Problem

This guide is written to address a known issue regarding the removal or addition of “Search Paths” in SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS Explorer. This does not apply to newer versions of SOLIDWORKS that use SOLIDWORKS File Utilities. Below is an image demonstrating a typical “Search Path” layout.

Search Paths in SOLIDWORKS System Options use locations designated by the Windows “Indexing Options”. Search Paths are used mainly in SOLIDWORKS Explorer as the primary file location that Explorer looks in. Without correct pathways, the SOLIDWORKS Explorer search feature will not find the desired files. 

Solution 1: Add Search Paths

To add pathways to the search in SOLIDWORKS Explorer, follow the steps below: 

1. Navigate to Options and select the Search tab shown in the image below

2. Click Add Folder, navigate to the desired Search Pathway, and select OK.
3. Repeat Step 2 until all desired Search Pathways have been added. 
4. Once the pathways have been added, click Apply and then OK to leave the Options window. If some pathways were not added, continue with the steps below to use Windows Options to add them.
5. Navigate to the Windows Start Menu and search "Indexing Options" 
6. Once the Indexing Options window appears, select Modify

7. You will then be presented with a list of drives and folders on your computer. To add a pathway, navigate to the desired folder and select OK after checking the checkbox next to the folder as shown in the image below.

   

Once the desired files have been selected, they should be added to both the SOLIDWORKS “Search Paths” as well as the SOLIDWORKS Explorer “Search Folders”.

Solution 2: Remove Search Paths

To remove a pathway, follow the steps below: 

1. Navigate back to the Windows Indexing Options as shown above and select Modify
2. Select the folder that matches the search pathways in SOLIDWORKS or SOLIDWORKS Explorer under Summary of selected locations 
3. After selecting the desired folder to remove, the Change selected locations will automatically display the location of the folder selected. Uncheck the folder to be removed as shown in the image below.

After unchecking the folder to be removed, the pathway will be removed from both SOLIDWORKS Explorer and SOLIDWORKS in terms of search pathways.

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