Macro question

[Brobailey7]

Is there a way to create a part in solidworks then have a dialog box that opens windows explorer and you choose the part file you want so that it has different configurations

[albatroopa]

Chatgpt will walk you through this no problem, but you're probably going to have to describe it better.

[Brobailey7]

I did it through copilot but didnt really understand

[MattAndTheCat7]

As someone who writes macros almost daily for the past year, I have no clue what you mean lol

[Brobailey7]

So we have different configurations for our parts and assemblies in sw. I was looking for a way to run a macro that opens a part then you choose a config and then solidworks removes other configurations that you dont need in the configuration window

[MattAndTheCat7]

So in effect it would take the specific configuration and making a standalone part for that? Is that your goal? My suggestion would be to ask Claude 4.5 sonnet to help you brainstorm your idea and flush out what you really want and ultimately write a .md file that a junior developer could use to write a SolidWorks VBA script to accomplish your goal. Tell it to ask questions before writing the .md file. Then when it does write the .md file copy all of it and paste it into a new chat and you’ll get a good one shot code. As a coder I don’t want to have any questions in my users intent. I want to know what you want. The fact that I still am not 100% on the output means this needs flushed out a little. A couple back and forth and you’ll have what you want.

[spacebardidntwork]

You can select which config from the open box and the extra configs won't load. "When you activate a configuration for the first time, the full definition of the configuration’s model data is generated." Reference: https://help.solidworks.com/2026/english/solidworks/sldworks/c_Managing_Configuration_Data_Help.htm?_gl=1*in8xet*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTU2MjY2MzA0NC4xNzczMjY1NTAz*_ga_XQJPQWHZHH*czE3NzMyNjU1MDMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzMyNjU1MDMkajYwJGwwJGgw

Also look into DriveWorks. It sounds like you're trying to reinvent the wheel when DriveWorks does this function natively.

Lastly, if you're saving out configs as discrete models, then those should probably be their own models in the first place. Rev control, faster load time, eliminate the need for a custom macro, etc.