Using the Modify Configurations Table in SOLIDWORKS [VIDEO]

 

For many users, both new and more experienced, working with files with multiple Configurations can get very complicated and confusing, especially if several different variables are being controlled in the various configurations.  To help manage this, one thing I recommend to all my students starting out with configurations and to anyone who contacts us for help at our support desk, is to ALWAYS use the Modify Configurations table ANYTIME they are working with configurations.  There are other ways to work with configurations, such as design tables or manually adjusting each value, but the Modify Configurations table is often the perfect balance of speed and control for working with either simple or highly complex sets of configurations.  The benefit of using a table is that you are able to see all of your configurations laid out together with their individual settings and/or values.  This makes troubleshooting and error checking very easy.

To start a Modify Configurations table, right-click on any feature, dimension, mate or component and select the “Configure Feature”, “Configure Dimension” or “Configure Component” command.

Different Configure Commands

 

Once the table is launched new features, mates or components can be added to the table by double clicking on them in the FeatureManager Design Tree area.  New dimensions can be added by showing them in the graphic preview area and then double clicking on them to add them to the table.  New configurations can be created directly in the table and their individual settings adjusted then applied to the SOLIDWORKS model.

Modify Configurations Dialog

 

One important thing to remember though about the Modify Configurations table is that it is simply a view, a way to see all of the configuration data in one place.  If you close the dialog without saving the table view, it’s gone, and you will need to recreate that view of the data again.  To avoid this, once you have added all of the columns in the table (even if you haven’t completed creating all of the configurations yet, or haven’t made all of the adjustments for each configuration) save the table view right away.  You will need to give the table view a name then click the “Save Table View” button.  This will add the table to a special folder on the Configuration Manager tab.

Save Table View

 

Double-clicking the table in that folder will bring up the column set up in the Modify Configurations table again.

Access the Saved Table

 

Here is a video demonstration of modifying configurations with a Table: