Category: Complaints

SolidWorks question: why does opening a part cause others to open too?

Have you ever opened a particular SolidWorks file that caused other SolidWorks files to automatically open as well? This can be very frustrating if you want to open a signal part, but then 5 other parts load with it.  Most people who encounter this behavior figure out that there are external references that link the files together.

Over the years, I’ve seen people give several types of responses for this behavior in SolidWorks. Some people simply live with the undesired behavior. Others may say, “the file is corrupt,” or “there’s a bug in SolidWorks.” Some people spend hours trying to resolve the cause of the behavior without success (me being one of them, many, many, many years ago).

The answer?

SolidWorks is doing what it is supposed to do when you open one file, and then other external referenced files open automatically with it!  This is intended behavior.  It is also behavior that you can control at the system level.

There is a setting in System Options that allows you to tell SolidWorks how to handle external referenced files.  It’s at Tools pulldown>Options…>System Options tab>External References.  At that screen, the fourth line from the top says, “Load referenced documents:” followed by a drop-down field with the following choices:

  • Prompt – ask the user before opening referenced files
  • All – open all referenced files every time
  • None – never open referenced files
  • Changed Only – only open referenced files if there is a change

As far as I have seen, Changed Only appears to be the SolidWorks default choice for this setting.  To tell SolidWorks not to open external referenced files, change this setting to None. Save the setting by clicking OK button.

loadextrefs

That’s it!  I know, this seems like such a simple solution for something that may have been particularly frustrating.

3DVia can do it, so why not SolidWorks?

3DVia Composer3DVia Composer demonstrations have been all the rage at official SolidWorks and VAR events over the past year or so.  I’m getting quite familiar with 3DVia Composer just from the demos (I’ve never used it).  The more I see it, the more I realize just how much SolidWorks lacks in how it handles assemblies.

The past is the past

At one time, there was a function in SolidWorks that would allow the user to auto-explode their assembly.  The problem with this function is that it never worked well enough to be of much use.  As a result, the auto-explode function is not longer included in SolidWorks.

3DVia does it, so let’s improve SolidWorks

In demo after demo of 3DVia Composer, I see a milieu were assemblies are exploded and rearranged with superb ease.  This same ease should be available in SolidWorks assemblies!

Examples of 3DVia functions that should be added to SolidWorks assembly mode.

  • Ability to explode groups of parts within an assembly with one motion
  • Spherical explode
  • Onion skin mode

Magnet Lines

One new function in 3DVia Composer that should be added to SolidWorks drawing mode is the Magnet Line.   This allows the user to place one line (Magnet Line) on the drawing, then automatically attach to it a whole series of balloons so that they all are centered on that line.  The Magnet Line can then be moved around at any angle.  Regardless to the angle, all of the balloons remained aligned to each other by their common connection to the Magnet Line.

3DVia Composer Magnet Line

In fact, maybe Magnet Line shouldn’t be limited to just aligning balloons.  Maybe it can be used to align any type of annotations.  Maybe the Magnet Line can be made to affect annotations by their start, end or centers.  If sophisticated enough, maybe the Magnet Line can completely replace the outdated MS-Office style alignment tools now available in SolidWorks drawing mode.

Rapid Dimension Manipulator (Part 1: …of Mice and Pies)

SolidWorks 2010 saw several cool interface improvements that may have been prematurely included.  One of these was the Rapid Dimension Manipulator (or as I like to call it, the Dimension Pie; it’s just easier to say).  The Dimension Pie appears at the mouse cursor location when the user inserts a dimension in a drawing view.  It allows the user to quickly place dimensions along a chosen side at evenly spaced intervals.

The Problem

Although the Dimension Pie does speed up certain dimensioning activities, it also burdens the user by being in the way a lot.  This prevents the user from quickly making additional selections by requiring a mouse dance.  In case you’ve not upgraded to SolidWorks 2010 yet, a mouse dance is when the user is forced to move the mouse cursor away from one location and to bring it back again just to dismiss some pop-up.

As I see it, the shape and size of the pie take up too much real estate on the view pane.  The pie shape is just the right sort of shape to be equally annoying in almost every situation.   In my opinion, a rectangular bar shape would’ve much less intrusive.  Another problem is that there is no way to quickly banish the Dimension Pie or to turn it off completely.

Temporary Solution

As of right now, SolidWorks 2010 SP3 (and SP3.1, I presume) allows for the use of a registry key to turn off the Dimension Pie.  If someone is interested, this key is posted somewhere in the SolidWorks Forums (search for “Rapid Dimension Manipulator”).  I’m not providing that solution here because I just don’t like it.  It requires the use to upgrade to SP3 and then to apply the registry key.  A permanent solution is planned for SP4 anyway, so if you haven’t already upgraded, you may wish to wait a week or two.

Convert Entities workflow change in SW 2010

Convert Entities tool in SolidWorks  is commonly used to pull modelled edges into sketches.  Previous to SolidWorks 2010, the user had to select each edge or face and then execute the Convert Entities tool.  If the user only had a few edges, this worked fine.  However, if the user had a lot of edges or a chain of edges, this method was cumbersome.  Even still, many SolidWorks users are familar with the old way.  In many cases, the old way is actually best.

So, what changed? 

Convert Entities now has a PropertyManager.  The user is no longer required to preselect the correct entity types before starting the tool.  They can now start the tool, and then make their selections.  In addition to selecting faces and edges, the user now has the option to select a chain, which allows them to convert contiguous sketch entites more quickly.

What’s wrong with the new method?

There are several message threads on the SolidWorks Forums where users are complaining about the changes to the Convert Entities workflow.  A particular point of contention comes from those users who have a shortcut keystroke convertentitiesassigned to Convert Entities.  In such cases, the user only has to select their entities and then type one keystroke to convert them to the sketch.  This is very easy and fast.  The new dialog box in the PropertyManager drastically slows this process by requiring additional input from the user to dismiss the Convert Entities tool.

Is there a solution?

For us experienced users, there is a solution.  The Convert Entities PropertyManager has a pushpin.  With the Convert Entities PropertyManager open, simply click on the pushpin and then OK.  This will allow Convert Entities to be in “expert mode”.  In other words, the tool will work the same as it did in SolidWorks 2009 and previous.   This task has to be repeated each time the user starts a new SolidWorks session.

To bring back the PropertyManager for Convert Entities within the same session, simply activate the tool without any pre-selected entities.  The pushpin can be reactivated.

Long term solution?

The new workflow for Convert Entities is great, but it needs to be just a little smarter.  There should be a system option in SolidWorks that allows the user to pull the pushpin on the PropertyManager by default, instead of requiring the user to do it once for each session.  If you have an opinion about this, I welcome your comments here and on the SolidWorks Forum.

Rounding of numbers

On most computer systems, decimal numbers that have 5 as the last digit are automatically rounded up when removing a decimal place. This may create a problem.

Some people have a rule that SolidWorks drawings should not have overridden dimension values (Override values).  I generally agree.  Yet, there are several legitimate reasons to use Override values.  One major reason is for proper rounding of linear dimensions for removed digits after the decimal.  Currently, SolidWorks offers no option that allows the user to automatically round dimension numbers in a way that is consistent with current industry standards and practices.

SOLIDWORKS 2015 now has several rounding options that follow the rules below.  More information, please see SOLIDWORKS What’s New Rounding article.

Rounding rule for dimensions

On most computer systems, decimal numbers that have 5 as the last digit are automatically rounded up when removing a decimal place.  For example, the number 1.425 rounds up to 1.43.  This creates a problem.  Most standards require that such numbers are rounded to the nearest even number in the last decimal place.  For example, that number 1.425 should be rounded to 1.42, and 1.435 should be rounded to 1.44.

ASTM E 29 states:

6.4.3 When the digit next beyond the last place to be retained is 5, and there are no digits beyond this 5, or only zeros, increase by 1 the digit in the last place retained if it is odd, leave the digit unchanged if it is even. Increase by 1 the digit in the last place retained, if there are digits beyond this 5.

NASA’s Engineering Drawing Standards Manual states:

When the first digit discarded is exactly 5, followed only by zeros, the last digit retained (i.e., the digit preceding the 5…) should be rounded upward if it is an odd number, but no adjustment made if it is an even number. For example, 4.365, when rounded to three significant digits, becomes 4.36. The number 4.355 would also round to the same value, 4.36, if rounded to three significant digits.  This procedure is known as odd-even rounding.

It is my understanding that this rule helps reduce statistical bias by allowing different numbers to be rounded up or down.  Using the computer default rule (5 is always rounded up) only allows for the upward rounding of such numbers.  This can create greater statistical errors, particularly when compounding rounded numbers to derive further rounded numbers.

Rounding as it affects tolerances

No rule is absolute.  There are other considerations when rounding.  A number should never be rounded so that it increases the original limits of a dimension.  Although this rule mostly applies to inspection techniques, it can also apply to specification.  For example, if there is a feature whose size limits are 1.255-1.275, the specification cannot be rounded so its limits are 1.25-1.28.  In such a case where rounding occurs, the specification limits should be 1.26-1.27.  Fortunately, this isn’t something that often occurs in mechanical design (though it does pop up when trying to apply dual dimensions).

Usually, rounding the limits is something that more often happens in quality assurance during incoming inspection of products.  In such cases, Interpretation of Limits rule from ASME Y14.5 declares limits are absolute.  For example, 12.25 MAX is the same as 12.2500000000000000 MAX.  If the feature measurement is 12.2540, that measurement should not be rounded to 12.25, as it is still out of tolerance because it exceeded 12.25.

SolidWorks should supports more rounding options

Right now, SolidWorks does offer one rounding option for dimensions.  In documents options, there is a setting to round numbers to the nearest fraction, but only if fractional numbers are in use.  I would like to see other rounding options supported, but not a document option.  SolidWorks should have a setting added to the dimension PropertyManager that allows the user to establish a rounding rule for a particular dimension.  For each dimension, users should have a choice to use the odd-even rounding rule, nearest fraction rounding rule (only when fractional numbers are in use) or always round 5 up rule.  This shouldn’t just be for drawings.  It should also be available in the model because they are often used as part of the product definition and because dimensions in the model can be inserted into a drawing.

For now, one can use Override values on the drawing.  The drawback to this is that Override values do not automatically update if there is a change to the associated model geometry.

So, this sounds like this issue should be yet another Enhancement Request.

As of SOLIDWORKS 2015, there are several options for numerical rounding which are available.

  • Round half away from zero, where the only digit being removed is 5, then round the last remaining digit away from zero.
  • Round half towards zero, where the only digit being removed is 5, then round the last remaining digit towards zero.
  • Round half to even, where the only digit being removed is 5, then round the last remaining digit so that it is an even number.
  • Truncate without rounding, where any and all digits being removed have no effect on the last remaining digit.

There is also an option to only apply alternative round methods to dimensions, with the setting Only apply rounding method to dimensions.  When this setting is checked, round half away from zero method is applied to all system and properties values, but the alternative rounding method (round half towards zero, round half to even or truncate without rounding) is applied specifically to dimensions.  Without this option checked, the chosen rounding method applies everywhere in SOLIDWORKS.

To account for dual dimensioning issues, tolerance rounding includes an option to fit the secondary unit’s tolerance range so that it does not extend outside of the primary unit’s tolerance range.  To use this capability, goto Tools > Options > Document Properties > Dimensions and click on Tolerance button. In the Tolerance dialog, check the option Inward rounding of secondary unit tolerance extents. 

“Over 1000 touch points for feedback”

SolidWorks Corps claims to have “over one thousand touch points for feedback” that allow them to find areas that need improvement with their applications.  Without getting into detail about the effectiveness of their use of these touch points, I’m simply pointing out where they do look.  First, note that the Product Definition Group oversees much of this activity and is staffed worldwide.

  • They conduct direct customer visits.  My company was lined up for such a visit a couple years ago, but due to scheduling, I had to cancel on the SolidWorks representative at the last-minute.
  • They are conducting an increasing number of user surveys (check the SolidWorks Forum and sometimes your email too).
  • There are field people who work through the VARs.
  • Technical support provides invaluable information.
  • They gain information from meeting with User Groups.
  • SolidWorks World provides significant information, such as the top 10 enhancement requests list, voted upon by attendees.
  • They also peruse the SolidWorks and CAD forums.  It’s my understanding that they also hang out at other popular independent CAD forums.

Where is the most effective place to request a change or notify SolidWorks Corp about issues with their software?  Well, I think that depends.  Submitting ERs might be the most effective method, actually.

Thoroughly discussing problems and difficulties in the SolidWorks Forum may also afford more attention.  Bugging VARs about software bugs is fairly effective in my experience (some have had opposite experiences).  Of all the bugs I’ve reported via my VAR, none remain.

Another way to give feedback is to comment on the various SolidWorks related blogs.  Get your favorate blogger to talk about the issue indepth.  Depending on the topic, bloggers do seem to have a little more pull than the average bear.  Unfortunately, I know only one bear that uses SolidWorks (and when her system crashes, it is usually a result of her bashing it about about cabin).