🚀 Tools & Resources I Use (and Recommend)

This is a curated list of the resources that have helped me learn programming and SolidWorks API automation - including books, tutorials, tools, and frameworks.

If you’re just getting started or looking to go deeper, this page can guide your learning path.

👉 Want to know how I learn programming? Check out my About Me page.

📘 Learning VBA for Excel & SolidWorks

Book: Excel Macros for Dummies

Great for learning VBA from scratch. It helped me understand the core syntax and build confidence with macros.

🛒 Buy on Amazon

🎓 Prefer not to buy? No worries! You can also check out my VBA tutorials here.

🛠 SolidWorks VBA Macro Tutorials

YouTube: 🚀 Automate SolidWorks with VBA macros

A practical, beginner-friendly channel to get started with SolidWorks macros.

📺 Watch Playlist

📚 Want more? I write detailed tutorials on SolidWorks VBA Macros on this blog.

Book: Automating SolidWorks 2025 Using Macros

While I haven’t personally read this, it’s one of the few books on macro automation that’s up-to-date.

🛒 Buy on Amazon
📥 Download free books by AngelSix

💻 C# Programming for SolidWorks Automation

YouTube: AngelSix C# Tutorials

These are gold. Professional, clean, and beginner-friendly — taught by a CAD engineer.

Luke (AngelSix) has deep experience with SolidWorks and Inventor automation.

📺 Watch Tutorials
🧑‍💻 About AngelSix

Book: C# 7.0 in a Nutshell

I regularly use this as a reference — great for understanding C# features in detail.

🛒 Buy on Amazon

🧩 SolidWorks C# Add-in Development

YouTube: SolidDNA Add-in Framework

A great intro to creating SolidWorks Add-ins using C# and WPF.

I’m covering this in detail on the blog soon — stay tuned.

📺 Watch Series

⚙️ Learning C++ (for SolidWorks API)

Books by Bjarne Stroustrup:

  1. Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ — best for beginners.
  2. The C++ Programming Language — more advanced.

I suggest starting with Programming: Principles and Practice — it teaches how to think like a programmer.

📌 There’s very little SolidWorks C++ API material online. But I’ve created some small apps and may share those soon.

🎁 Bonus: My Debugging Toolkit

Here’s what I do when I get stuck:

🔍 SolidWorks Offline Help

Still my most-used reference. If web help doesn’t open, go to:

  • Help → uncheck Use SOLIDWORKS Web Help
  • Go to API Help
  • Use the Index tab to search topics (e.g., hole wizard)

💡 Tip: Look at the built-in sample code. It often solves 80% of your problem.

🌐 Google Like a Pro

Search like this:

“How to open Excel in SolidWorks VBA”

This usually leads me to forum answers, even without logging in.

💬 SolidWorks Forum

Search before asking. If your question is unique, post it — the community is helpful (especially for macros).

💡 StackOverflow

Perfect for language-specific issues in C#, VBA, or WPF. Even without an account, I often find solutions here.

🙌 Final Note

If you found this page helpful and plan to buy a book, consider using my Amazon links — they support this blog at no extra cost to you.

And if you liked the content, share this site with your friends or colleagues in CAD automation.

Stay curious. Stay building. 🚀