~ Know
your Video card - Go to "Choose a video card or system
vendor." Choose the video card of interest.
This will display a
list of different models for the brand you selected.
You can also download
the latest
drivers for your video card.
~When in doubt, Reboot
Question: Can I toggle the filter
toolbar on/off?
Answer: Yes, select F5
Question: How do I clear all selection filters?
Answer: F6 clears all filters.
Question: I applied "V" as a keyboard
shortcut for Tile Vertically, but is doesn't work.
Answer: "V" is already set to vertices
out of the box. You must delete this keyboard shortcut for your
custom shortcut to work.
Question: What Operating System
is more desirable when using SolidWorks; Windows XP, Windows
2000, Windows NT, or Windows 9x (95 or 98)?
Answer: The required choice is Windows XP professional
or Windows 2000 Professional
Question: What does SolidWorks
recommend for Virtual Memory settings?
Answer: We recommend that your Initial Size
be set to at least 3 times the amount of the physical RAM on
your machine OR 300MB, whichever value is larger. We recommend
that the maximum setting be AT LEAST 4 times the amount of your
RAM. Therefore, if you have 128 MB of RAM, your minimum setting
should be at least 384 and your maximum setting should be at
least 512 MB. Please keep in mind that you may need to increase
the Initial and/or Maximum setting depending on the size and
complexity of the documents that you are working on or importing/exporting.
You must have enough disk space free to accommodate the size
of the maximum virtual file size. If you receive a message that
you are running out of virtual memory, please increase the settings.
For more information on Virtual Memory, please refer to your
on-line help and manuals for your Windows operating system.
Warning: You should disable
any AntiVirus services running on your machine before installing
or upgrading SolidWorks! A frequently-crashing system may result
otherwise!
Procedure: To disable AntiVirus from your machine:
Right-click on My Computer, select Manage. Double-click on Services
& Applications, then Services.
Find your AntiVirus software in this list, Right-click on it
and select Stop. There may be multiple AntiVirus services running,
so find and Stop them all!
Question:
I just applied the latest service pack to my SolidWorks install,
now when I try to do a preview in SolidWorks explorer I get
the following error message - "No edrawings data present
in this document." The file I was trying to preview was
not an edrawing, I don't understand.
Answer:
SolidWorks Explorer uses edrawings technology to preview files.
If you just installed a recent service pack for SolidWorks you
must also install the corresponding edrawings update.
Question: What's included in SolidWorks Office Premium?
Answer: SolidWorks Office Premium includes:
eDrawings Professional
PhotoWorks
SolidWorks Animator
3D Instant Web site
SolidWorks Toolbox
Utilities
FeatureWorks
PDMWorks
Routing
COSMOSWorks Designer
Question: What's included in SolidWorks
Office Professional?
Answer: SolidWorks Office Professional includes:
eDrawings Professional
PhotoWorks
SolidWorks Animator
3D Instant Web site
SolidWorks Toolbox
Utilities
FeatureWorks
PDMWorks
The standard SolidWorks maintenance contract covers software
and technical support for all products
GENERAL
Question: What is an easy way to remove geometry
from a solid part?
Answer: Delete Face/ Delete and Patch/ select
multiple faces of the protruding geometry. Delete Face is the
icon on the surface toolbar with the large red X.
Question: How do you remove the radius bends
from an imported sheet metal part?
Answer: Delete Face/ Delete and Patch/ select
all radius faces on the sheet metal geometry. Delete Face is
the icon on the surface toolbar with the large red X.
Question: I was just working on a part and
it DISSAPEARED!!! I still have the feature tree, but no geometry
on the screen. What gives?
Answer: You probably did a "Hide Solid
Body" command by accident. To show the solid body(your
missing part), simply Right Click on any Solid feature in the
feature tree(Boss, Cut, Fillet, Sweep, Etc) and choose "Show
Solid Body" from the right click menu.
Question: What options can I
set to get the best video performance for parts?
Answer: Some tips to improve overall video
performance
1. Work in Shaded Mode.
2. Make sure Hlr/Hlv in Shaded mode is TURNED OFF
. (View, Display, HLR Edges in Shaded mode)
3. In “Tools, Options, Document Properties, Image Quality”,
set both sliders to “OPTIMAL”
4. In “Tools, Options, System Options, Display/Selection”
uncheck the option for Anti-alias edges. 
5. In “Tools, Options, System Options, Performance”,
uncheck the 1st 3 options
(click help to see what these options do)
6. IN YOUR WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS (RMB on the desktop, go
to properties), and TURN OFF transition menu effects. These
are the scrolling and fading effects windows applies to right-click
menus and pull-down menus.
===+++ Sketches
Question: What is the best way
to add relations to sketches?
Answer: Hold down the Ctrl key and
multi select the entities. The property manager will dynamically
activate the “Add Relations” command for those two
entities. Click the relation you would like to add.
Ex: Hold Ctrl and select a line and a point. The property
manager changes to the Add Relations command. Click the “Midpoint”
relationship.
===+++ Features
Question: Can SolidWorks create
a Cut feature with a Sweep or a Loft?
Answer: Yes. In a part file, select Insert
from the pull down menus. Then select Cut, Sweep...(or Loft...).
Question: My part file is slow.
What are some common ways to improve rebuild time?
Answer: Mirror and Geometry Pattern - Often,
models are symmetric to some degree. One of the best ways to
improve rebuild time is to create half or one quarter of the
model, and use the 'Mirror Bodies' feature to create the rest
of the symmetric part. In SW2003, this command replaced the
“Mirror All” command, and can be found in “Insert,
Pattern Mirror, Mirror…” . Once in the “Mirror”
command, from the property manager, choose Bodies to Mirror,
and the select the solid body from the graphical display, and
complete the mirror command. At this point, non-symmetric features
can be added. Also, any time linear or circular patterns are
created, try using the 'geometry pattern' checkbox. This saves
processor time as well.
GENERAL
Question: When in an assembly I am unable to
VIEW any reference geometry(sketches, Planes, Origins, Etc).
Hide All Types(in the view menu) is checked on, but I cannot
uncheck it because it is grayed out. How come?
Answer: You are in "Large Assembly Mode"
and have to option for "Hide all planes, axes, sketches,
curves, annotations, etc." checked on. To get out of Large
Assembly mode, click the tools pull down menu and uncheck "Large
Assembly Mode". To change this option, look in "Tools,
Options, System Options, Large Assembly mode" in the middle
of the options page.
Question: What options can I
set to get the best video performance for assemblies?
Answer: Some tips to improve overall video
performance
1. Work in Shaded Mode.
2. Make sure Hlr/Hlv in Shaded mode is TURNED OFF . (View, Display,
HLR Edges in Shaded mode)
3. In “Tools, Options, Document Properties, Image Quality”,
set both sliders to “OPTIMAL”
4. In “Tools, Options, System Options, Display/Selection”
uncheck the option for Anti-alias edges.
5. In “Tools, Options, System Options, Performance”,
uncheck the 1st 3 options
(click help to see what these options do)
6. IN YOUR WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS (RMB on the desktop, go
to properties), and TURN OFF transition menu effects. These
are the scrolling and fading effects windows applies to right-click
menus and pull-down menus.
GENERAL
Question: Is there a way to prevent the Bill of Materials(BOM)
from updating?
Answer: Tools, Options, Document Properties,
Detailing. There is a checkbox at the bottom of this options
page.
Question: When a component is
deleted from an assembly BOM (Bill of Materials), and 'Automatic
update of BOM' is checked, how do I force the rest of the rows
under the BOM update to reflect the new numbering scheme?
Answer: RMB (Right Mouse Button) the BOM, and
chose 'Properties'. Click the Control tab and check the box
"Row numbers follow assembly ordering." This will
update the BOM as desired. Components are no longer required
to follow assembly ordering, so this option is left unchecked
by default.
===+++ New Users
Question: What should I do before
completely installing SolidWorks?
Answer: When you install the software, it will
ask you for a registration code. Since you are installing a
new seat, you have not been given your code yet. Therefore,
you need to go to the next screen, which is the Registration
Wizard. You will be asked to complete the information in the
Registration Wizard. This information can then be either emailed
or faxed directly to SolidWorks. (Please refer to the Help button
on the first screen of your Wizard for further directions and
information on submission procedures.) Once you complete the
Registration Wizard, you will then have 30 days to run the software.
Please note that if for some reason you do not input your registration
code within that time period, the software will "time out"
and you will not be allowed access to it.
Question: How to use the Registration
Wizard to request a new registration code?
Answer: If you are having problems obtaining
a Registration Code from the website (you were linked here during
the installation process) you can follow this procedure:
Go to Start -> Programs -> SolidWorks -> SolidWorks
Tools -> Registration Wizard.
For Registration method, select “Other:” and “email”
or “FAX.” Fill out the forms presented, then email
the Text file generated to SolidWorks (follow instructions for
email address.)
Question: Why do I need a registration
code for SolidWorks?
Answer: registration code is required for each
major release of SolidWorks to protect the investment of SolidWorks
and its customers.
Question: I am having difficulties
registering SolidWorks. Whom do I contact for support?
Answer: Please e-mail reginfo@solidworks.com
or in the U.S. call 1-800-693-9000, and use the option for Registration
information, or from outside the U.S. call +1-978-371-5000 and
use the option for Registration information.
Question: I would like to use
SolidWorks at home as well as in the office. Will I be able
to do this?
Answer: Yes. The SolidWorks license agreement
provides for home usage. For each serial number, you will use
the same registration code for your office and home installations.
You must register your office installation first.
Question: How do I get a serial
number for a SolidWorks add-on product?
Answer: All SolidWorks add-on products, including
Animator, FeatureWorks, Moldbase, PhotoWorks, Piping, and Toolbox,
require a separate 16-digit serial number. If these options
are ordered at the same time as SolidWorks, the appropriate
serial number(s) will be provided on the serial number card
inside your product box. If they are ordered after purchasing
SolidWorks, your Reseller will provide the serial number for
your new add-on product.
===+++ Existing Users
Question: Will a new registration code be required
to run SolidWorks ?
Answer: Yes.
Question: How will I obtain my
new registration code for SolidWorks?
Answer: If you are a current subscription service
commercial user and submitted a valid registration record with
SolidWorks for the previous version of software that we are
currently shipping, you will be given your new SolidWorks registration
code upon the installation of a new version, providing the address
we have in our database is valid for you. Otherwise, you need
to run the Registration Wizard, and the new registration code
will be emailed / faxed to you within 5 business days.
Question: Why do I need a new
registration code for SolidWorks?
Answer: A new registration code is required
for each major release of SolidWorks to protect the investment
of SolidWorks and its customers.
Question: Why am I being asked
to verify information for SolidWorks ?
Answer: SolidWorks requests verification of
this data in order to maintain accurate information such as
shipping addresses, etc. This type of information ultimately
allows SolidWorks to better assist, serve, and understand its
customers, and allows for prompt delivery of software upgrades
and supporting information to our customers.
Question: I did not get a new
registration code upon installing SolidWorks.
Answer: If you did not receive a registration
code when you installed the software, you will need to fill
out the Registration Wizard when it pops up on your screen.
This information is then either emailed or faxed directly to
SolidWorks. Please note: Once you complete the Registration
Wizard, the program is automatically terminated. Please note:
Once you complete the Registration Wizard, the program is automatically
terminated. You will not be able to use SolidWorks until you
receive your registration code via return e-mail or fax. Please
refer to the Help button on the first screen of your Wizard
for further directions and information on various forms of submissions.
B. If you are a current registered user of a previous SolidWorks
product, you may contact us via e-mail reginfo@solidworks.com
or in the U.S. call 1-800-693-9000, and use the option for Registration
information, or from outside the U.S. call +1-978-371-5000 and
use the option for Registration information. This does not constitute
a product registration; you should still submit your wizard.
Question: I have a new computer
and do not have my SolidWorks serial number in order to install
SolidWorks. How do I find my serial number?
Answer: This number is found on the original
CD jewel case or on your original SolidWorks product box. Serial
numbers for SolidWorks will not be provided over the phone.
Question: I use SolidWorks at
home as well as in the office. Will I still be able to do this?
Answer: Yes. The SolidWorks license agreement
provides for home usage. For each serial number, you will use
the same registration code for your office and home installations.
Question: I have further questions
on registering SolidWorks . Whom do I contact for support?
Answer: Please e-mail reginfo@solidworks.com
or in the U.S. call 1-800-693-9000, and use the option for Registration
information, or from outside the U.S. call +1-978-371-5000 and
use the option for Registration information.
Question: How do I get a serial
number for a SolidWorks add-on product?
Answer: All SolidWorks add-on products, including
Animator, FeatureWorks, Moldbase, PhotoWorks, Piping, and Toolbox
installations require a separate 16 digit serial number. If
these options are ordered at the same time as SolidWorks, the
appropriate serial number(s) will be provided on the serial
number card inside your product box. If they are ordered after
purchasing SolidWorks, your Reseller will provide the serial
number for your new add-on product.
Keep SolidWorks current with the latest software
patches available here
for download.
