Drawing Archives - Page 17 of 29

Product Review: Template Wizard (2010)

Several years ago, I reviewed one of the earliest versions of Template Wizard, published by 3 Dawn Consulting, LLC at SolidWorksTemplates.com. Template Wizard is an application which fills a gap in SolidWorks functionality by creating the process to automatically generate document templates for drawings, parts and assemblies. Kevin Van Liere of 3 Dawn Consulting has provided to me a new license of Template Wizard for the purpose of this new review. This review is my own content without input of others.

The current version of Template Wizard is refined and more capable. Template Wizard gives the user the ability to create templates from scratch. Users may also create drawing templates from AutoCAD generated files. If the user wishes, they may use it to edit existing SolidWorks drawing templates.

User Interface

Template Wizard is an add-in that runs within the PropertyManager pane inside of SolidWorks. Selecting settings within the interface is similar to other functions that run within the PropertyManager. Users create new templates in a 9 step process. The process starts with a blank drawing sheet and ends with a fully functional templates for drawings, parts and assemblies. When creating a drawing template, some user interaction with the view pane is required to place objects and anchor points.

Installation

Installation is quick and painless. Just execute the downloaded install file, then start up SolidWorks. Template Wizard appears as a pulldown menu. The user will be prompted to enter a registration code (provided at the time of purchase) the first time before they create a new template.

Workflow

If a user wishes to create new templates, it is recommended that they create a drawing template first. As mentioned, Template Wizard takes the user through a series of steps. Once the drawing template is complete, it then allows the user to transfer applicable settings over to new part and assembly templates.

The order of drawing template creation tasks is fairly logical. The user is prompted at each step:

Drawing size, view projection, standards, units of measure, etc.
Border creation, margins, zones, border layer. Although Template Wizard does automatically create borders based on user choices, a nice function to include might have been the ability to choose settings that automatically follow standard ISO or ASME borders, based on drawing size.
Title block and custom properties. Title blocks may be created from existing title blocks or created from scratch using dozens of field blocks. This step is likely the most complex.
Establish tables and their anchors. This one function by itself may make Template Wizard worth its price. SolidWorks has anchors that serve as automatic starting points when the user inserts tables onto a drawing. However, this anchor functionality is somewhat under-documented and hidden. Template Wizard labels each anchor which allows the user to see where and what they are.
Fonts, bent leader length and tangent edge settings.
Save “Page Design”. One thing that I find confusing is the use of alternative terminology in Template Wizard. A page design means sheet format.
Establish the “next sheet” variable and save “template design”. “Next sheet” variable is a quirky SolidWorks setting that establishes the drawing template. Template Wizard uses this variable in a cleaver way to allow drawing templates to utilized a different sheet format for additional sheets of a multi-sheet drawing.
Create part and assembly templates, and the custom properties file. This reduces the effort of creating part and assembly templates down to a push of a button.

Update Wizard

Though I have not tested this functionality, it is important to note that Template Wizard has a function called Update Wizard. This tool gives the user the power to update the sheet format of a whole bunch of drawings at one time. The tool even allows the user to find and replace specific text in the same way!

Purchasing options

Template Wizard is available through the SolidWorksTemplates.com website. Given the value and time-savings potential of Template Wizard, the price of US$295.00 seems reasonable. Visa and MasterCard are accepted for immediate delivery of the software license. Paypal, invoice and check are also excepted.

Findings

Template Wizard was created because SolidWorks does not provide a simple method for template creation. The process in SolidWorks is not well documented nor easily understood by new or some experienced users. Template Wizard allows the user to bypass the learning curve by providing powerful tools in a fairly straightforward process. However, even though Template Wizard is a great tool, it is not completely intuitive.

The user should read Template Wizard’s Help file before using it. Treat the Help file as a tutorial. The Help file gives the user information they need to make certain choices. For example, during the Title Block creation step, the user is presented with tons of choices. Those choices are defined in the Help file under “Pre-Designed Title Blocks” and “Title Block Elements”. I would like to see this information included within the Template Wizard’s workflow in the form of a preview window or something similar.

Where Template Wizard excels is in the fact that it breaks down the template creation process into a series of steps. Many of these steps are wonderfully automated, drastically reducing the time it takes to create a template. It even changes settings in SolidWorks itself to allow the user more flexibility in how they wish to save and use their new templates. As a byproduct of its workflow, Template Wizard also serves as an education tool. It teaches the user about what is needed to make sheet formats and templates in SolidWorks.

tw2010--2

Template Wizard’s value comes from the time and effort saved during the creation of SolidWorks templates. It is not an application that has a high reuse value. However, I do recommend keeping it installed (but inactive) on SolidWorks. This will allow the user to make adjustments to their templates over time, as needs change.

Template Wizard is not for that do-it-yourself person whose independent spirit and drive pushes them to create their own template and sheet formats. It is for the person or company that does not wish to spend a lot time creating, changing or maintaining templates.

DraftSight; How can Dassault Systemes offer 2D CAD for free?

As mentioned in an article earlier this week, Dassault Systemes announced the release of a new “professional-grade” 2D CAD application called DraftSight. DraftSight is touted as an easy DWG file editor. The big bonus is that DraftSight is free!

2D CAD at Dassault Systemes

Within the Dassault Systemes family of products, DraftSight now takes its place as the 2D CAD offering. For non-SolidWorks users, it will effectively replace the old DWGEditor. However, according to Matthew West of SolidWorks Corp in a recent tweet,

The SolidWorks 2D Editor isn’t going anywhere for the time being. But [SolidWorks] customers are welcome to use DraftSight if they prefer.

It’s free?

Though it is free, DraftSight is not offered as open source. Nor is it offered under a true freemium marketing model. Dassault Systemes is taking a different path. When I talked to Arron Kelly, Sr. Director, DraftSight, I expressed my concern that DraftSight may be yet another application that starts off strong as free but then eventual fizzles out and is forgotten. What is Dassault’s plan to kept this product vital? His answer was complex.

swymers Dassault Systemes made a dual product release announcement that involves DraftSight. The DraftSight application is being closely tied to the DraftSight.com community. This new community is based on a new technology called SwYm (“See what you mean”). The community is also free. It will have community support, question and answers, voting on answers, blog, videos, knowledge base, etc. According to Aaron Kelly, Dassault Systemes plans to “leverage the community to build a better product.” They are going to rely on the community to determine how to develop DraftSight. Users will make suggestions and prioritize enhancements, similar to SolidWorks Brainstorm.

Funding for the development of DraftSight will come in the form of paid add-ons and services. For a yearly maintenance fee, users will be able to have direct telephone or online technical support. Larger customers will have a network license. DraftSight also plans to charge for the API extension.

I asked, does a user need to purchase the API package to use LISP, or do they just need it to develop LISP or C++ routines?

Kelly stated, users need to have the API extension to use LISP file too.

SolidWorks concern

One concern I have is for SolidWorks users who use SolidWorks 2D Editor (formerly DWGEditor). We get support for 2D Editor via our VAR. We are unlimited in our use of its API (limited that it may be). If DraftSight eventually replaces 2D Editor, SolidWorks customers do not seem to have a path to use their SolidWorks subscription to gain support and the API extension for DraftSight. Though 2D Editor is not often a selling point, it is part of what we pay for in the form of subscription and original purchase. Does Dassault Systemes really intend to leave SolidWorks users out on a limb if 2D Editor is ever cancelled?

Review of DraftSight

I will review DraftSight and DraftSight.com in future articles.

Dassault Systemes Launches new 2D CAD free!

Dassault Systemes has announced that they are going to shake up the industry by public beta releasing a free community driven 2D CAD application called DraftSight. Those of us who use AutoCAD or DWGEditor will find the interface familiar enough to use it without much trouble. Future development will be driven by the community via the new DraftSight community at draftsight.com. Dassualt Systemes plans to “leverage the community to build a better product”, according to Aaron Kelly.

sampleds

As I used a private beta version last week, I did discover a number of bugs, so I will reserve my full review until I have a chance to try out the latest officially released version of DraftSight. I will also talk about DraftSight’s place in the Dassault Systemes’ family of products and how this affects SolidWorks users. Additionally, I will talk about how Dassualt Systemes plans to fund future development of DraftSight offered as free product.

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.

How to overline text on a SolidWorks drawing

Occasionally, a SolidWorks user may need to state a number or variable as approximate within an annotation note. The mathematical symbol for this is an overline. Overlining text is not readily supported by SolidWorks. One solution is to draw a line over the text. This is undesirable due to the messiness that comes about when trying to associate notes with sketch entities. Another solution is to create a new custom symbol within the Gtol.sym file. This takes time. Also, the symbol has to be manually shared if the drawing is opened on another computer.

Here is a quick and dirty trick for creating overlined text on SolidWorks drawing:

Start an annotation note.
With the note active and your typing cursor placed at the desired location within the note, click on the Stack button from the Annotations toolbar.

Choose the style with the division line across the center.
Choose the bottom alignment option.
Type your overlined text in the Lower text field.
Select OK.

stackwinww

The one drawback to this trick is that it will force spacing above your line of text. This may only be a concern if one tries to use this technique within the general notes.

News: Dimension Palette improves in SolidWorks 2010 SP3

The people (i.e., SolidWorks users) have spoken and SolidWorks Corp listened. The infamous Dimension Palette now functions differently. The controversy surrounding the Dimension Palette started almost immediately after SolidWorks 2010 SP0 was released. People started posting heated complaints in the SolidWorks forums. I addressed many of those complaints in a previous article.

How has Dimension Palette changed? It no longer comes up automatically when the user accesses a dimension on a drawing. Instead, when one or more dimensions are selected, a Dimension Palette button appears above and to the right of the mouse pointer’s location. This is similar to other pop up toolbars, such as the Shortcut Menu.

dim-palette01

To active the Dimension Palette, simply move the mouse cursor over the Dimension Palette button. This will pop up the Dimension Palette. From there, use of the Dimension Palette is the same as before.

dim-palette04 Some minor visual tweaks were also added to improve the look and control of the Dimension Palette. The corners are now rounded. There is also the addition of a Move tab that allows the Dimension Palette to be moved around the view pane by the user.

dim-palette05

New behavioral improvements allow the Dimension Palette to be more predictable. If the user interacts with the Dimension Palette, it will remain on screen for as long as the dimension selection is active and the mouse cursor remains in the view pane. If the Dimension Palette is brought up by the user but the user does not interact with it, the Dimension Palette will disappear when the mouse pointer moves away from it. If this happens, simply press the CTRL key to bring the Dimension Palette button back, if desired. Also, if the Dimension Palette pops up and it is not wanted, it may be banished by pressing the ESC key.

I’ve had a chance to use this new functionality already. The changes to Dimension Palette represent serious improvement! I’m not going to say the solution is complete. I believe development of the Dimension Palette needs to mature before it becomes a classic like the Shortcut Bar. These improvements do make it more user friendly. If there are no other reasons to upgrade to SolidWorks 2010 SP3, the improvements to the Dimension Palette are reason enough.