Expanding Feature Manager

[jumit]

This is more of an annoyance than a problem, but in assemblies the parts, subassemblies, and folders of the Feature Manager tree expand by themselves. How can I keep them all neatly contracted when I'm searching for an item on the tree and don't want to scroll through all the features of each model?

Judy Mitten, Senior Designer
Aerospace Display Systems, LLC

 

[MElam]

I'm not sure how to keep them from auto-expanding, but if you right-click on the top item in the tree (ass'y name), you will get an option to Collapse Items.

 

[dogarila]

In SW03 you may RMB on the top item and select "View Dependencies", then collapse the items. To go back, RMB and select "View Features". I think in SW04 there is an option to see features and dependencies in the same time...?!?

 

[Dennyd]

jumit,

Something else that is very handy is to add a folder in the Feature Manager Tree and add features (for part files) or components (for assemblies) to it. This is similar to using subassemblies but it does a better job of managing the expansion of the tree, which is your stated problem.

- - -Dennyd

 

[DISH]

Dennyd
Have you ever had any strange stuff happen with this new folder structure. I believe that this is a new feature to sw 2004. I have people still reluctant to use it because of possible flaws with it being still so new.
Have you experienced anything?

 

[Standing]

netshop21,
In the Feature Manager Tree, I see Dependencies and Features all the time. I cannot turn Dependencies off like it was in 2003. When I do a “Go to…” the search goes through the dependencies every time.


Bradley

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I often use the Folder feature & have had no problems with it. The Folder feature was in SW2003, but did not automatically open to highlight & "go to" a part, when the part was selected in the graphics area ... that shortcoming has been fixed in SW2004.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?

 

[EdDanzer]

I have the opposite problem when mating, the feature manager quits staying expanded. When this starts it means several more mouse clicks per mate. Usually after 10 or 20 mates after this starts, SolidWorks crashes.
Having the feature manager over the assembly makes picking reference geometry difficult, adds to mouse work, and takes longer.

 

[brengine]

MElam,
Actually you don't *have* to RMB the top item...make sure you have nothing selected then RMB *anywhere* in the feature where there isn't anything to select (i.e. no words, feature names, components names, etc...). If you do accidentally select something, you'll have to de-select it (I like to hit ESC) and they RMB a different spot, but it really works fine once you get used to it.
Ken

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Having the feature manager over the assembly makes picking reference geometry difficult

Ed, if you don't like the "see-through" FM check thread559-88487 ... it gives registry tweak to switch the FM to opaque.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?

 

[EdDanzer]

CorBlimeyLimey,
I did every thing described in the thread and this did not make an area over the assembly for the assembly feature manager when the assembly dialog is where the feature manager usually is.

 

[Heckler]

There is a setting that you must check for auto-expanding. I'm not sure where it's located due to currently using Pro/E 2001. But when I was using SWx a few months back I remember the setting because it's annoying to have assemblies expand automatically.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

EdDanzer
I just tried it & it worked ... not quite the way I thought it would though. It changed the "flyout" manager section to opaque, but only about 1-1/2" wide ... any parts or assy's with long names extended into the graphics area with a transparent background.
I hadn't tried it before because I don't mind the transparency feature.

As for the auto-expanding, I've found that a couple of rebuilds or "Ctrl+Q" & save usually stops that.

Like you I find it annoying that the new style manager auto-collapses & hope that Heckler remembers, or someone else knows, what setting controls that.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have

 

[odmullen]

I have the same problem with frequent and somewhat random expansion of the FM, including folders. It is often the case that one part, folder or subassembly will expand every time I touch the FM to look for something while other entities expand only intermittently. Ctrl-Q and save doesn't seem to have any effect. Having to scroll all the way to the top to collapse the FM is hardly helpful (especially since it's just going to expand all over as soon as I pick one entity to expand) - there should be a keyboard shortcut at least, but what really should happen is the problem should be fixed. Entities should expand and collapse on command and only on command - random and unspecified behaviour is fun in a bar but not in a professional tool.

Since I use dual monitors, I think it might be useful to have the FM in a separate window that could be docked on my secondary screen while the main window is running full-screen on the primary. That way it could be as wide as neccessary to display full descriptions without obscuring the graphics area. I hesitate to submit an enhancement request for it because I really want all the bugs fixed before any more features are added, and I want any new user interface features or changes to be bulletproof before I invest much adaptation and learning time.