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Within the Toolbox, there are four levels for each folder. Properties can be assigned in this section. We will look at the different properties we can assign for each level. The levels are as follows:

1. Standard
2. Category
3. Type
4. Component

For more information on other Toolbox topics, review this article: Comprehensive Toolbox Guide

Standard Properties for Toolbox Standards, Categories, and Types

At each of the levels, we can apply Standard Properties and Custom Properties. For the Standard, Category, and Type folder level, there are only two Standard Properties we can configure, which are General and Color.

Selecting the ‘General’ Standard Property will allow us to change the name that is displayed in the Task Pane when accessing the Toolbox from SOLIDWORKS. The 'Color' property will allow us to change the default color of all components inserted from that directory. This can be particularly useful when trying to visually organize large assemblies.

Standard Properties for Components

Once we drill down to the component level, there are several more properties that can be configured. These are the properties that should be used to dictate the hardware that is available for toolbox users. You’ll notice that as the properties are disabled, the number of possible configurations decreases. The available properties may vary depending on the component being configured. For example, “Finish” is a property not present for all bolts. For more complex components in the toolbox, such as gears, the Standard Properties will be completely different; however, the theme of the Standard properties is properties that affect geometry such as size and shape.

• General: This property changes the name that will be displayed in the task pane for the component, the file name used, and whether that Component is available in the Toolbox.
• Size: The size property will display the driving dimensions for a component except for length and thread length. You can disable certain sizes of the hardware and key in custom values for the names and sizes of those configurations. If you would like to add new size configurations, click on the plus icon in the top left corner of the properties area.

• Length: The length property allows you to specify the available lengths of a component based on its size.
• Display: Display will determine how threads are displayed in the toolbox component. Simplified removes any thread display; Cosmetic only shows a graphical representation of the threads. Schematic creates the thread geometry in the model. For better performance in large assemblies, less thread detail is highly recommended. If you are using the Schematic thread display, the size of the threads can be controlled from the Thread Data property.

Custom Properties

Properties can be applied to components within the database and can be referenced later like properties in any model to be called out in title blocks, bills of materials, or linked to notes.

These properties can be applied at any level within the database, as configuration-specific properties, or each value for a property can require a new configuration name (i.e., you can have 2 versions of a geometrically identical bolt, but they are made of different material or bought from different vendors).

Adding Custom Properties

To add a new custom property, select a standard, category, type, or component and press the Add New Custom Property button. This will bring up a dialogue box to set up the custom property.

• Property Name: This will be the name of the property applied to the selection
• Type: There are two types to pick from. Textbox: The property is a text string. You will need to assign a default value that can be changed when configurations are generated. List: This allows a list of values to be populated, which can be set in the PropertyManager when the component is added to an assembly. If you are using a list, you can define the material of the part from the value entered into the custom property
• Options: These determine where the Property will be stored and if it will generate new configurations. Add as configuration specific property: This means that the property will only be stored in the configuration on the toolbox component. If the size of the component ever changes, the property will no longer be applied. Each Value Requires a New Configuration Name: When this option is selected, the property will generate a new configuration of the component even if one of the same size and length exists. If you are using a list to generate the property, the value entered as the suffix will appear at the end of the configuration name. If the property is only a textbox, the entire text string will appear at the end of the configuration name. Show in PropertyManager: The property can be modified when the configuration is generated in the PropertyManager.
  
  In the example shown below, a Custom Property has been added to allow the user to select Material for the Toolbox component. Not only will the Property be added, but the material will be available as a drop-down when the Toolbox component is inserted into an assembly.

• Applying Properties: Once a custom Property is defined, remember to enable it for the components. They will appear for all levels and Standards. Select a Standard, Category, Type, or Component and choose to apply them as needed. You can also use the icons to the right of the values to edit or delete properties. Below is an example of properties that were set up at the Type level. Material has been disabled as a property for some of the Components in the Type.

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