Where Is the Custom Properties Folder in SOLIDWORKS?

Contents

The SOLIDWORKS custom properties folder is controlled from Tools > Options > System Options > File Locations. In the file-location list, choose Custom Property Files. That location points SOLIDWORKS to the folder that stores the custom property tab files used by the Property Tab Builder.

If custom property tabs are missing, the most common cause is that SOLIDWORKS is looking at the wrong folder or the folder does not contain the expected custom property files.

Custom properties folder location in SOLIDWORKS — Custom property file locations are managed from System Options.

Find the custom properties file location

Open SOLIDWORKS.
Click Tools > Options.
Go to the System Options tab.
Select File Locations.
In the drop-down list, choose Custom Property Files.
Review the folder path shown in the list.

System Options in SOLIDWORKS — Open System Options to review SOLIDWORKS file locations.

File Locations options in SOLIDWORKS — Choose Custom Property Files from the File Locations list.

What files are stored there?

The folder normally contains the files used by the custom property tab interface. SOLIDWORKS Help also notes that the editable list of custom properties can be stored in a text file named properties.txt. Your exact files may vary by version, company setup, and whether a shared network location is used.

Custom property folder path in SOLIDWORKS options — The folder path should point to the files your team actually uses.

Use a shared folder for teams

For a single user, a local folder may be fine. For a team, a shared network folder is usually better because everyone can use the same property tabs and property names. Make sure users have read access, and limit edit access to the people responsible for CAD standards.

If you move the folder, update the file location in SOLIDWORKS and restart the program if the tab does not refresh.

Troubleshooting missing custom property tabs

The tab is missing: confirm the Custom Property Files folder is correct.
The folder is empty: restore the property tab files or point to the right shared folder.
Other users see different tabs: compare their File Locations settings.
The Add button is unavailable: check permissions, admin restrictions, or managed settings.
Properties are inconsistent: standardize the shared property files and template setup.

Reference: SOLIDWORKS Help documents editing custom properties and notes that the custom property list can be edited through the properties text file used by SOLIDWORKS.