How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox to a Newer Version

After upgrading SOLIDWORKS to a newer major release, you may see a warning that the Hole Wizard and Advance Hole database is not the expected version.  This indicates that the Hole Wizard/Toolbox database has not been properly updated to the same version. You will need to upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox to the newer version.

SOLIDWORKS Hole Wizard/Toolbox Warning

If your database is stored locally (default is C:\SOLIDWORKS Data) then an upgrade of SOLIDWORKS will automatically perform the update.  Typically this behaviour is seen with a shared Toolbox on a network drive.

NOTE: The warning will also be seen with a Toolbox stored in SOLIDWORKS PDM, but this requires additional steps of searching for others with files checked out and then checking out the entire Toolbox.

Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Option 1: Manual Process

SOLIDWORKS Toolbox can be updated using a manual process, however there is a very specific workflow to take and steps can be missed that will cause it to fail.  Another disadvantage of the manual upgrade is that the ToolboxVersion.dat file within the main directory will not be refreshed.  If you open this .DAT file in Notepad, it will indicate the version and service pack.  However the manual update process does not change this .DAT file so it no longer represents the actual version of the Toolbox folder (though this will not affect its functionality).

Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Option 2: Run a SOLIDWORKS Installation Repair

The most robust and encompassing update is to run a Repair of the newer SOLIDWORKS installation while pointing its options to the older Toolbox.  This will automatically upgrade the database and all files, including the ToolboxVersion.dat.

1. Make a copy of the entire Toolbox folder to the local machine
2. Open SOLIDWORKS and go to Tools > Options > System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox
3. Change the path to the copied local Toolbox folder
4. The same warning will be given that its the unexpected version.  Browse to the same local path a second time and it should stick to show the path*
5. After verifying the options are correctly pointing the local folder, close SOLIDWORKS and run a Repair of the installation
6. Open SOLIDWORKS and test with the updated local Toolbox
7. Copy the upgraded Toolbox back to the server.  Don’t overwrite the older Toolbox folder.  Rename it so you still have a backup of your Toolbox in the older version.
8. Point the SOLIDWORKS options to the newer Toolbox folder on the server

*If you have difficulties pointing the options to the local Toolbox in Step 4, you can manually change the path in the Windows Registry under:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Solidworks\SOLIDWORKS 20YY\General\Toolbox Data Location

NOTE: Both of the methods above can be performed directly over a network path if Full Control permissions are given to the Toolbox folder.  However it would be recommended to copy the Toolbox locally to perform the upgrade and then copy back to the server location.  This would avoid problems caused by other users accessing the Toolbox during the upgrade and potential network connection data loss.