ARTICLE BY BLAKE SEGARS, CSWE
SOLIDWORKS and Microsoft Windows Explorer work together in order to provide some shortcut options for SOLIDWORKS CAD users. These shortcuts can include Pack and Go, Rename, Replace, File Locations, and Move.
Sometimes through updates and other various reasons, these SOLIDWORKS File-Options will disappear and become unavailable. When this happens, there is no need to panic as there are some simple steps to follow to get it back in order!
First, we will need to ensure your SOLIDWORKS File Options are enabled. To do this, we will modify the SOLIDWORKS installation:
Control Panel > Programs and Features > Right-Click on SOLIDWORKS > Click “Change / Modify” > Select “Modify your installation” > Next > Next.
Depending on your year version installed, check the field beside the “SOLIDWORKS Explorer” or “SOLIDWORKS File Utilities”
Now we have ensured the options are selected, we can repair the SOLIDWORKS File Utilities registry locations. We will need to make some changes to the SOLIDWORKS Registry within the Registry editor:
Step 1: Open the Windows Registry
If the options are still missing, you may need to adjust the Windows Registry:
Open the Registry Editor by typing “Regedit” in the Windows Start menu and running it as an Administrator.
Step 2: Modify the Windows Registry
Navigate to the following location. Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts
Rename the following file extensions:
-
- .SLDPRT to .SLDPRT_OLD
- .SLDASM to .SLDASM_OLD
- .SLDDRW to .SLDDRW_OLD
This renaming process allows SOLIDWORKS to rewrite these extensions, restoring the missing file options.
Renaming all the file extension registries allows SOLIDWORKS to re-write the file extensions, which will allow the use of SOLIDWORKS File Options again.
Step 3: Restart/Reboot your workstation
Restart your workstation, then check and ensure your SOLIDWORKS File Options are operational and functioning correctly.
