Creating and Modifying Configurations Flashcards

When using the ConfigurationManager, what does the 'Add Configuration' option allow you to do?

Answer: Create a new named configuration in the current document

The 'Add Configuration' option in ConfigurationManager creates a new named configuration within the current part or assembly document.

Which property can be independently controlled per configuration in a SolidWorks part?

Answer: Material appearance and suppression state of features

Per configuration, you can independently control feature suppression states, dimensions, and material appearances.

In a design table, which symbol is used to suppress a feature in a specific configuration?

Answer: S

The letter 'S' entered in a design table cell suppresses the corresponding feature for that configuration row.

What happens to child configurations when you delete a parent configuration in a derived configuration hierarchy?

Answer: SolidWorks prevents deletion if child configurations exist

SolidWorks will warn and prevent deletion of a parent configuration if derived child configurations depend on it.

Which tab in the Configuration Properties dialog allows you to control the display state linked to a configuration?

Answer: Advanced Options

The Advanced Options tab in Configuration Properties lets you link a specific display state to that configuration.

When inserting a design table manually into a part, which row header must always appear in cell A2?

Answer: $CONFIGURATION NAME

Cell A2 must contain the header '$CONFIGURATION NAME' to define configuration rows in the embedded Excel design table.

What does the 'Linked' option do when set in the dimension's configuration dialog?

Answer: Forces the dimension to remain the same across all configurations

Setting a dimension to 'Linked' ensures its value is identical across all configurations and cannot vary independently.

In an assembly, what does 'Suppress' do to a component in a specific configuration?

Answer: Unloads the component from memory and excludes it from calculations

Suppressing a component in an assembly configuration unloads it from memory, excluding it from mass properties and interference checks.

Which command is used to quickly show all configurations of a part in a SolidWorks drawing using a table format?

Answer: Design Table

A Design Table can be inserted into a drawing to display all configuration parameter values in a tabular format.

When you right-click a configuration in the ConfigurationManager and choose 'Properties', which setting controls whether the configuration appears in the bill of materials?

Answer: Bill of Materials Options

The Bill of Materials Options setting in Configuration Properties controls how (or whether) the configuration appears in a BOM.

What is the purpose of the $PRP@ column header syntax in a SolidWorks design table?

Answer: It links to a custom property value for each configuration

The $PRP@ syntax in a design table allows you to set custom property values per configuration row.

If you modify a dimension while a non-default configuration is active and choose 'This Configuration', what is the result?

Answer: The change applies only to the currently active configuration

Choosing 'This Configuration' when modifying a dimension restricts the change to only the currently active configuration.

In a derived configuration, which property is always inherited from the parent by default?

Answer: All feature suppression states not explicitly overridden

Derived configurations inherit all feature suppression states from their parent unless explicitly changed in the child.

Which SolidWorks feature allows you to drive configurations using equations instead of a design table?

Answer: Global Variables and Equations

Global Variables and Equations allow dimension values to be driven mathematically, which can be scoped to specific configurations.

What is the primary advantage of using derived configurations over creating independent configurations?

Answer: Changes to the parent automatically propagate to children unless overridden

Derived configurations inherit parent settings automatically, so updating the parent cascades to children without manual edits.

When auto-creating configurations from a design table, which Excel column letter must contain the parameter headers starting from?

Answer: B

Parameter headers (such as $DESCRIPTION or dimension names) begin in column B of the design table, with column A reserved for configuration names.

Which configuration option controls whether a cut feature removes material in some configurations but adds a boss in others?

Answer: Suppression State

By controlling the suppression state per configuration, you can suppress a cut in some configurations so it effectively doesn't exist in those variants.

In the Configuration Publisher, what is the purpose of marking a parameter as a 'Group'?

Answer: It organizes parameters visually without affecting configuration logic

Groups in Configuration Publisher organize parameters visually into collapsible sections without changing how configurations are generated.

What happens when you open a file that has a design table and the design table contains a configuration name that already exists in the model?

Answer: SolidWorks updates the existing configuration with design table values

When a design table is updated or re-opened, existing configurations matching the table rows are updated with the table's values.

Which dialog box do you use to assign a configuration-specific custom property such as 'Part Number'?

Answer: File > Properties > Custom tab with configuration dropdown

The Custom tab in File > Properties includes a configuration dropdown, allowing different custom property values per configuration.