You may have heard by now, SolidWorks 2012 software (including CAD, Simulation, Sustainability, and Enterprise PDM) will be the last release that supports Windows XP.  This action is being taken as a follow-up to Microsoft’s retirement of the Windows® XP operating system in April of 2009.  SolidWorks 2013 will not install on Windows XP.

Now that most of us will be upgraded, let’s take another look at some of the Windows 7 shortcuts that may make our lives easier, regardless of what we are using our computers for:

HOTKEYS

• WIN + Up Arrow or WIN + Down Arrow = toggle between window states, Maximized, Restore and Minimized
• WIN + Shift + Left or Right Arrow = move window to another monitor
• WIN + 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 = Launch the corresponding application on the Task Bar
• WIN + P = Projector and video output sett ings
• WIN + X = Mobility Center – Several convenient controls such as projector, WiFi, etc.
• WIN + T = Task Bar navigation via arrow keys
• WIN + D = Show Desktop
• WIN + E = Windows Explorer
• WIN + L = Lock Windows
• WIN + “+” = Magnifying Glass
• Win + Tab = cycle through the open application using Aero Flip
• Alt + Tab = cycle through the open applications
• Ctrl + Tab = cycle through the open documents within an application
• Ctrl + Application Icon = cycle through the open documents within the application
• Ctrl + Shift + Application Icon = Run application as Administrator
• Shift + Application Icon = Run a new instance of an application
• Alt + F4 = Terminate the active application
• Ctrl + Shift + Escape = Windows Task Manager
• Ctrl + C = copy
• Ctrl + X = cut
• Ctrl + V = paste
• Ctrl + Drag = copy
• Shift + Drag = move

Now that’s hot!

If you build assembly models that contain thousands of parts, you have undoubtedly experienced instances where your computer’s performance suffered.  You are probably already aware of many of the tools that SolidWorks provides to optimize your files.  Using tools such as large assembly mode, lightweight, SpeedPak and Defeature, will dramatically speed up the process while you are working on such large files.

But what about when you just need to review the assembly with a customer or other members of your design team?  There may still be a large amount of overhead data in your file that is not required for this purpose. SolidWorks 2012 introduces a new feature call Large Design Review Mode.  Large Design Review Mode is primarily intended as an environment for quick design reviews.

Large Design Review lets you open very large assemblies quickly, while still retaining capabilities that are useful when conducting design reviews of assemblies.

When you open an assembly in Large Design Review mode, you can:
• Navigate the FeatureManager design tree
• Measure distances
• Create cross sections
• Hide and show components
• Create, edit, and play back walk-throughs
• Open part file to edit

To open an assembly in Large Design Review mode, click Open (Standard toolbar) or File > Open.  In the dialog box, select the assembly you want to open, and then, in Mode, select Large Design Review.

For more on how to use this great new enhancement, refer to your SolidWorks help file, “Large Design Review Mode.”

Also take a look at this video on YouTube.

You may have heard about this great ability to use a clean uninstall feature now in SolidWorks.  Well, we Composer users aren’t quite as lucky.  If you want a complete uninstall of 3DVIA composer, it is still a manual process.  Fortunately, it is relatively simple.

From the Windows Control Panel, choose Programs, then Programs and Features. Find and uninstall all 3DVIA listings.

Then you will want to delete any folders relating to 3DVIA on your hard drive. You might find 3DVIA folders in the following locations:

Make sure you do not have any custom styles or profiles existing in these folders that you’d want to keep.

Depending on your installation, there may be additional folders from previous installs or folders may not be named exactly the same.

Install directory:
“%Program Files%\Dassault Systemes\3DVIA Composer”

User data:
For XP, “Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\3DVIA Composer”
For Vista® and Windows® 7, “Users\<username>\Documents\3DVIAComposer”

After deleting folders, edit the Windows registry to remove the following keys (some keys may not be present of your system). To access the Windows Registry Editor select

Run…… in the Windows Start Menu, type regedit, and hit OK.

IMPORTANT:

Edit the Windows Registry at your own risk. Before editing the registry, it’’s recommended to create a backup.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Dassault Systemes\3DVIA Composer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Dassault Systemes\3DVIA Composer

Note: If you would like assistance in completing any of these steps
Contact Symmetry Solutions Technical Support

It’s that time of year again.  Many of us are in the process of migrating to the latest release of SolidWorks.  Along with that comes the usual questions.  Today we will answer one of those for you, updating your license server.

• The previous version of the SolidWorks SolidNetwork License (SNL) Manager will need to be uninstalled before installing the new version.
• First, transfer the activation for the program by launching the SolidNetwork License Manager on the server, choosing the Server Administration tab, clicking the Modify button, and transfer license.
• Next, uninstall though the Windows Control Panel, Add or remove programs for Windows XP, or Programs and Features for Windows Vista and 7

NOTE:  As of SolidWorks 2010, the SolidWorks SolidNetwork License Manager is activation based and no longer requires a dongle plugged into the server machine.  If you are currently using a version that required a dongle, remove it and mail it back to Symmetry Solutions, 8755 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

• Now you will need to install the new version of the license manager from the DVD or a download you have for the new SolidWorks version
  • For the installation type, Select the Server Products radio button then check the option to Install SolidNetwork License Manager on this computer
  • Follow the prompts in the installation manager to complete the installation

• When the install is done, you’ll need to activate the product. This will generate the license file used to determine what licenses you have available.  Launching the SolidWorks SolidNetwork License Manager software from the Windows Start menu should automatically bring up the activation Wizard
  • If you need to access the activation options at anytime to transfer the license or activate/reactivate the software, go to the server administration tab and select Modify…

• On the first window, take note of the computer name and port number.  If you are updating the SNL Manager on the same server computer, this information will not change, but if you are installing on a new or different server, this information will be needed for the client install.
  • At this time, you can point to an option file if you have created one.

• Select the Next to bring up the next dialog asking how you would like to activate:  Automatically over the internet or Manually via email.
  • You can do it in either way but it is recommended to do it automatically if you have internet connection. The recommended way will be quicker and only take a few seconds while the manual way will take a few minutes to complete.

• After completing the activation, a dialog will appear letting you know it was successful and will show what licenses you have available

YES!

I don’t care if you just bought the software or if you have been using SolidWorks for five years or even longer. If you have never had any type of formal training, you should, and here’s why…

I was one of those people who never had training. The company I worked for when I started using SolidWorks decided that we were smart enough to learn the software without spending any money on training. And they were right – partly. Between the five of us using the software we were able to figure out a way to do almost every task that we needed to complete the job.

Check out our SolidWorks Courses and Schedule

After about three years of working with SolidWorks I considered myself a fairly accomplished user and decided to venture out and find a new job where I would again be using SolidWorks. That led me to Symmetry Solutions. Which confirmed how good I had become using this tool right? After all, I was hired to provide technical support for our customers.

Now feeling even more confident in my abilities, I was slightly offended when the on-boarding process at Symmetry Solutions required I attend the introductory training class, SolidWorks Essentials. During the first day I picked up a few shortcuts that I had not seen before. Well, I thought, at least it wasn’t a complete waste of my time. By the end of the class I realized how little I truly knew about this tool I had been using for years. The amount of time I had wasted over the past three years doing things the wrong way was mind boggling. In retrospect the amount of money my previous employer had paid me to do things the wrong way, the long way, was almost obscene.

Since then I have become one of the SolidWorks certified instructors here at Symmetry. Over and over again, I hear from my students that have been using the software for years that the knowledge they gain through the SolidWorks training courses is invaluable. Until you take a course you don’t realize how much you don’t know.

What do you use SolidWorks for?

• Sheet metal? We have a class for that.
• Assembly modeling? Yes, we have a class for that.
• Mold design? We have a class for that too along with many other general and specialized curriculum.

Sure, training revenue is part of what pays our bills. But I can honestly say that the investment you or your employer makes in training will more than pay for itself in a very short time. It is well worth the investment.