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SolidWorks Troubleshooting Guide

  • Updated

Objective: To address common issues faced when installing the SolidWorks add-in.

Difficulty: Easy

In this article: 

  1. Troubleshooting loading and login errors related to updating your SolidWorks MSI
  2. Why does SolidWorks keep crashing after installing the add-in?
  3. How do I find my log file, and what is it used for? 
  4. What steps should I follow to remove the SolidWorks plugin from PDM during the transition to the new application?

This article addresses frequently asked questions about installing and managing the Duro add-in for SolidWorks. While this guide covers many common issues, it does not include every possible problem. If you encounter further difficulties after following these steps, please open a support ticket for assistance from our support team.

Duro adheres to industry standards and best practices by supporting SolidWorks versions from the current year and the preceding three years. While the add-in may be compatible with other releases, we do not provide formal support for them.

Troubleshooting loading and login errors related to updating your SolidWorks MSI

Please confirm that you are running a recent and supported version of SolidWorks.

If you encounter obscure or recurring error messages during or after installing the latest version of the SolidWorks MSI within the Duro add-in, follow these steps:

  1. Uninstall the Add-in: This is the first step in resolving any issues. Uninstalling the current version of the Duro add-in resets the initial state before the add-in is installed.
  2. Delete the Installation Folder: Locate and delete the installation folder associated with the Duro add-in. This can help eliminate any corrupted or conflicting data.
  3. Reinstall the Add-in: To clear all errors, reinstall the add-in after uninstalling it and deleting the installation folder.
  4. Repair the Solidworks Installation: If none of the previous solutions resolved the issue you're experiencing, you can use the repair function in the installation settings to fix potential problems with the add-in. This step should be taken as a last resort, particularly if your API is corrupted. Please note that this repair process is performed directly in SolidWorks, not within the add-in itself.

These steps apply to the following common questions and issues:

  • Why isn’t my SolidWorks library loading properly after installing the add-in?
  • Why can’t I log in to SolidWorks after installing the add-in?
  • Why did upgrading to the latest add-in fail? 

Uninstall the Add-in

Go to your computer’s Control Panel and uninstall the Duro add-in.

Delete the Installation Folder

Delete the installation folder located at:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Duro Labs\Duro Labs SOLIDWORKS Add-In

Reinstall the Add-in

Download the latest add-in version and follow the installation instructions provided in the SolidWorks CAD Installation Guide.

Repair the Installation

Use the SolidWorks installation wizard to repair the installation:

  1. Open the Windows Control Panel and click Programs and Features.
  2. Select the SolidWorks version that you want to repair and click Change.
  3. On the “Welcome to SolidWorks Installation Manager" screen, click Repair your installation.
  4. Select the product to repair on the “Products to Repair” screen.
  5. Clear the rest of the products on the screen.
  6. Click Repair.

After completing all the steps within the SolidWorks repair, restart Windows. The SolidWorks library should respond correctly to the add-in, resolving the issue. Please refer to the SolidWorks documentation, “Repairing an Installation,” for more information.

Why does SolidWorks keep crashing after installing the add-in?

If you encounter crashes with the Duro plugin in older versions of SolidWorks (versions older than three years), follow the steps below to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Symptoms

  • Although the plugin appears in the add-in section of SolidWorks, it remains inactive despite selecting both the "active add-ins" and "startup" checkboxes. 
  • Upon re-opening the add-ins screen, only the "startup" checkbox remains selected while the plugin itself remains disabled.

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Uninstall the Duro Add-in.
  2. Install .NET Framework 4.6.1 using this link: Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.1 (Web Installer).
  3. If the .NET Framework is successfully installed, reinstall the Duro Add-in.
  4. If the .NET Framework has already been installed, or if errors persist after step 3, disable and then enable the .NET Framework by following the steps in this link: Manually fix Microsoft .NET Framework errors. Then, try reinstalling the Duro Add-in.
  5. If you still get an error (e.g., “This setup requires the .NET Framework version v4.6.1“) after step 4, use Microsoft's .NET Repair Toolkit available here. This should resolve .NET Framework issues.

Additional Steps

  • If the manual installation does not resolve the issue, collect installation logs and any relevant videos of the issue.
  • Share these logs with Duro support for further analysis and resolution.

How do I find my log file, and what is it used for? 

Log files for a Duro-SolidWorks integration are crucial for monitoring and troubleshooting the interaction between the two systems. They record all activities and data exchanges, allowing administrators to trace errors, identify performance issues, and ensure data integrity. These files help diagnose problems, confirm successful operations, and optimize processes. They also provide insights into user activities and system behaviors, supporting proactive maintenance and enhancing the integration's reliability.

To find your SolidWorks log files, please use the following path:

C:\Users\{Username}\AppData\Roaming\DuroLogFiles\logfile

What steps should I follow to remove the SolidWorks plugin from PDM during the transition to the new application?

To remove the SolidWorks plugin from your PDM environment, follow these steps:

  1. Open the SolidWorks PDM Administration Console by launching it as you did during the initial setup. 
  2. Double-click your PDM vault to open it.
  3. Sign in to your PDM Vault using your administrator username and password.
  4. Navigate to the Add-ins section under the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration folder.
  5. Right-click on Add-ins and select "Debug Add-ins" to open the list of currently registered add-ins.
  6. Find the entry for the Duro Labs SOLIDWORKS Add-In or the specific .dll file (e.g., PLM-CAD.Core.dll) that was registered during installation.
  7. Highlight the Add-in you wish to remove and click on the "Remove" or "Delete" option (depending on your version of PDM). Confirm any prompts that appear.
  8. Ensure that the Add-in has been removed from the list. If it is no longer visible, the removal was successful.
  9. Click "OK" to close the Debug Add-ins window.
  10. If this Add-in was registered on other users' PDM instances, follow the same removal process on each system.

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