Solidworks News

SOLIDWORKS 2026: 25 Changes That Are Actually Worth Knowing

SOLIDWORKS 2026 is one of the more substantial releases in recent years. The emphasis has shifted from isolated command improvements toward automation of complete engineering workflows: AI helps create drawings and place fasteners, large assemblies can be loaded more selectively, and PDM, Simulation, Electrical, and collaboration tools all received meaningful updates.

The official SOLIDWORKS 2026 documentation describes improvements across the entire product-development workflow - from parts, assemblies, and drawings to PDM, Simulation, Electrical, ECAD-MCAD collaboration, and browser-based design tools.

AI and Automation

Automatic Drawing Creation - Auto-Generate Drawing can create sheets and views and propose dimensions automatically.
Automatic Hole Recognition - SOLIDWORKS can identify holes in both native and imported geometry.
Intelligent Hole Callouts - recognized hole geometry can be used to assist with drawing callouts.
AI Fastener Recognition - SOLIDWORKS can recognize components that resemble bolts, nuts, and washers.
Automatic Mate Creation for fasteners - recognized fasteners can be positioned automatically, including some non-Toolbox components.

Large Assemblies

Selective Loading - load only the required portion of a large design structure.
Relationship Visualization - identify a working context based on component relationships.
Advanced Filters - use filters to determine which part of a design structure is needed for the current task.
Smarter Rebuild Recognition - reduce unnecessary rebuilds when referenced-component changes are cosmetic only.
Disable Auto-Resolve for Lightweight Components - gain more control over when a lightweight component becomes fully resolved.

Drawings and MBD

Automatic Dimension Line Breaks - automatically break intersecting dimension lines around text and annotations.
Family Tables on drawings - display configuration information and custom properties directly on the drawing.
Magnetic Lines for Notes and Weld Symbols - more flexible alignment of drawing annotations.
Custom Text in GTOL - more freedom when defining geometric tolerance values.
DimXpert dimensions in Library Features - reuse MBD information together with library features.

Workflow and Interface

Improved Command Search - users can add their own keywords to make commands easier to find.
Simplified User Interface - the interface puts more emphasis on commonly used tools.
Unplanned Offline Mode - continue working after losing the 3DEXPERIENCE connection without having to close the active SOLIDWORKS session.

Collaboration and Data Management

Drawing Stamping with maturity information - include more lifecycle information in drawing stamps.
Collaboration closer to the CAD environment - easier access to 3DDrive, 3DSwym, and the User Forum.
Support for Iterations - update selected files to the latest version available on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Import, Export, and Visualization

Better handling of large multi-body imports - selection filters make complex imported parts easier to manage.
Export as Package from the Share menu - simplify creation of data packages for external exchange.
Exclude Drawings from Export Package - control whether drawings are included in exported packages.
SOLIDWORKS Visualize improvements - better tessellation control, CPU rendering with Denoiser, and glTF/USDZ import with PBR material support.

Why SOLIDWORKS 2026 Feels Different

The biggest change is not one individual command but the direction of the product. AI is moving from demonstration features into everyday CAD operations such as drawing creation, hole recognition, and fastener placement.

At the same time, Dassault Systemes continues to address a long-standing SOLIDWORKS challenge: performance with large assemblies. Selective Loading, better Lightweight control, and reduced unnecessary rebuilds all target that problem.

The 2026 Cycle Did Not Stop at GA

The original SOLIDWORKS 2026 GA release was only the beginning. During 2026, FD01, FD02, and FD03 added more AI capabilities, Background Drawing Updates, Assembly Performance Evaluator, Design Change Impact, Fastener Pattern Assistant, and other features.

SOLIDWORKS now delivers functional enhancements several times during the year, so asking only what changed between SOLIDWORKS 2025 and SOLIDWORKS 2026 SP0 no longer tells the whole story.

Conclusion

The three most important themes in SOLIDWORKS 2026 are AI automation, large-assembly performance, and tighter integration between CAD, data management, and collaboration.

For day-to-day designers, Automatic Drawing Creation, Fastener Recognition, and the large-assembly improvements are among the most immediately useful changes.

Primary Sources

How to quickly create a SOLIDWORKS Sketch Normal to Curve

Here is a quick method to create SOLIDWORKS Sketch Normal to Curve without having to create a plane first, and then sketch on that plane.

First, select the curve or edge, as shown in the sheet metal example below, then click Sketch from either the Insert menu or the Sketch CommandManager.

This will start a sketch on a newly created plane that is normal to the curve, located at the nearest endpoint on the curve.

Upon exiting the sketch, you will notice that a new plane has been created and is located in the FeatureManager design tree.

Article by Rod Mackay

How import and export Hole Wizard data with Excel files in the Configuration tool with SOLIDWORKS.

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

Do one of the following:

In SOLIDWORKS, click Tools > Options > System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox > Configure.
From the Windows Start menu, click All Programs > SOLIDWORKS 2018 > SOLIDWORKS Tools > Toolbox Settings 2018> Configure.

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.

SW-Errors-SOLIDWORKS-2018 Hole-Wizard-Export

SOLIDWORKS 2018 Hole Wizard Export – Sizes

SW-Errors-Hole-Wizard-Export–Thread Data

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

The ‘Toolbox is currently in use’ issue can occur if users are accessing Toolbox during a SOLIDWORKS installation, but it can also be the result of a file that normally gets deleted, not being deleted.

The file is called SWBrowser.ldb and by default resides in the lang\english sub-folder of your SolidWorks Data folder.

Toolbox SWBrowser.ldb Location

Deleting the file SWBrowser.ldb will allow the installation to proceed.

Article by Joe Medeiros

Have you ever wondered how SOLIDWORKS knows which part belongs to Toolbox and which one does not?

Or did you ever want to take a Toolbox part and modify it to create a custom part?
When you save a SOLIDWORKS Toolbox part as a copy, it will still have a Toolbox flag icon? Indicating it’s still going to be treated as a Toolbox file in file references. You can remove this flag very easily to have the part be treated as a normal SOLIDWORKS part by running a utility that is installed with SOLIDWORKS.

Important: only set this on Toolbox parts that you have created copies of, and not on the out of the box Toolbox parts, as this can severely affect the way Toolbox files are managed in the software.

Browse into the SOLIDWORKS installation folder which is usually located at:
C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS
Then, inside the Toolbox\Data Utilities folder you’ll see a program called “sldsetdocprop.exe“.

Toolbox Data Utilities Location

Run that program and you’ll be able to add any files that have a Toolbox flag, simply:
Add the files,
Set the “Property State” to “No“,
And click “Update Status”.

Set Document Property

This will remove the Toolbox flag and the part will now behave like a normal SOLIDWORKS part.

Article by Saeed Mojarad

A Toolbox custom property can be linked to SolidWorks materials library using the list option.

The material selected in the Toolbox configurator gets applied to the Toolbox part and the custom property can be displayed in the BOM. Only one Toolbox property can be linked to SolidWorks materials library.

Solidworks material in a Toolbox part

Toolbox material in BOM

Custom properties are added to Toolbox parts using Toolbox Settings. This dialog is accessed from Tools > Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox > Configure or from the Start menu (eg. Start > SolidWorks 2015 > SolidWorks Tools > Toolbox Settings 2015).
Go to Toolbox Settings > Customize Hardware (step 2) and select the standard, category or type that require new property
Select the icon for ‘Add new Custom Property’ to bring up the Custom Property Definition dialog
Enter the property name (eg. Material)
Select the ‘List’ button and note that the option ‘Link to SW material’ appears
Select the ‘List’ option and click ‘Select’ to bring up the list of SolidWorks materials available
Select SolidWorks material and enter the name for BOM display
Repeat the previous step until the list of Toolbox materials is complete
Confirm OK and save Toolbox changes

Linking Toolbox property to SOLIDWORKS materials

Linking Toolbox property to SOLIDWORKS materials
Any materials added to the list will appear in the Toolbox configurator when the part is created or edited.

Toolbox property linked to SOLIDWORKS materials

Toolbox property linked to SOLIDWORKS materials.

Article by Sanja Srzic

Have a macro that you’d like to run on all models in a directory while out of the office?

Create Custom Task

Enter the Task Scheduler. Located in the SolidWorks Tools directory in your Start Menu, this program allows you to schedule batch operation tasks like updating the versions of your files, converting your models to DXF, updating custom properties, and so on. Those with SolidWorks Professional or Premium have the “Run Custom Task” option, which allows you to schedule the execution of a macro as well as specify its parameters.

As an example, let’s say that each night at 12:00 AM you want to open up every part in a directory and change the display setting to “shaded without edges”. Here are the steps you would follow:

1. Write a macro that opens up every part in a specified directory and changes the display the setting. In the code below you can see that the current specified directory is “C:\custom_task\”.

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Const strFolderPath As String = "C:\custom_task\"
Dim strFileName As String
Sub main()
Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
strFileName = Dir(strFolderPath & "*.SLDPRT")
While strFileName <> ""
Set swModel = swApp.OpenDoc6(strFolderPath & strFileName, _
swDocPART, 1, Empty, Empty, Empty)
swModel.ViewDisplayShaded
swModel.Save3 1, Empty, Empty
swApp.QuitDoc swModel.GetTitle
strFileName = Dir
Wend
swApp.ExitApp
End Sub

2. Copy the code from the VB editor to Notepad and change the strFolderPath value to $$$FOLDER_PATH$$$. Your variable declaration for strFolderPath should now look like this:

Const strFolderPath As String = $$$FOLDER_PATH$$$

3. Save the text file as a .swb file.
4. Open Task Scheduler
5. Choose Run Custom Task
6. Click the Browse button next to Macro File Path and locate the .swb you just created
7. In the task parameters section, you should now see a parameter called FOLDER_PATH. Click in the Parameter String cell on the right and enter the directory that contains the files you want to convert to shaded without edges
8. After specifying the running mode, start time, and start date, click Finish and your task should be added to the queue. If you left the start time and date at their initial values then the task should start running immediately.

Example macro

Some additional comments and notes about using the Task Scheduler with macros:

You can also run regular .swp files using the Task Scheduler. With these files, however, you cannot specify parameters. The macro will simply run “as is”. To be able to specify parameters you have to use an .swb file.
Optionally, you can simply change the variables in the .swp file to $$$$$$, save the .swp file, and then rename the extension to .swp.
You can control string an numeric parameters using the Task Scheduler. Use $$$$$$ for string values and ###### for numeric values.
If you do not use ISldWorks::ExitApp at the end of your macro, the SolidWorks application will not close after the task is finished running. Consequently, the task will not be marked as Complete within the Task Scheduler.
You do not need to have the Task Scheduler open for the scheduled task to run.
Any dialog boxes created by macros run by the Task Scheduler will automatically be closed. This is done to prevent dialog boxes from stalling the execution of the tasks.

Article by Keith

How do you run your macros right now?

Tools–>Macro–>Run? By clicking Run on the macro toolbar? If macros are even a small part of your workflow, you can do much better. In this post, I want to increase your versatility by showing you four ways you can run a macro without having to use the Run button.

1. Using custom toolbar and keyboard shotcuts

Many of you may know of this option already, but it is still worth mentioning. You can create custom toolbar shortcuts for any macro by going to Tools–>Customize, Commands tab, choosing the Macro category from the list on the left, and then dragging the New Macro Button icon onto a toolbar of your choose.

Add Macro Button

As soon as you release the mouse button, you should get a dialog prompting you for the macro location (which you can browse for), the button tooltip, and the method. Specifying the correct method is very important since this is the first method that will be run when the macro is executed.

Customize Macro Button

If you want to take it step further, while you’re still in the Customize dialog box, go to the Keyboard tab, search for your new macro button, and add a keyboard shortcut.

2. When Solidworks starts

This option is invaluable for event-based macros that run code when a certain event fires, because it is ensures that you never forget to turn on the macro when SolidWorks starts. (To see some great examples of event-based macros, check out our Macro Library and look under the Notifications section.) After you create a shortcut directly from your executable, go into the shortcut properties and modify the target using the following syntax:

“<path to SolidWorks executable>” /m “<path to macro>”
As an example, if your SolidWorks executable is in the default file location on Windows 7 x64 and your macro, called “macro.swp”, is on C:\, your target would look like this:

“C:\Program Files\SolidWorks 2012\SolidWorks\” /m “C:\macro.swp”

Solidworks Shortcut property

3. From another macro

Yes, it is possible to “chain” macros to together using ISldWorks::RunMacro2. In this method you’ll find arguments that allow you to specify the path to the macro you wish to run and also the initial method that you want to run. This is a great option when you want to keep tasks separate in your macro workflow or quickly swap out tasks. For example, your main macro might have a form that allows a user to specify a macro to run before or after your main task is accomplished.
To see a very simple example of ISldWorks::RunMacro2, check out “Run a macro from another macro” in the Macro Library.

4. From the Design Binder

Many SolidWorks users do not know what the Design Binder is, let alone that you can run macros from it. The Design Binder is essentially a backpack for your SolidWorks model that allows you to attach relevant documents. This could include a word document, a spreadsheet, and, yes, even a macro. Consequently if you have written a macro specific to a document and need to make sure that the two stay together, attaching it to the Design Binder is a great option. Then if you write another macro that needs to run the macro attached to the Design Binder, you simply call ISldWorks::RunAttachedMacro. Much like ISldWorks::RunMacro2, you need to specify the sub procedure you want to run initially.

Design Binder

Do you know of any other useful ways to run a macro? Please share below.

5. From the Task Scheduler

Have a macro that you’d like to run on all models in a directory while out of the office? Enter the Task Scheduler. Located in the SolidWorks Tools directory in your Start Menu, this program allows you to schedule batch operation tasks like updating the versions of your files, converting your models to DXF, updating custom properties, and so on. Those with SolidWorks Professional or Premium have the “Run Custom Task” option, which allows you to schedule the execution of a macro as well as specify its parameters. Learn more about using macros with the Task Scheduler here.

6. From a macro Feature

Macro features are custom SolidWorks features defined by the SolidWorks API. They reside in the feature-tree and can be added, edited, and deleted like any other feature. The bulk of the code defining a macro feature gets run when a document rebuilds, so during this time you can have the macro perform any task that doesn’t cause a rebuild. You can learn more about macro features here. Note, however, that macro features are ideally used for actually modifying geometry. If you simply want to run some code every rebuild, I’d encourage you to use equation-triggered macros instead, which are described in the next section.

Macro Feature

7. From an equation

Few know that you can insert VBA code in an equation so that it gets run every time the equation is recalculated (which is every rebuild). Combine this trick with ISldWorks::RunAttachedMacro and ISldWorks::RunMacro2, which I described earlier in this post, and you have a pretty nifty technique for embedding and running macros while a part or assembly is open. Plus, the macro can travel with the document if you desire. These types of macros, which I call equation-triggered macros, are explained in great detail here. ETMs are usually the most effective way to run a macro without involving the end user.

Article by Keith

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

Sometimes when you launch SOLIDWORKS and try to load SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Library or Utilities add-in, SOLIDWORKS delivers a message stating “You appear to have experienced problems the last time you loaded the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox add-in”.

SOLIDWORKS Message

If you pick yes, continue to load Toolbox, SOLIDWORKS stops responding?!

However, if you pick No, disabling Toolbox, everything seems to work fine.

This issue is only experienced in SOLIDWORKS 2017.

This issue has been fixed in SOLIDWORKS 2017 SP4 which is scheduled to be released for the week of July 24th, 2017.

To avoid the issue in previous service packs of SOLIDWORKS 2017 you should delete the ‘tb_default.sldedb’ from ‘<C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2017\Toolbox\data’.

Then re-launch SOLIDWORKS, you should have no issues adding the Toolbox Library or Utilities add-in.

Article by Vipanjot Kaur - CSWP

Have you ever seen these messages before launching SOLIDWORKS? There is no SolidWorks database. Full functionality is not available.

SolidWorks Database is missing error message

There is no error message in the SolidWorks database Or what about the SOLIDWORKS error message? Failed to initialize library of tools

Failed to initialize Error Message

Not to worry! This means that the Hole Wizard / Toolbox function could not find the important database file SWBrowser.mdb.

Solving the problem of the lack of a SOLIDWORKS database

The fix is simple. Open the SOLIDWORKS settings in the Tools> Options menu and select the Hole Wizard / Toolbar on the System Settings tab.

SolidWorks Toolbox options

The path specified in the "Hole Wizard and Tools" folder must contain the \ lang \ english folder, and the English folder must have the SWBrowser.mdb file. When you install SolidWorks by default, you must set the parameters that point to C: \ SolidWorks Data, and the MDB file will be located in the C: \ SolidWorks Data \ lang \ english \ SWBrowser.mdb folder.
Therefore, if you have error messages, go to the folder specified in the toolbar options, and see if there is a file \ lang \ english \ SWBrowser.mdb. And make sure that you have full permissions to get there! If necessary, change the path to the Toolbox above by clicking the "..." button.

If you can not find the SWBrowser.mdb file or if you still have problems, try repairing SOLIDWORKS

Article by Scott Durksen, CSWE