First of all it is necessary to specify the folder from which the analysis will be launched. This means that references, documents and files can only be found in this action zone. An element outside this structure will not be taken into account.


  • ''Action area'' :
    • We use the button to define the top level of search.

 


    • It is possible to make a complete backup of all SOLIDWORKS folders and files in a folder specified in the options. This makes a backup at the moment. If, at a later date, modifications are made to documents in the action zone, they will not be saved, in which case it will be necessary to make a new backup.

This backup creates a '' directoryProjectExplorer recovery'', example: .

    • If the restructuring was not carried out correctly or if the user wishes to go back, it is possible to restore the backup.

  WARNING: If any of the initial documents in the action area have been modified since the last save, they will be overwritten.


  • ''Statistics'' :
    • The structural analysis of files and documents is launched by clicking on the .

 

    • Once the analysis is complete, a report of the structure is displayed. In the example above, we can see that the folder contains :

 

      • 479 SOLIDWORKS parts
      • 74 SOLIDWORKS assemblies
      • 149 SOLIDWORKS drawings
      • 142 sub-directories


A gauge indicates the volume of files in the action area. The higher the slider (towards the red) the longer the analysis time.

If we answer "No"You remain on the home window.

ProjectExplorer cannot process a folder that contains virtual sub-assemblies that themselves contain non-virtual components, if the folder being analyzed contains such documents, then this massage will appear:


 


The treatment with ProjectEplorer will be aborted.

If the analyzed file does not contain this type of documents, then the following message appears, just answer "Yes" to continue:


    

-->


The backup is launched even if a backup was previously made with the .

The tool checks for the presence of the backup folder defined in the options and proposes to redo the backup, this avoids using ProjectExplorer on a folder that has not been backed up at the time:


 


If the backup does not need to be performed again, it is possible to cancel the backup action by clicking No.

The following message appears:


 


This message warns that the following operations are not supported by ProjectExplorer:

  • Copy and paste
  • Copy and paste by overwriting files in another directory
  • Cut and Paste by overwriting files in another directory

It is possible to deactivate this message for the next uses of ProjectExplorer by checking the option