Wilcom ES-65 (Wilcom 9) Toolbars Vanished? Bring Back Shaping, Divide, and Stitch View Without Reinstalling

Title: Software Panic vs. Production Reality: A Master Guide to Restoring Wilcom ES-65 Toolbars Author: SEWTECH Education Team URL: https://www.sewtech.com/blog/wilcom-missing-toolbars-guide

There is a specific kind of silence that falls over an embroidery shop when the digitizing software "breaks." You are mid-design, deadlines are looming, and suddenly, your primary tools—Divide, Weld, Reshape—vanish from the screen. It feels like the cockpit of your plane just went dark.

As someone who has managed production floors for two decades, I know that software glitches aren't just technical annoyances; they are income blockers. When you can't digitize, your machine sits idle. And an idle machine is costing you money every second.

Here is the calm, empirical truth: In 99% of cases with Wilcom ES-65 (Wilcom 9), nothing is corrupted. You haven't "broken" the software. You have simply triggered a view mode or disabled a toolbar group—often with a stray hotkey press.

This guide is not just about clicking buttons to get an icon back. It is about stabilizing your workflow. We will fix the interface, verify the fix with a production-grade test file, and then look at how to translate that digital fix into physical production efficiency using modern tools like SEWTECH’s magnetic hoops and multi-needle systems.

The 60-Second Reality Check for Wilcom ES-65 Designer Missing Toolbars (Don’t Panic Yet)

The instructor in the source material highlights a classic user distress call: "Screen options and toolbars are not appearing." This usually happens after a computer restart or a resolution change. Before you scramble to find your original installation CDs or call support, perform this "Sanity Check."

The Pilot’s Scan:

1. Look Up: Can you still see the text-based menu bar (File, Edit, View, Insert)?
2. Look Down: Is your status bar visible at the very bottom?
3. Look Center: Is the gray workspace grid still there?

If these elements exist, your software engine is fine. You have simply "closed the blinds" on the toolbars. This is a display configuration issue, not a registry error. This distinction is vital for your psychological safety—you are minutes away from being back in business.

The “Hidden in Plain Sight” Fix: Open View > Toolbars in Wilcom 9 and Restore Top/Left/Bottom Bars

In older interface designs like Wilcom ES-65, flexibility was prioritized over safety. It is very easy to drag a toolbar "off" the screen or right-click and close it by accident.

Here is the surgical procedure to restore connectivity.

The Restoration Sequence:

1. Move your cursor to the top text menu.
2. Click View.
3. Select Toolbars… from the dropdown list. This opens the "Command Center" (the configuration dialog).

What you’re looking for inside the Toolbars dialog

You will see a checklist of tool groups. In a panic, users often start clicking everything. Stop. We want a controlled restart.

Action Steps:

1. Locate the positional groups: General, Main, or System.
2. Check the boxes next to the missing items.
3. Auditory Check: Listen for the "click" of the mouse.
4. Visual Confirmation: Do not hit OK yet. Look at the interface behind the dialog box. Did the icons pop back in?
5. Click OK to lock the setting.

Prep Checklist: The "Clean Slate" Protocol

Before you move forward, ensure your digital environment is stable.

• Version Check: Confirm you are running Wilcom ES-65 Designer / Wilcom 9. (Newer versions like E4 have different ribbon menus).
• Window State: Maximize the Wilcom window. Floating toolbars can sometimes hide behind the Windows taskbar if the window is not maximized.
• Peripheral Check: Ensure your mouse button isn't sticking. A "double bounce" click often toggles a toolbar On and immediately Off again.
• Visual Baseline: Take a photo of your screen with your phone right now. This is your "Before" state implementation record.

Bring Back the Divide Tool Fast: Enable the Shaping Toolbar in Wilcom ES-65 Designer

The "Divide" tool is the digitizer's scalpel. Without it, you cannot slice shapes to create negative space or remove overlaps. If you can't find the icon that looks like a square being cut in half, your Shaping Toolbar is disabled.

This is the most common support ticket we see.

The Fix:

1. Navigate: View > Toolbars…
2. Search: Scroll down to find Shaping in the list.
3. Action: Check the box.
4. Result: Look to the top-right or floating area of your workspace. You should see the cluster of boolean tools: Weld, Intersect, Exclude, and Divide.

Prove It Works (Like the Video): Create Two Overlapping Tatami Circles to Test Divide

Restoring the button is only half the battle. We must verify that the function works. Beginners often think, "The button is there, I'm safe." Experts say, "Run a test vector."

We will create a standard test file. This is not just a software test; it is a digitizing physics test.

The Setup:

1. Select the Input C or Complex Fill tool.
2. Draw a circle (hold Ctrl to constrain it to a perfect circle).
3. Expert Parameter: Convert the stitch type to Tatami.
   • Why Tatami? Satin stitches are for borders; Tatami is for structure.
   • Density Rule: Set your spacing to 0.40mm. This is the industry "Sweet Spot." Anything tighter (e.g., 0.30mm) risks bulletproofing the fabric; anything looser (0.50mm) shows the fabric through.
4. Duplicate the object (Ctrl + D).
5. Change the color of the second circle (e.g., Green vs. Purple) and overlap them like a Venn diagram.

Checkpoint: The "Digital Feel"

• Visual: You should see two distinct colors.
• Structure: The objects should look solid, like a woven mat.
• Test: Select both circles. The Divide icon in the Shaping toolbar should light up (transition from greyed-out to active). Click it.
• Success Metric: The overlapping area should become a separate, third object.

Hidden Consumables for Testing:
When you eventually sew this test file, ensure you have the basics ready to avoid false failures:
* Stabilizer: 2 layers of standard tear-away (50-60g) or 1 layer of cut-away (80g) for stability.
* Needle: A fresh 75/11 sharp point.
* Bobbin: Check tension (the "yo-yo drop test").

Warning (Physical Safety): Just because you can digitize it doesn't means it will sew. If you use the Divide tool to create slivers of stitching smaller than 1mm, you risk needle deflection. When a needle hits the metal throat plate at 800 RPM, it can shatter. Always wear eye protection when testing new, complex stitch paths.

The One Checkbox That Hides Divide: Re-Check Shaping in View > Toolbars (Then Confirm the Icons)

The video instructor demonstrates a crucial troubleshooting tactic: The Toggle Test.

He turns the Shaping toolbar off, watches it vanish, and turns it on again. This builds "object permanence" in your brain. You stop fearing the software and start understanding the cause-and-effect relationship.

Pro-Tip: If the Shaping toolbar appears but is "greyed out," it means you haven't selected any objects. The software is smart enough to know you can't "Divide" nothing. Select your two circles to wake up the tool.

Customize Wilcom 9 Like a Production Digitizer: Enable Stitch Types, Generate, and Mirror-Merge Toolbars

An uncluttered workspace is a calm mind. However, a workspace that is too empty forces you to dig through menus, breaking your flow state.

The video suggests enabling Stitch Types, Generate, and Mirror-Merge. Let’s analyze why these are critical for production.

1. Stitch Types: This gives you one-click access to switch between Satin, Tatami, and Run stitches. In production, you will toggle this 50+ times an hour.
2. Generate: This controls the calculation of stitches.
3. Mirror-Merge: Essential for symmetrical logos and badges.

The 80/20 Rule of Interface Design

Do not enable every single toolbar. That leads to "Icon Fatigue."

• Keep Visible: Shaping, Stitch Types, Reshape.
• Hide: Lettering (unless you do names all day), specialized sequin tools (unless you have a sequin device).

Setup Checklist: The "Ready for Battle" Config

• Shaping Toolbar: [X] Checked & Docked.
• Stitch Types: [X] Checked & Accessible.
• Screen Real Estate: Ensure the specialized icons (like Mirror-Merge) aren't pushing critical tools off the edge of the screen.
• Lock It Down: Once arranged, resist the urge to drag toolbars around. Muscle memory relies on buttons being in the exact same pixel location every day.

When Your Design Turns Into a White Outline: Fix Stitches vs Outlines in View > Design Options

This is the most terrifying moment for a beginner: You open a file, and it looks like a ghostly wireframe. No color, no density, just thin lines.

The Diagnosis: You are in "Outline Mode" or "Wireframe Mode." The Cure: You need to re-enable "Stitch View."

The Procedure:

1. Top Menu: View > Design Options…
2. Tab Selection: Click the View Design tab.
3. The Magic Box: Look for a checkbox labeled Stitches (or sometimes "Show Stitches").
4. Action: Check it.
5. Click OK.

Why this matters (The "Why")

In the era of Wilcom 9, computers had limited RAM. Rendering 50,000 stitches in 3D took significant processing power. Digitizers would switch to "Outline Mode" to speed up the computer. Today, we use it to see underneath layers. If you are trying to align two objects perfectly, the 3D satin stitch view blocks your vision. Outline mode is your X-Ray specs.

Quick Troubleshooting Map for Wilcom ES-65: Symptom → Cause → Fix (Clean & Structured)

If you are stuck, stop clicking random keys. Find your symptom in this hierarchy. We troubleshoot from Software Settings (Low Risk) to System Reset (High Risk).

A Decision Tree That Saves Time: “Is This a Toolbar Problem or a View Mode Problem?”

Use this logic flow to diagnose the issue in under 10 seconds.

Start Here:

1. Are the icons visible, but looking like simple line drawings instead of 3D stitches?
   • YES: This is a View Mode issue. Go to Design Options > View Design.
   • NO: Everything is gone. Proceed to Step 2.
2. Can you see the grey grid of your workspace?
   • YES: The software is running. You are missing Toolbars. Go to View > Toolbars.
   • NO: You might be in a different "Window Mode" or the software has frozen. Try pressing Alt + Tab to see if a dialog box is hidden behind the window.

The “Upgrade Path” Most Digitizers Miss: Fix the Software First—Then Make Sampling Faster in the Real World

Now that you have fixed your software, you are going to hit the next bottleneck: Physics.

You have your software set up perfectly. usage the Divide tool to create a clean logo. You send it to the machine. Then you spend 5 minutes fighting with a traditional hoop, trying to get a thick hoodie clamped down without stripping the screw.

This is where the "Software Expert" meets the "Production Manager." Reliability in software means nothing if your physical setup is unreliable.

The Problem: Hoop Burn and Wrist Fatigue

Traditional inner/outer ring hoops rely on friction. To hold a sweatshirt, you have to force them together. This causes:

1. Hoop Burn: Permanent rings crushed into the fabric velvet/nap.
2. Carpal Tunnel: The repetitive strain of tightening screws.
3. Shifting: The fabric pushes away as you tighten, ruining your alignment.

The Solution: Magnetic Force

Once you have mastered your Wilcom workspace, the most logical upgrade for your studio is not a new computer—it is magnetic embroidery hoops.

Instead of friction, these hoops use powerful magnets to sandwich the fabric.

• Speed: You just place the top ring, and it snaps shut. Hooping time drops from 3 minutes to 15 seconds.
• Safety: No "hoop burn" because the fabric isn't being crushed laterally.
• Consistency: The tension is uniform every single time.

If you are running a business, time is the only asset you cannot buy back. Digitizing faster with Wilcom Shortcuts is Step 1. Hooping faster is Step 2. For those looking to scale even further, pairing efficient hooping with a SEWTECH multi-needle machine creates a true production powerhouse, allowing you to queue jobs while you prep the next garment.

Warning (Magnet Safety): Magnetic hoops use industrial-strength neodymium magnets. They are not fridge magnets.
* Pinch Hazard: They snap together with enough force to bruise fingers. Handle with respect.
* Medical Devices: Keep them at least 6 inches away from pacemakers or insulin pumps.
* Storage: Always use the included foam spacers when storing them to prevent them from locking together permanently.

Common “Can Someone Do Designs for Me?” Comments—Here’s the Professional Answer (Without the Drama)

We often see comments asking for "someone to just do the design." While outsourcing is valid, owning your process is better.

If you are trying to build a career here, consistency is your currency.

1. Software Stability: Use the steps in this guide. You cannot work if your tools disappear.
2. Hooping Consistency: A great design hooped crookedly is a failed product. This is why professional shops invest in systems like a hoop master embroidery hooping station. These stations work with your hoops to ensure the logo is in the exact same spot on Shirt #1 and Shirt #50.

Terms like magnetic embroidery hoop are not just buzzwords; they represent the difference between "crafting" and "manufacturing."

Three “Don’t Get Burned” Habits That Keep Wilcom 9 Stable Long-Term

To stay out of trouble, adopt these three habits:

1. The "One Change" Rule: Never change your screen resolution and your toolbar layout on the same day. Change one variable at a time.
2. The Screenshot Backup: Once you get your toolbars exactly how you like them, take a screenshot. If they vanish again next month, you have a visual map of what needs to be checked.
3. The "Test Circle" Ritual: Before running a 20,000-stitch jacket back, always run a small test file (like the circles in the tutorial) on scrap fabric. Use this to check your thread tension and hoop stability.

Operation Checklist: The "Green Light" Protocol

Before you accept that first customer order today, verify this list:

• Shaping Toolbar Visible: The Divide/Weld icons are present and active when an object is selected.
• Stitch View Active: Your designs look like thread, not wireframes.
• Grid Check: Your 10mm or 1-inch background grid is visible for sizing.
• Hoop Check: You have selected the correct physical hoop size in the software to prevent the machine from hitting the frame.
• Transfer Path: You have a clean USB stick or connection ready to send the .DST file.

Once you are confident in your software, take the time to research how to use magnetic embroidery hoop videos. Seeing the workflow difference can be an eye-opener. Even better, look at how a machine embroidery hooping station can integrate with your setup.

Your software is fixed. Your machine is waiting. Go make something beautiful.

And if you find yourself fighting thick jackets or slippery performance wear, remember that upgrading to a magnetic embroidery hoop is often the easiest way to improve quality without changing your digitizing skills.

FAQ

• Q: How do I restore missing toolbars in Wilcom ES-65 Designer (Wilcom 9) when the screen looks empty after a restart or resolution change?
  A: Use View > Toolbars… to re-enable the toolbar groups—this is almost always a display setting, not corrupted software.
  • Open View (top text menu) → click Toolbars…
  • Check the missing positional/tool groups such as General, Main, System (and Status Bar if needed)
  • Watch the interface behind the dialog before clicking OK
  • Success check: toolbar icons reappear immediately (often before pressing OK) and the workspace/grid is still visible
  • If it still fails: Maximize the Wilcom window and confirm no dialog is hidden behind (try Alt + Tab)
• Q: How do I bring back the Divide tool in Wilcom ES-65 Designer (Wilcom 9) when Weld/Intersect/Exclude/Divide icons are missing?
  A: Re-enable the Shaping toolbar in View > Toolbars… because Divide lives inside that toolbar group.
  • Go to View > Toolbars…
  • Scroll the list and check “Shaping”
  • Look for the boolean tool cluster: Weld / Intersect / Exclude / Divide
  • Success check: the Divide icon is visible and becomes active (not grey) when shapes are selected
  • If it still fails: run the Toggle Test—uncheck Shaping, confirm it disappears, then check it again
• Q: Why are icons greyed out in Wilcom ES-65 Designer (Wilcom 9) even after the toolbar is visible?
  A: Greyed-out tools usually mean no object is selected, so Wilcom correctly disables functions like Divide.
  • Use the pointer/select tool and select the design objects (e.g., select two overlapping shapes)
  • Confirm the Shaping toolbar is enabled (View > Toolbars… → Shaping checked)
  • Try the function again (e.g., click Divide after selecting both objects)
  • Success check: the tool button changes from greyed-out to active and performs the action
  • If it still fails: verify you are actually in Wilcom ES-65 Designer / Wilcom 9 (newer versions use different UI layouts)
• Q: How do I fix a design showing only white outlines (wireframe) in Wilcom ES-65 Designer (Wilcom 9) instead of stitches?
  A: Turn Stitches / Show Stitches back on in View > Design Options… because you are in Outline/Wireframe mode.
  • Click View > Design Options…
  • Open the View Design tab
  • Check Stitches (or Show Stitches) and click OK
  • Success check: the design returns to a stitched/filled look (not just thin white lines)
  • If it still fails: re-open Design Options and confirm the correct tab/checkbox was applied (some systems label it slightly differently)
• Q: How do I verify the Divide function really works in Wilcom ES-65 Designer (Wilcom 9) using the overlapping tatami circle test?
  A: Create two overlapping Tatami circles and Divide them to confirm the tool is functioning, not just visible.
  • Draw a circle using Input C / Complex Fill (hold Ctrl for a perfect circle)
  • Set stitch type to Tatami and set spacing to 0.40 mm, then duplicate (Ctrl + D) and overlap the two circles
  • Select both circles and click Divide
  • Success check: the overlap becomes a separate third object (the Venn overlap is its own piece)
  • If it still fails: confirm both objects are selected and the Divide icon is active (not greyed out)
• Q: What “hidden consumables” should be ready before sewing the Wilcom ES-65 (Wilcom 9) test circles so the sample run doesn’t fail for non-software reasons?
  A: Use a stable baseline setup—stabilizer, fresh needle, and correct bobbin tension—so the sew-out reflects digitizing, not preventable setup issues.
  • Prepare stabilizer: 2 layers tear-away (50–60g) or 1 layer cut-away (80g) for stability
  • Install a fresh 75/11 sharp point needle
  • Check bobbin tension using the “yo-yo drop test”
  • Success check: the sample stitches form cleanly without unexpected looping or instability that masks whether the digitizing test is valid
  • If it still fails: treat it as a physical setup issue first (needle/bobbin/stabilizer) before re-editing the design
• Q: What needle safety risk exists when testing tiny divided stitch slivers in Wilcom ES-65 Designer (Wilcom 9) designs on the embroidery machine?
  A: Avoid creating stitch slivers under about 1 mm because they can increase needle deflection and raise the risk of needle strike/shatter at high speed.
  • Review the design after using Divide and look for extremely thin stitch segments
  • Simplify or widen areas that produce needle-stressing micro-stitches
  • Wear eye protection when running new or complex stitch paths
  • Success check: the machine runs the test without needle hits/deflection signs and the sew-out looks stable
  • If it still fails: stop the run and re-check the stitch plan—do not keep running at speed when needle contact is suspected
• Q: When hooping thick hoodies causes hoop burn and slow setup after fixing Wilcom ES-65 (Wilcom 9) toolbars, what is the practical upgrade path from technique to magnetic embroidery hoops to a multi-needle system?
  A: Fix the software first, then remove the physical bottleneck—start with technique tweaks, move to magnetic hoops for faster consistent hooping, and only then consider a multi-needle production upgrade.
  • Level 1 (technique): stabilize the workflow—confirm toolbars, run a small test file, and avoid rework from unstable settings
  • Level 2 (tool): switch to magnetic embroidery hoops to reduce hooping time and reduce hoop burn from over-tightening
  • Level 3 (capacity): add a multi-needle machine when job volume justifies parallel prep and faster changeovers
  • Success check: hooping time drops significantly and placement consistency improves across repeats
  • If it still fails: treat it as a hooping/handling issue—verify fabric is not shifting during clamp-down and keep magnet pinch safety in mind