Store your Custom SOLIDWORKS Templates in a Safe Location

You’ve spent time creating your Custom SOLIDWORKS Templates just the way you like them.  The question is where did you save them?  Can you easily find them if you ever need to change computers or share them with a coworker?

Finding the default location

With a default installation of SOLIDWORKS, there are standard templates that are included.  These are located in data folders added with the installation.  If you go to Tools > Options > System Options tab > File Locations, there is a drop down menu to choose the type of template and its file path.

Document Templates

Instead of saving your Custom SOLIDWORKS Templates to the same default file locations (scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the defaults), consider creating a “SOLIDWORKS Templates” folder in My Documents or another safe and separate location.  In a shared environment you may consider putting these on a network drive.  Within this folder, create sub-folders for each type of template to keep things clean and organized.

Template Folders

Specifying Custom SOLIDWORKS Templates locations

Then return to the SOLIDWORKS File Location options and change to these custom folders.  If you no longer use the standard templates, remove these paths in the options to avoid confusion.

Update file locations

Default Template File Locations:

Document Templates:

• C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 20XX\templates\
• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\Tutorial

Bend Table Templates:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english

BOM Templates:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english

Color Swatches:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\colorswatches

Costing Templates:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\Costing templates

Design Library

• C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 20XX\design library

Hole Table Templates:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english

Punch Table Templates:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english

Revision Table Templates:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english

Sheet Formats:

• C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 20XX\lang\english\sheetformat

Sheet Metal Bend Tables:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\Sheetmetal Bend Tables

Sheet Metal Gauge Tables:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\sheet metal gauge tables

Sustainability Report Template Folder:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english

Title Block Table Templates:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english

Weld Table Templates:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english

Weldment Cut List Templates:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english

Weldment Profiles:

• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\weldment profiles
• C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\data\weldment profiles (for SW2022 and up)