Troubleshooting

Start with the current operation’s Log and receipt. Keep the exact project, manifest and failed diagnostics when asking for help.

Symptom	Check and recovery
Add-in commands missing	Check registration/DLL path, adjacent dependencies, enabled add-in and active assembly; restart SolidWorks after DLL changes
Python command fails immediately	Select the real interpreter and run the calibration worker’s doctor action
Saved geometry cannot resolve	Open the saved configuration, resolve suppressed/lightweight geometry, and explicitly repair invalid references
Tree item highlights but assignment is empty	Select actual body geometry; a tree highlight can differ from the native selection list
Component has no bodies	Reference-only planes/sketches cannot be assigned as a physical mesh
Duplicate ownership	Separate independently moving owners and remove overlapping assignments
Missing material or surface mass	Assign real material data and sheet thickness, or explicitly choose appropriate visual-only treatment
Hull acceptance is disabled	Selection, parameters or source changed; prepare a fresh preview
Stale frame or mount-plan hash	Prepare/calibrate again with the reviewed current mounting plan
Native mate cannot be imported	Check supported motion, ownership and requested hardpoints; a solved CAD mate is not automatically a supported physical joint
Appearance remains old	Saving an assignment does not package it; use Package saved appearances
VY node not found	Inspect mesh/node binding and noncollinear basis; refresh with the appropriate rigid-prop/flexbody representation
Blank/missing capture	Retain diagnostics; a successful image save does not establish usable evidence
Installed ZIP looks correct but vehicle is old	Check active user mods folder, unpacked conflicts and currently spawned vehicle; reload/restart
Calibration completes but status is limited	Inspect independent qualification fields and rendered-review requirements
Vehicle drifts or alignment changes	Compare native motion to the same CAD linkage before altering physical inputs

A sensible recovery order

1. Confirm you are using the intended assembly configuration and project.
2. Check inputs and ownership before tuning numerical settings.
3. Refresh/export changed CAD.
4. Regenerate any affected frame or vehicle artifacts.
5. Repeat the failed pilot with the same defined scope.
6. Run complete acceptance before claiming qualification.

Never reuse old geometry just because an STL exists. Do not use example hardpoints or an alignment change to conceal a mismatch to captured CAD.

What to include in a report

Record the operation, exact error, relevant source/build paths, tool versions, selected configuration and receipt status. Include the smallest relevant log or screenshot. Reference the failed manifest and retain its hashes; an unrelated later build cannot reproduce the same result.