thread Data

SOLIDWORKS 2018 Hole Wizard Export – Screw Clearances

For Thread Data, be sure to have a matching “full-size” to the “size” in the Sizes tab.




By Scott Durksen

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Hole Wizard Database File is not the Expected Version

The Problem:

A question we often get on the support line is in regards to this error message:

SolidWorks Hole Wizard Database File Error Message

It reads: “Error: The database file ‘C:\SolidWorks Data\lang\english\swbrowser.mdb’ is not the expected version (16.02)”
The file path and the number shown may vary.

The Cause:

Basically what is happening is that you have multiple versions of SolidWorks installed on your computer and SolidWorks is getting confused. It is also possible that you had an earlier version of SolidWorks installed on your computer and it did not completely uninstall. Having multiple versions of SolidWorks installed is a supported practice, but there are some things to keep in mind. I refer you to this blog article about installing multiple versions of SolidWorks, but at this point, you’ve probably already installed SolidWorks and don’t have time to completely uninstall all versions of SolidWorks and just want the hole wizard to work.
Luckily, it is an easy fix.

The Solution:

Accessing the Hole Wizard Settings

• You need only go to Tools > Options, then under the System Options tab, select Hole Wizard/Toolbox from the list on the left. You will see the error message again, but don’t worry – this should be the last time you see it.
• Click on the … button to browse to the correct path. If you’ve named your folders correctly for multiple installs as described in the aforementioned blog article, this will be easy to figure out. If not, you will need to figure out which SolidWorks Data folder matches the version of SolidWorks you are using. There will likely be multiple folders, called “SolidWorks Data (2)”, “SolidWorks Data (3)” and so on.
• Regardless of what the folders are called, you need only pick the correct folder and click OK. If you guess wrong, you will see the error message again and you can simply try again.
• If you try all the folders and none of them work, you would be well advised to contact your VAR for further technical assistance.

Article by Jim Peltier

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SOLIDWORKS 2018 Hole Wizard Update

Much like when SOLIDWORKS made your first sketch dimension auto scale your whole part back in 2014, with the release of SOLIDWORKS 2018, they have added another feature that users have asked for which makes modeling your designs easier even if it seems like a minor update at first glance.

If you change your mind on the choice of hole in the SOLIDWORKS 2018 Hole Wizard tool, you no longer need to remember and re-input your hole specifications!

Whether it is a design change late in your design process, or a change when you are first defining the part, it will be made easier by not needing to re-define your hole wizard settings every time a change is made.
This feature is configurable, so if the previous method of each hole type having a default setting is preferred, the setting can be changed in the system options under ‘hole wizard / tool box’ settings.

Updated required to counter bored holes in slats

Lets see it in action

To take a quick look at the change to the Hole Wizard, we will use this shelf which currently has a counter bored hole to receive a pan head machine screw for mounting the slats. A design review has revealed that consumers MUCH prefer a counter sunk flat head screw on their shelf slats, and so you have been tasked with switching the configuration to use a counter sunk fastener.While this is an over simplification, it would still require modifying the hole definition, and when changed to a counter sunk style, the current hole settings would previously be lost.
With SOLIDWORKS 2018, the settings used for the counter bored hole will be maintained when switched to a counter sunk hole.

SOLIDWORKS 2018 retains hole specifications when selecting a new hole type!

Updated counter sunk holes in slats

This feature is configurable, so if the previous method of each hole type having a default setting is preferred, the setting can be changed in the system options under ‘hole wizard / tool box’ settings.


Article by Bryan Sprange, CSWE

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