8/05/2001 Tip#13

1.
How to carry the hole wizard favorites and default settings to another computer?
Copy the default.mdb file from “data” directory under SolidWorks installation directory.
(example:- c:\program files\solidworks 2001\data\default.mdb)
We can also change the description automatically given by the hole wizard by modifying the .mdb files under \lang\english directory.

Shaji Sherief
shaji.s@marquip.com

2.
If you want to make your production drawings easy to read by printing them in color and shaded.  Start up e-drawing and select shaded.  The drawing can be printed in the size you want.

Bram van Welzenis
bvw@noordzijdesign.nl

3.
I always took it for granted but maybe some people will find it useful.  I have been searching for a way where my solid model is directly linked to my .slddrw. just like it is the other way around (your slddrw is cross referenced to your model always), so if you have your solid and want to link it to your slddrw. place a hyperlink on your model in the form of a note, go to insert --> hyperlink --> and browse to the slddrw. that you want to link it to --> open, ok, and done. now when you want to see the dwg. of your model just click on the hyperlink and your slddrw. opens, you could place as many hyperlink as you need to, and you can hide them too just like any annotations.

Miguel Monge
mmonge@riconcorp.com

4.
E-mailing SolidWorks files can be problem because of their size, Winzip will reduce them, but not by much.
To drastically reduce the size of SolidWorks files before e-mailing try the following.

1.Enclose the whole part within a solid box, name the feature something like ‘Delete me’.
2.Change the display mode from Shaded to line mode (hidden lines removed).
3.Do a Save as on the file.
4.E-mail file with a note to remove feature called ‘Delete me’.

I use this method a lot and generally get reductions in file size of around 50%.

Ken Carpenter
ken.carpenter@btinternet.com

5.
Save your Assembly and Part files as a HOOPS HSF file. (.hsf) format.  Download The HOOPS Viewer. (3D Stream Control). Free with Registration from HOOPS.  http://hoops3d.com/streaming/plugin/plugin_download.htm.  Open your .hsf file in the Viewer. Save that as a .html file.  Upload the .html and the .hsf file that is the same name to your hosting ISP for you web site or your web server.

IE 5.5 will download the free plug-in

Free from http://www.hoops3d.com/ and http://www.solidworks.com/

Kern Tech
mat@bak.rr.com

6.
SolidWorks Assembly *.IGS was not usable as an assembly by one of our clients doing meshing for FEA.  Imported parts to ACAD via XCHANGEWORKS.  Assembled and performed union, exported via *.SAT to SolidWorks and now is a *.SLDPRT.

Morris Barwick
Retired
MORRISBARWICK@YAHOO.COM

7.
Keyboard View Orientation
I just happened to accidentally hit Crtl+1 and seen the model change views. I have been using SW for about 5 years now and never knew that that was a shortcut. I figured that others could use this information

Crtl+1 - Front view
Crtl+2 - Rear view
Crtl+3 - Left view
Crtl+4 - Right view
Crtl+5 - Top view
Crtl+6 - Bottom view
Crtl+7 - Isometric view

Scott Baugh
George Koch Sons
sjb@kochllc.com

8.
Never rename parts form windows explorer. especially if you have a part that has been defined in the context of an assembly. this causes SolidWorks to report that certain files are not SolidWorks documents.  Use the SolidWorks Explorer (Tools --> SolidWorks Explorer).

Billy Smith
Leggett & Platt
CADENG@DCR.NET

9.
If you really want a time/date stamp on your drawing, you can do it with a custom footer. In the Page Setup menu under Header/Footer you can insert a custom footer that includes the date and time. Just be sure to reset the font to a smaller font. A 4 font seem to be the best size font as it is fairly inconspicuous but still readable. Keep in mind that it will not continue to be placed there each time you open a drawing. You will have to reset it each time.

10.
You can place multiple notes with different text in a drawing with the note function. (This may be helpful because it is being demanding we put 4X, 3X or whatever matches the parts list in your specific drawing next to bubbles.) To do this start the note function however you want (typically right click any part of the drawing and go to annotations then notes). Type in the desired text then move the cursor over the drawing. Notice that the cursor changes as you pass over objects in the drawing.  (It can automatically add leaders. You just click to place the arrow and click again to place the text.) Click to place the text as many times as you like where ever you like. Then go back to the Notes dialog box and change the text. Go back to the drawing and place this new text. Hit OK on the Notes dialog box to set all of the text. If you click Cancel it will clear ALL of the text you just placed.

11.
If you want to copy a complete assembly with all of its children, grandchildren… including hardware items to a separate directory you can do this using SolidWorks Explorer. The Edit, Copy Document function lets you add a prefix or suffix (such as “copy” or “mod”) to the existing file name. This way you can copy and redesign an assembly without affecting the original or any subassemblies or components.

12.
Want to print an assembly drawing without loading the assembly? You can easily print files using SolidWorks Viewer.

9-12 submitted by:
Stephen King
stephen.c.king@lmco.com
Associate Engineer
Lockheed Martin/PTI
Tulsa, OK

13.
This is a work around for SW2000 and SW2001 it will allow you to Crop an Exploded View.

Insert your exploded view, use a square, circle or polygon to define your crop area, then RMB (right mouse button), go to properties for that view & check show view as unexploded, crop view as normal, RMB go back to properties and check the exploded view.

Matthew A. Bush
CAT Documentation Team
Certified SolidWorks Professional
bushma@corning.com

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