The Solidworks Task Pane is a flyout window that gives you access to Solidworks resources, reusable design element libraries, views to transfer onto drawing sheets, appearance utilities, and other essential things and information. The Task Pane is a tab on the right side of your Solidworks screen that provides access to numerous instructions and tasks. The Task Pane delivers essential information and assistance in various scenarios (part, assembly, or drawing) based on your current work. It is a feature that has quick access to a few essential tools, such as the Rx Utility or the Copy Settings Wizard, and a Design Library Tab. It is advantageous if you include your working folder, the View Palette (quite valuable for drawings to drag and drop in standard views), and a few others. It’s there when you need it and moves out of the way when you don’t, giving you more screen room.

A task pane is a group of windows that display a variety of resources in one place. Usually, the task pane is hidden, leaving only the tab icons visible in the graphics area. This action is likely the most acceptable alternative because real estate in your graphics area is valuable. If you wish to keep the task pane active at all times, right-click on the menu bar to see a menu of toolbars and select the Task Pane, or select View from the Solidworks Menus and Task Pane. The Design Library and the File Explorer are two other Task Pane possibilities. These options’ icons appear beneath the Solidworks Resources symbol. Click anywhere in the central area of the Solidworks window to collapse the Task Pane. If the task pane does not collapse when you click in the graphics area, it means it has been “pinned” by pressing the Auto Show icon in the upper right corner. Left-click on the icon to unpin and collapse the Task Pane.

How To Use SolidWorks Task Pane

The Solidworks Task Pane is a feature that allows users to access additional Solidworks functionalities quickly. It is similar to a shortcut that displays the Solidworks Resources, Design Library, File Explorer, View Palette, Appearances, Scenes, and Decals, and Custom Properties tabs in the user interface display area. Learning how to use the SolidWorks task pane will make your user interface more customizable, and working on models will be easier since you will have rapid access to features that will make your work more efficient. 

1. To enable the Task Pane, right-click on the menu bar or command manager at the top of the Solidworks display area and select Show Task Pane.

2. You can configure the task pane to your liking. You can also choose which tab opens when you launch the Task Pane. To personalize the Task Pane, right-click any Task Pane tab or the Task Pane’s header and click Customize. Next, do the following in the Customize dialog box: Select or clear check boxes to show or hide Task Pane tabs. 

You can reorder the tab titles by dragging them. To close the customize dialog box, click anywhere in the graphics area. SolidWorks saves the changed parameters. To set a tab as the default, click the corresponding button under default. The Task Pane tabs use the configured settings when you relaunch Solidworks.

The Solidworks Task pane allows you to access some Solidworks resources quickly, reusable design element libraries, views to transfer onto drawing sheets, and appearance utilities, which we will explain below.

1. SolidWorks Resources: a collection of commands for SolidWorks Tools, Online Resources, and Subscription Services, as well as access to the Welcome dialog box.

2. The Design Library: The Design Library tab is a one-stop shop for a massive array of parts, assemblies, library features, and even blocks and annotations, and you can use DWG or DXF files directly in your SolidWorks designs. Drag an object from the preview window into a new SolidWorks window to open the part, assembly, or DWG file. Next, drag parts or bodies from the preview window into an open assembly file. The item is inserted straight into your assembly and opens the Insert Component feature management dialog box, allowing you to add more copies of the part or assembly. Finally, users can drag individual features from the Design Library to an open part file. 

3. The File Explorer Tab

The File Explorer tab provides directories for rapid access to recent documents, files presently open in SolidWorks, and other file folders you define under Tools/Options. The File Explorer tab displays the file status graphically to provide information about the files currently open in SolidWorks. Files in bold have been edited since they were last saved, files in orange are read-only, and files with a translucent icon are loaded (referred to) but not open in memory. Under Tools/Options/System Options/File Explorer, you can adjust the display (show or conceal) of the referenced documents. The Preview Window and ToolTips dialog boxes are two additional File Explorer capabilities. When you point your mouse over a file name in the File Explorer, a little box appears with information about the file, including the path, file name, date edited, and file size. 

To display a file graphically in a tiny window, right-click on its name and select Preview Window. You can view the configuration (if available) while leaving the window open to consider other files.

4. View Palette

This tab allows you to easily incorporate one or more predefined orthographic views of your part or assembly into your drawing by just clicking and drawing. Import and Design Annotations, Auto-Start Projected View, and more options are available for your chosen views. In addition, it includes photos of the specified model’s standard views, annotation views, section views, and flat patterns (sheet metal parts). To build a drawing picture, drag views onto the drawing sheet. Then, a model view is created for each view.

The palette views are based on the eight basic orientations (*Front, *Right, *Top, *Back, *Left, *Bottom, *Current, and *Isometric) as well as any custom views in the part or assembly. After you’ve placed the view, you can fold or project it. When you use a view, it disappears from the palette.

Conclusion

Now that you understand how to use Solidworks Task Pane, where to locate it, and what functions it offers, you can use it to aid your design process and simplify the access of critical information.