How to Create a SOLIDWORKS Hole Table
Contents
A SOLIDWORKS hole table lists hole locations and sizes in a drawing. It is useful when a part has many holes and individual dimensions would make the drawing crowded. A hole table can make inspection, machining, and drawing review easier when it is set up clearly.
Prepare the drawing view
Open the drawing and choose the view that shows the holes clearly. The view should be oriented so the hole locations make sense. If the part has holes on several faces, you may need more than one view or more than one table.
Before inserting the table, make sure the drawing scale and view orientation are suitable. A hole table is easier to read when the tags and hole locations are not crowded together.
Insert the hole table
- Open the drawing.
- Go to Insert > Tables > Hole Table.
- Select the drawing view.
- Select an origin point for the table.
- Select the holes to include.
- Place the table on the sheet.
Choose a clear origin
The hole table reports locations from an origin. Choose an origin that matches the way the part will be inspected or manufactured. A corner, datum, center point, or known reference feature is usually better than an arbitrary location.
If the part drawing uses datums, the hole table origin should usually support that same inspection logic. This helps the table match how the part will actually be checked.
Review included holes
After inserting the table, confirm that it includes the correct holes. Some holes may be hidden, outside the selected view, or not recognized the way you expect. Add or remove holes as needed so the table matches the drawing intent.
Check whether counterbores, countersinks, tapped holes, and through holes are reported clearly. If the table does not show enough detail, add notes or use hole callouts where needed.
Format the table
Adjust column width, precision, tags, and table placement so the drawing remains readable. The table should not cover important model geometry or notes. If the table is large, place it where it can be read without crowding the main view.
Use precision that matches the drawing requirement. Too many decimal places can imply unnecessary accuracy, while too few can hide important location information.
Hole tags connect the table rows to the holes in the drawing view. Make sure the tags are visible and not stacked on top of each other. If a tag is hard to read, move it or adjust the annotation layout.
Check the drawing before release
Before releasing the drawing, compare the hole table against the model. Check hole count, sizes, locations, units, and precision. If the model changes, rebuild the drawing and confirm the table updates correctly.
It is also worth checking the exported PDF. Tags that look acceptable in SOLIDWORKS can become crowded or harder to read in the final document sent to manufacturing.
Troubleshooting
If holes are missing from the table, verify that the selected view shows them and that the hole geometry is valid. If locations look wrong, check the origin. If the table is difficult to read, split the drawing into clearer views or use a different table placement.
A good hole table should reduce clutter, not create confusion. Use it when it makes the drawing easier to manufacture and inspect.
If the table becomes too large, split the information across multiple views or sheets. The goal is a drawing that a machinist or inspector can read without hunting for every hole.
