Hidden Solidworks commands 20

[SBaugh]

Does anyone no where I can find a document with hidden SW commands. There are some key strokes and commands in SW that are not always listed in the help, or if they are they are overlooked very easy.

For example a user call me today asking how can he get normal to but from the opposite direction... solution select "Normal to" again and it flips the direction.

This is just one of those basic hidden commands, and I don't know if someone has made a document of these commands or not already.

Thanks in Advance,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Berry Plastics
Cad Admin\Design Engineer

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[SnowCrash]

You seek 'undocumented features'? Isn't that just a programmers name for 'bugs'?

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2010 SP 4.0
HP Pavillion Elite HPE
W7 Pro, Nvidia Quaddro FX580

 

[SteveMartin]

You can find non-obvious commands or command combinations in various 'tips & tricks' type presentations (user groups, World, etc). Very few of these are actually undocumented or hidden, though you often have to know the right thing to search for and/or wade through several results of such a search.

I doubt there's a master/comprehensive list, as what is hidden to one person is often basic functionality to another. It depends on what you need/expect out of the software on a daily basis. Many users would consider something hidden if they didn't already know about it - I've had users ask me how to do something when the command to do it was already on their main toolbars.

 

[SBaugh]

I guess that means I will be starting my own Hidden Command Document, so it won't be hidden any longer.

Thanks,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Berry Plastics
Cad Admin\Design Engineer

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[CADFlyer]

Tools->Customize->Keyboard(Tab)
- Enable "Only Show Commands with Shortcuts Assigned"
- Then "Print List..."

If you are a button clicker, you can find the hidden commands by going through the different Categories of:
Tools->Customize->Commands(Tab)

 

[SBaugh]

That's not what I am looking for... looking for commands within the application that is not listed. Shortcut keys are pretty well known, except for Ctrl-Q and the function that it does.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Berry Plastics
Cad Admin\Design Engineer

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Here' one that cropped up last year.

https://forum.solidworks.com/message/124334#124334

 

[mjcole]

Select Face to view
CTRL+Sel Face to point upwards
Hit CTRL+8 or Normal To

You can take all the SolidWorks classes if you don't mind spending a lot of money and pick through the pages to find the Commands which are hidden in the books like
Tab+Select to pick Work Part and
Shift+Select to pick transparent faces when Select through transparency is activated

Hold Alt and click the Triad Arrows to rotate by RH Rule.
This uses the Snap Value for View Rotation
CTRL generally reverses the direction for example Orthographic View Rotation with Shift+Arrow.

Michael

 

[SBaugh]

I have all the training books up to 2009 from working with a VAR for 8 years... not crazy about spending all my time looking through those books, but its is an option to review some time.

CBL - I didn't see a Document in that forum message... and i only skimmed through it, I didn't read each post. I will look at this later when I have more time.

Thanks guys,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Berry Plastics
Cad Admin\Design Engineer

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[Nella95]

If you're compiling a list; pressing the space bar once brings up the view orientation menu. I figured that out by accident one day - it's in no tutorial.

 

[Gupta65]

Scott, how about making a one of ourselves. I'll be happy to learn and share

Deepak Gupta
SW 2009 SP4.1 & 2007 SP5.0
MathCAD 14.0
Boxer's Blog

 

[fcsuper]

Scott,

For keystrokes, those are viewable in the Customize window under keystrokes. The list can be saved out to an excel file. The list will vary slighty depending on which document type is loaded, so you may wish save it off three times, one time with each of the document times open (drawing, assemby, and part).

Phil Sluder is going to do a "What's Old with SolidWorks" presentation at SolidWorks World 2011 that will cover functions that old timers might miss because we are old timers.

However, that doesn't cover everything. For example, the method to create a point location (called Virtual Sharp in SolidWorks) is nearly cryptic. First, you have to know they are called "virtual sharps". Second, the online help doesn't even tell you that they can be created in drawings! It only talks about sketches and 3D sketches. Thrid, the workflow to make a "virtual sharp" element is very counter-intuitive. There's still many examples of this kind of shortfall in the documentation.

Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper

 

[SBaugh]

Good point fcsuper! virtual sharps are one of those mysterious items in SW and that is exactly the kind of stuff I am looking for. I probably have enough to start my document since I have spoke to all the CAD users here at Berry to see what they think is hidden. I will probably start this after SW world, since its my responsibility to get the PO to send everyone... looks like we have 12 attending SWW this year from Berry. Could be tad more going still.

You have peaked my curiosity in regards to the what we "Old Timers" are going to miss.

Best Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Berry Plastics
Cad Admin\Design Engineer

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[Eltron]

The P&ID import is cryptic as well.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[Nella95]

Dan - please convince me to use the SW P&ID import. I've always used Visio. Very simple program, and that's all I need.

 

[Eltron]

Can't do it. I've been digging into this hidden functionality for over a week, and nobody seems to be able to tell me how it actually works (although I have a general idea). We use Visio as well.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[Eltron]

I just found one that (amazingly) I've never accidentally done before (until now). Shift-MMB and move the mouse for auto zoom.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[SnowCrash]

MMB has more to offer with alt and ctrl, too.

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2010 SP 4.0
HP Pavillion Elite HPE
W7 Pro, Nvidia Quaddro FX580

 

[krywarick6]

Using the alt key when dragging a component in assembly to reorder it will prevent it from falling into a subassembly, if you are placing it near that subassembly.

Use the alt key to move a drawing view without having to be super close zoom on the view.

How about shift + arrow keys to rotate 90° at a time.

Are these new for your list or just useful?

Christopher Zona - Product Designer
Loretto, Ontario

 

[MechEng2005]

"Enter" to repeat last command