Installation
- SOLIDWORKS and SW PDM System Requirements
- Preparing for Installation
- How to Download SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager (.EXE)
- How to Request a Manual Download for SOLIDWORKS
- How To Order A SOLIDWORKS Media Kit
- Installing – A Complete Overview to Managing a CAD Environment
- SOLIDWORKS Individual Installation
- How to Modify Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- How to Repair Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- SOLIDWORKS Activation Wizard: How to Transfer SOLIDWORKS License
- Performing a Clean Uninstall
- How to Quickly Update SOLIDWORKS to a Newer Service Pack
- Install the 3DEXPERIENCE Add-in for SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Network Licensing
- How to Upgrade SolidNetWork License Manager
- Moving from SOLIDWORKS Standalone to Network Licenses
- Adding License to an Existing SolidNetwork License Manager
- Use Options File to Reserve Licenses for Specific Users
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Order Guide
- How to Reactivate SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses
- How to Move the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager to a New Server
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetwork License Manager Overview
- How to Install the SolidNetwork License Manager
SOLIDWORKS Portal
SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Hardware Guide – 2021 Update
- SOLIDWORKS Keyboard Shortcuts
- SOLIDWORKS Copy Settings Wizard
- Accessing Xpress Tools
- How To Tell Who Has a SOLIDWORKS File Open
- How to Use SOLIDWORKS Pack and Go
- SOLIDWORKS Administration Overview
- Rebuild Types and How They Work
- How to Store SOLIDWORKS Templates on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
- How to Adjust Annotation Formatting and Spacing
- Understanding SOLIDWORKS Settings and Templates
- How to create SOLIDWORKS Part, Assembly, and Drawing Templates
PDM
- PDM How to Work in Off-line Mode
- Enhancement Requests for PDM Users
- How to Use PDM Move Tree
- How to Use PDM Copy Tree
- PDM - What are Private State Files?
- PDM Search Operators
- How to Set PDM to Details View in Windows File Explorer
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Search Results – Which Configuration’s Variables are Displayed?
- PDM Automatic Login Options
- PDM Administrators: Roles and Responsibilities
- PDM License Type Matrix
- PDM Server Recommendations
- PDM Backup Procedures
- How to Reset Your SOLIDWORKS PDM Admin Password
- How to Control Get Version Commands
- Adding a PDM Vault View with a Windows Azure Active Directory Account
- PDM Major Minor Revisions
- How to Set Revision Manually in PDM
- How to Set Up Revision Tables
- PDM - What are Version Free Variables?
- PDM How to Rollback a File to a Previous Version
- PDM Setting Cache Options Automatically
- How to Change PDM Date Formatting
- How to Delete a PDM User Completely
- How to Reset Web2 Authentication in IIS
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Connectivity Test Tool
- How to Configure the SOLIDWORKS PDM Local HOSTS file to Resolve Server Name
- Show all articles ( 3 ) Collapse Articles
- Create Local Vault View
- How to Delete or Recreate a Local Vault View
- Create Local PDM Vault View Using .cvs File
- How to Change PDM Client License Type after Installation
- PDM File Version Upgrade Tool
- PDM Upgrade Checklist
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS PDM Add-ins
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM
- SOLIDWORKS PDM: Moving Server Components - Checklist
- How to Install SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
- SOLIDWORKS PDM / Manage Installation Guide (PDF)
- Install Microsoft SQL 2019 for PDM Professional
- How to Install PDM Client Software
Known Solutions
- Windows Firewall Exceptions for SOLIDWORKS Network Based Products
- Why Users Need Local Admin Rights to Install SOLIDWORKS
- How to Run SOLIDWORKS with Administrator Permissions
- Blank SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager - Resolution
- SOLIDWORKS RX - The Ultimate CAD Diagnostic Tool
- SOLIDWORKS Safe Modes
- How to Force SOLIDWORKS to Use Your Graphics Card
- How to Ensure that You are Running a SOLIDWORKS Certified Graphics Card Driver
- Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS Installation Issues
- Resolution to Common File Location Errors
- Non-Matching Internal ID
- Could not obtain a license for SOLIDWORKS CAM. Invalid (inconsistent) license key
- “The Source Folder Is Not Versioned Properly…” Error when Modifying Serial Number
- “A Newer Version of This Product is Already Installed” Error when Installing SOLIDWORKS
- "Error obtaining License (-85, 147, 0)"
- SOLIDWORKS Search Routine Order
- How to Restore Dismissed SOLIDWORKS Messages
- Viewing SOLIDWORKS Configurations in eDrawings
- How to Modify the Reference/Update Dialog Dismissal Time
- Show all articles ( 4 ) Collapse Articles
Simulation
- Simulation Meshing Guide
- How to Duplicate and Reuse Simulation Study Data
- Setting Up Default Options for SOLIDWORKS Simulation Studies
- Which Type of Elements Should I Use?
- Is SOLIDWORKS Simulation Accurate?
- Getting Started with Simulation
- The Basics of Setting Up a Study in Simulation
- Do I Need Non-linear Simulation?
How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Manually
If you upgraded SOLIDWORKS to the next major version and your Toolbox is managed on a network location which was not updated, or maybe you forgot to upgrade your local Toolbox after upgrading to a new major version, then you may see the warning ‘The Hole Wizard and Advance Hole Database is not the expected version…’ This warning indicates the database which manages Hole Wizard and Toolbox has not been versioned properly and needs to be updated to the same major version as SOLIDWORKS.

Manual Upgrade Step 1: Backup the Hole Wizard/Toolbox Folder
The first step is to ensure you create a copy of your entire Hole Wizard/Toolbox folder prior to upgrading. The default name of the Hole Wizard/Toolbox folder is ‘SOLIDWORKS data’ and is installed at C:\SOLIDWORKS Data.
- Create a copy of the entire SOLIDWORKS Data folder.
Manual Upgrade Step 2: Launch the Upgrade Utility
The next step is to update the actual database. SOLIDWORKS installations include an upgrade utility to perform the upgrade.
- 1. Browse to the default installation location C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\Toolbox\data utilities
- 2. Right-click UpdateBrowserDatabase.exe
- 3. Select Run as Administrator.

Manual Upgrade Step 3: Upgrade the Database
In the newly opened dialog, for the Database to Update, ensure the location is set to the correct swbroswer.sldedb (the default location is C:\SOLIDWORKS Data\lang\\swbrowser.sldedb).
Don’t be confused by the database version numbers. In the example image below:
- Database Version: 22 = version 2019 (the current version)
- Update Version: 23 = version 2020 (the new version)

Click the Update button to update the database. This process may take a few seconds or a few minutes depending on the size and version of your Toolbox.
Once the process is complete, an UpdateBrowserDataErrors.txt file is created in C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\Toolbox\data utilities. Review the text file for any errors.
Step 4: Upgrade the Toolbox Content
This next utility will upgrade the engineering standards used by Hole Wizard/Toolbox to their latest versions.
- 1. Browse to the default installation location C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS
- 2. Right-click sldtoolboxupdater.exe
- 3. Select Run as Administrator.

Step 5: Verify the Hole Wizard/Toolbox File Path in SOLIDWORKS
Once complete, verify your Hole Wizard/Toolbox file fie path is configured to the updated SOLIDWORKS data folder in SOLIDWORKS by selecting Tools > Options > System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox. The default location is C:\SOLIDWORKS Data.
Click here to watch a short 3-minute tech tip video of the Toolbox upgrade process.