I searched this forum and found this discussion: Solidworks Explorer - Does anyone really miss it? https://www.cadforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=438
Apparently SWX Explorer and the Where Used function are gone (I’m on SWX2021).
Right now I have need of the Where Used function. Does anybody have a workaround?
Try renaming it and see what breaks.
No, I don’t have a solution. I have wanted one for awhile…
Hey Dennis,
I use CustomTools and it has a Where used functionality, though I doubt you’d get it simply for that because of the cost, though it does have a bunch of wonderful tools that you can put to use without having to create a gigantic set-up like we have.
In the following screenshot, I’ve done a “Where used” on DOOR-004 which I’ve selected in my feature manager. You can see the where used window, and I’ve circled a box you can check to show upper levels(We keep it unchecked as it makes for a far too big where used)
image.png
Edit: Unfortunately, the “Where used” of Customtools is not all that intelligent, in the sense that it doesn’t know it’s used in assemblies until you save these assemblies with customtools opened.
Solid Edge Design Manager has a where used function but it’s brute force checking every file in the directory structure(s) you give it, so I understand your need.
A true where used tool requires a database of some sort to track file references, a reader service that reads the file references on new or modified files and a scheduled scan tool to catch up if the service misses anything and finally a user interface to query the references. I wrote one for our Solid Edge files before PDM and to my surprise people actually used it and kinda liked it.
If your data set is small enough a brute force tool that uses Solidworks Document Manager API to read references in >every< assembly and part file in your data set could possibly work for you. I would think something close already exists.
You are actually correct. Chose “Rename.” It gives you the list of “where used.” (Why they didn’t include where used as an option makes as much sense as anything else they do these days.)
Make sure your “File Locations” is set properly.
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How does it generate that list?
You would have to ask the SW programmers that question.
I see now, it looks like you can tell it where to look, and since there’s a pause button (implying it can take a long time) it’s checking refs in every file in the directories selected to search in. Can be slow, but should get the job done.
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You can try “Bibotac”.
It use an index and is a lot faster than Solidworks explorer.
We can celebrate soon for our new baby.
SW usually separates the successful (favorite) features and starts selling after a while. yes, it was a feature that I used and loved, but he passed away and we will miss him very much.
Hey DennisD
I usually open the drawing page and the assembly, access the part from within the assembly and save it as. Then I do the drawing and assembly crtl+Q and crtl+s. if you don’t have hundreds of parts this works fast and well for me. I have no problems in technical drawing and assembly, then I delete the old part.
I don’t know why but this method mostly fails and SW shuts down. (SW2020 sp3)
In a rough explanation:
A database is embedded inside each assembly and holds the assembly-related data there. probably this application searches for names in those databases and lists the databases (ie assemblies) it finds with the same name.
Well, THIS DID WORK! Thanks! Specifically, RMB on the file and using SOLIDWORKS → Rename did do a search and found where the part was being used. YAY!!! ><
But doesn’t this seem like a backdoor way to find where the part is used?!
Using SOLIDWORKS → File Locations did not do anything as far as finding the other files that referenced the part file. Apparently the File Locations is solely for telling SWX where to look.
WTH!? How hard could it be to have a simple and straightforward selection for SOLIDWORKS → Where Used?
Thank you for this. I’ll look into it.
Has anyone else here used this?
I think you gave the wrong person credit. I need my “answer” count up. 
Yep, sorry! I did not mean to slight you, I was only looking at the most recent.
It’s all better now.
No no! I was the first person to mention renaming. I just didn’t realize the purple was superfluous. 
Thanks. I just double my beer points.
And I agree. It would take almost no effort to have a “where used” button. But nothings surprises me with DSS.
With the components already in place for this type of where used search they could indeed just add the button, but I’ll bet you it would be missing the needed last 5% functionality.
Where used is a basic function in PDM. You can’t really have a where used in parts or sub assemblies. The information goes up the tree, not down. To make it go down the tree, you have to search through the reference lists of a bunch of files. And even then you’re not guaranteed to find where your part is used unless you’ve searched ALL the assemblies and parts.
PDM is simple and solves so many problems. Just do it. 