So, you know the little tabs on the right side of your SolidWorks window where you can access your files, toolbox browser, and the all important Discussion Forums?  If it’s not there, you may have to add it in by right clicking on the command manager and making sure “Task Pane” is checked.  There is so much useful information there that it can be almost overwhelming, but it’s certainly the first place to look for so many resources. 

There are a lot of companies that have all sorts of documentation they have painstakingly generated, and then left to degrade in anonymity on some distant server.  “We have a document about that.  Now where is that again?”  Wouldn’t it be great to have a link to it right on the task pane?  The task pane is really just a simple .html file that you can bend to your will.  (ok… it’s not so simple and full of java script apps, so messing with it isn’t for the weak hearted.)

The file can be found at:

C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks\data\taskpane\solidworks resources\swresources.html

The first thing you will want to do is make a backup copy of the original file.  You can then open the file in Notepad and edit the html code.  The file is well annotated, and you can simply insert a new section containing your links. 

Here is the sample code I used.  In this case, the “http://...” address is the file path, and “Test Document” is the file name.

“<!-- This DIV is for DesignWorks section -->
        <a href="http://www.solidtutor.com/" target=new>
              <DIV ALIGN=CENTER> Test Document 1</a>
               </br>
        <a href="http://www.solidtutor.com/" target=new> Test Document 2</a>
               </br>
        <a href="http://www.solidtutor.com/" target=new> Test Document 3</a>
               </br></div>
<!-- end Longwell DesignWorks DIV --> 

How much you change it up is limited to your imagination. (And of course your html abilities.)