Problem

Finding a specific command or tool in SOLIDWORKS by navigating the command manager, toolbars, and drop-down menus can be a challenge. This can be particularly difficult after resetting your options. This article goes over how to use the Search Bar to search for Commands.

Solution

The SOLIDWORKS search bar can be configured to search for commands. The searched command can be launched, located, or added to the user's interface, all from the search bar.

Follow the steps below to configure the search bar and explore its capabilities:

1. Locate the SOLIDWORKS Search Bar in the upper right-hand corner of the SOLIDWORKS Application

   

2. Determine what the search bar is set to search for by default. In this case, it is set to search SOLIDWORKS Help

   

3. Click the down arrow to the right of the search bar

   

4. Select "Commands" from the drop-down menu that appears 

   

5. Check that the search bar is now set to search Commands

   

6. Type a command in the search bar such as "surface". A search result list will populate below. Any greyed-out results cannot be selected, as SOLIDWORKS is unable to perform them when the model is in this state.

   

7. Click on one of the available commands to launch it

8. Clicking on the eye icon to the right of the command will allow SOLIDWORKS to take control of the mouse and show where the command is located in the command manager, toolbar, or drop-down menus. This feature works best when releasing the mouse after clicking the eye icon.

   

9. Adding a command to an area of the interface that is more accessible can be done from the search result list. Simply click and drag the command from the search bar results into a command manager or toolbar.
10. While dragging, the cursor will have the icon of the command that is being dragged, as well as a green "+" or red "X" indicating whether the command can be added in the location of the cursor.

11. Quickly access all of the features above by pressing the "S" key on the keyboard while in the SOLIDWORKS application. This will open a pop-up toolbar with the command search function.

    

For additional support, existing customers can submit a ticket or new customers can contact Hawk Ridge Systems.