Our FAQs

[MadMango]

If you compare our ever-growing list of FAQs to other lists here at Eng-Tips, you’ll see ours has a lot of information. As this body of work continues to grow, I think this information is going to be harder and harder to find unless we better organize our FAQs. You’ll see that we have 22 different headings. I think these could be combined into several broader (12) headings. Of course some of the old FAQs would have to be moved to more appropriate new headings.

SolidWorks Installation
Would include the existing headings: Installation, Operating Systems & SolidWorks, SolidWorks Clean Reinstall, Backups

Computer Hardware
Would include the existing heading: Hardware

Part Environment
Would include the existing headings: Modeling How-To’s, Sketch Images, SolidWorks Part Modeling

Assembly Environment
Would include the existing heading: Assemblies

Drawing Environment
Would include the existing headings: Drawing Appearance, Large Drawings

The Transition from 2D to 3D
Would include the existing heading: Getting Started in 3D Design

SolidWorks Advanced
Would include the existing headings: Configurations, Design Tables, Equations

SolidWorks Customization
Would include the existing headings: BOM Modification, Hole Callouts

SolidWorks Maintenance
Would include the existing heading: Computer Maintenance

API and Macros
Would include the existing heading: SolidWorks Macros

SolidWorks Explorer
Would include the existing heading: SolidWorks Explorer

SolidWorks Add-ins
Would include the existing heading: SolidWorks Toolbox

All the FAQs under Websites should be moved over the Links tab that is next to the FAQ tab at teh top of teh page.

I'd like some feedback from all the regulars that visit this Forum (you know who you are). Do you think we need to reorganize the FAQs? Do you agree with what is presented above? What changes would you make?

Ray Reynolds
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[SBaugh]

I do agree some clean up needs to be taken. I always try to add my FAQ's to a previous Subject but there are some that are so limited to what can be entered in. That's why I make new one. So a Clean up is needed. Here are some of my suggestions. This is off the top of my head right now

Part Environment

I think the appropriate subject heading would be Part Modeling and then put those FAQ's underneath it

With the heading we should have these as well:
Assembly Modeling
Drawings

But Environment does work, I just like the above headings better.

SolidWorks Maintenance
Would include the existing heading: Computer Maintenance

This one I question a little because it's a little of both. One of the FAQ's also deals with basic computer maintenance and not just from a SW stand point. The TEMP clean out FAQ if you were wondering which one . So how about just Maintenance" or Solidworks & Computer Maintenance

All the FAQs under Websites should be moved over the Links tab that is next to the FAQ tab at teh top of teh page.

I disagree. This should stay here for the simple reasons that FAQ's are easier to post in a thread, those that do check out the FAQ will see this FAQ and use it, Not a lot of people even use the Links tab (you said it yourself once), and some of the links don't have anything to do with SW directly, but is still useful when evaluating Hardware, looking for new drivers, Textures etc...

The Links Tab is already a little big. Don't you think that could cause more confusion then just keeping it all in one FAQ?

This should stay as an FAQ in our SW section. More and more sites are coming up every day and as soon as I get a chance I'm going to expand on this FAQ some more.

My .02 worth... for now.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Every time I use the FAQ section I have thought that, so I wholeheartedly agree & think it is a good idea.

PDM Environment might be another possible heading ... there have been many posts of late & is probably worthy of its own section.

Also a Making the best use of this forum section for the likes of your faq559-716, use of the "Keyword search" feature, etc, would be good. Come to think of it though, that sort of info would probably be better placed ... heavily highlighted ... at the head of each page.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

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

 

[Standing]

I like the idea of the new headings. PDM Environment would be great addition. I vote for all of Scott's changes.

Bradley

 

[Theophilus]

Nifty.




Jeff Mowry
Industrial Designhaus, LLC

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

 

[MadMango]

Ok, I have been talking (email) with the Site Administrator, [blue]Dave Murphy[/blue]. In order for us to make the changes to the FAQs, each author is going to have to edit their FAQ and point them to the newly created Catagories.

The problem is, you can only create a new Catagory when submitting or editing a FAQ. This means that this reorganization is going to be a shared effort with everyone that has created an FAQ for this Forum. Fun.

For example, I created a new Catagory called "[green]Computer Hardware[/green]", and have moved my FAQs to the new location. I then emailed the author of the 3rd FAQ under the the old "[red]Hardware[/red]" Catagory, asking him to edit and move his FAQ to "[green]Computer Hardware[/green]".

Ray Reynolds
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[ctopher]

I think it's a great idea. I think everyone should print this thread and try to follow the same format.
It's worth a try.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

MadMango
The only problem I forsee with this, is when people who have not read this post, submit a new FAQ & apply a non-recommended heading. It will be up to the Eng-Tips "FAQ-approving people" to re-assign the new FAQ to a heading which complies with your recommendations, otherwise the FAQ section will quickly revert to being a jumbled state again.
Could the above list could be placed in the FAQ submittal form page to guide people to select an appropriate heading?

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

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

 

[SBaugh]

What is the offical stand on all the headings, before we start implementing them? Because if we don't know what they are, then we are going to have a jumbled mess before this is all said and done. Let's decide on a list of subject headings, then those that have created FAQ's can move then into their proper headings.

SolidWorks Installation
Would include the existing headings: Installation, Operating Systems & SolidWorks, SolidWorks Clean Reinstall, Backups

Computer Hardware
Would include the existing heading: Hardware

Part Modeling
Would include the existing headings: Modeling How-To’s, Sketch Images, SolidWorks Part Modeling

Assembly Modeling
Would include the existing heading: Assemblies

Drawing
Would include the existing headings: Drawing Appearance, Large Drawings

The Transition from 2D to 3D
Would include the existing heading: Getting Started in 3D Design

SolidWorks Advanced
Would include the existing headings: Configurations, Design Tables, Equations

SolidWorks Customization
Would include the existing headings: BOM Modification, Hole Callouts

SolidWorks Maintenance
Would include the existing heading: Computer Maintenance

API and Macros
Would include the existing heading: SolidWorks Macros

SolidWorks Explorer'
Would include the existing heading: SolidWorks Explorer

SolidWorks Add-ins
Would include the existing heading: SolidWorks Toolbox

NEW

Websites
Would include the existing heading: Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of

Important Forum Imformation
Would include the existing heading: Making the best use of this Forum


Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[SBaugh]

I forgot the other heading that needs to be added by someone. There is some good information on in this forum on this subject and needs to be added to the FAQ.

PDM Works

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[MadMango]

[blue]Scott[/blue], that looks good.

[blue]CorBlimeyLimey[/blue], the FAQs just don't work that way. I don't think Admin looks at the FAQs to ensure they are placed in the correct catagories, they only read them over to see if they contain useful info. But by creating the new catagories, they are available from the pull-down list when you create a new FAQ. I think someone that takes the time to write a newe FAQ will place it in the appropriate catagory.

As for placing this info in the FAQ "creation page" I don't think that will fly either. All the FAQ pages are formatted the same, across the site. I don't think they can (or would want to) change one from all the others. You know what I'm trying to say... it's a web form. Good suggestion though, and any functionality would be better than what they have now for organizing the FAQs.

Eng-Tips.com probably has about 10% of the FAQs of Tek-Tips.com, but they manage to keep fairly organized.

Ray Reynolds
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[SBaugh]

I see that MadMango agrees what does everyone else think of the FAQ headings?

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[MadMango]

I just completed a small experiment. I moved my FAQs from Hardware to Computer Hardware, and emailed [blue]rokahn[/blue] to move his FAQ as well. I was worried that we would have a bunch of empty catagories after we reorganize, but it looks like we won't have to worry about it. It looks like empty catagories are removed automatically.

As to adding the catagory PDMWorks or PDM Environment... should that go under it's own catagory, or should it be lumped under the SolidWorks Add-ins catagory?

Ray Reynolds
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[Standing]

I would suggest PDM be put under Add-ins, if ToolBox would be under Add-ins. I am wondering if SolidWorks will keep adding Add-ins to make that category large in the future.

Bradley

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

SBaugh[color]
Headings look fine to me ... I personally prefer the "environment" version as I think it sounds like it covers a broader scope ... but I'll go with the flow. I have already moved my FAQ to the "Drawing Environment" originally suggested, but will change it again if needed. I will comply

I don't think Admin looks at the FAQs to ensure they are placed in the correct catagories, they only read them over to see if they contain useful info.

I understand that, but was suggesting they perhaps they (or someone) could start doing so, so that the FAQ section doesn't end needing to be restructured again in a year or twos time.

But by creating the new catagories, they are available from the pull-down list when you create a new FAQ. I think someone that takes the time to write a newe FAQ will place it in the appropriate catagory.

I understand what you are saying, but have to disagree. If that were true, there would not be a need to restructure the section now. Some of the FAQs you want to move to different headings had alternative headings listed that they could have been applied to when the FAQ was submitted. I liken it to an "intelligent" numbering system ... it's only good while the creator of the system controls the system ... once it's opened up to all users, the creators "logical rules" are open to (mis)interpretation by each users individual logic.

Sorry, I'm not trying to put a damper on the idea ... as I said before I think it is a good idea & fully endorse it ... but as we see here already with the "Modelling" vs "Environment" headings, different people use different terms for the same thing.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

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

 

[SBaugh]

How are you moving the FAQ MadMango?

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[SBaugh]

Never mind MadMango! I figured it out!

I have updated all my FAQ's to the approved list of FAQ headings. I went ahead and used the "Environment" for Part, and Assemblies. Since "Drawing Environment" was already made. All we need to do is get everyone to move their FAQ now.

,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[MadMango]

To get people to move their FAQs, send them an email through the functionality on the FAQ page. Try to explain to them what we are trying to do, just in case they no longer follow the SW boards.

Ray Reynolds
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[SBaugh]

Already did that!... and they should be on their way out if not already there.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[ctopher]

I can't get the faq to move. How are you moving yours?