Use the Shift Key to Collapse/Expand all Descendant Components in SOLIDWORKS Treehouse

SOLIDWORKS Treehouse is a standalone application that graphically shows the assembly tree using tiles.  Open Treehouse through Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS Tools > SOLIDWORKS Treehouse.

Treehouse can be used at the start of your design:

• By dragging the Templates tiles onto the screen to setup up your assembly structure.
• You can also drag existing components in from Windows Explorer.

SOLIDWORKS Treehouse Assembly Structure of Existing Assembly

However if you’ve already created your assembly, you can click on “Existing File” to open Windows Explorer and then just drag in your assembly file.  This will generate an assembly tree view of your model.  You can hover over a tile to see the full filename. You can also double-click on a tile to view its File Properties as shown in the screenshot below:

Double-click on a Tile to see File Properties

However for larger assemblies, the full tree can be very large and complex.  If you want to collapse any assembly (or subassembly) to only show its top level components, you can hold Shift and click the “-” symbol directly underneath the applicable assembly.  This will initially collapse everything to a “+” symbol.  But if you click the “+” symbol (without holding Shift) it will expand to only show the top level.

Hold SHIFT and click the “-” symbol under and assembly to collapse all subassemblies

Fully Collapsed Assembly

Click the “+” symbol (without holding SHIFT) to expand just the top level

To return the assembly to its full expanded tree structure (including all subassemblies), collapse the assembly again and hold SHIFT and click the “+”.

Hold SHIFT and click the “+” symbol to expand all subcomponents