Scroll/Middle Mouse Button 7

[RawheadRex]

This might sound like an outrageously dumb question but does anyone know how to setup their mouse so that while the holding down the middle mouse button or scroll wheel when using SolidWorks allows for rotating the part or assembly file?

For the longest time I always assumed that was the default behavior of the MMB/scroll wheel in SW. However I was upgraded to a new workstation recently and since then my MMB executes the pan view action instead of rotate view (which I personally have always found to be of more practical benefit). I've tried messing with different Windows mouse settings but haven't had any luck as yet.

One obvious remedy would be to setup up a keyboard shortcut in SW which I could live with but I'm interested to hear if anyone has had similar experience(s). Any thoughts or ideas would be most appreciated.

Chris Gervais
Sr. Mechanical Designer
Lytron, Inc.

 

[Arlin]

Are you using a MS mouse with MS drivers? If so, there is a simple fix:

Go to the control panel and double click on the mouse icon to enter the Mouse Properties
Select the Wheel tab at the top
Under Wheel Troubleshooter, click on Advanced.

Either disable all IntelliPoint software wheel support
or
Add SWX to the list of programs

Should work as intended now!

 

[LoveAeris]

Here is a tip that everyone might already know.
When you hold down MMB and move your mouse;

MMB only : Rotate
MMB + Ctrl : Pan
MMB + Shift : Zoom

 

[SWVB101]

also experiment with Ctrl/Shift and the arrow keys...

You can quickly rotate your model in desired directions this way...

 

[RawheadRex]

I actually managed to figure out the issue and wanted to share it in case it might be of interest or help to someone else. I am using a Logitech mouse that came with the new workstation (mentioned in my original post) so the Intellipoint comment (posted by "Arlin&quot wasn't applicable to my situation. However the info is something that I plan to keep in mind from now on as it will doubtless prove useful.

To solve the issue I did the following (somewhat similar to Arlin's post):

1. Launch the Logitech Mouseware console.
2. Select the "Buttons" tab
3. Select "Button 2" from the list
4. Click on "Modify"
5. Scroll through the list in the dialog and select "Middle Button" (mine was originally set to "Universal Scroll&quot
6. Click on "OK"
7. Click on "Apply" and close the Mouseware console.

Hopefully this will be of help to someone.

Chris Gervais
Sr. Mechanical Designer
Lytron, Inc.

 

[JNR]

LoveAeris, SWVB101:

Nice, but I'm 54 and my memory ain't what it used to be, plus I only have one pair of hands with 4 fingers and a thumb on each. (Came perilously close to 3 fingers on one a couple of weeks ago. Damn trailer wheel chocking device!!... it's almost better now - makes typing a pain.)

I admire you guys who can remember all these fancy keyboard tricks and actually execute them faster than the basic method. I would have to keep dropping my SpaceBall... ;-)

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......

 

[Mark84106]

Holding down the shift key while using my mouse wheel solves the zoom problem temporarily. Can anyone tell me how to make my mouse scroll wheel always zoom without holding down the shift. Sometimes my wheel works and sometimes it doesn't. It's like I got a bug in the system.
Thank you so much for any help in advance.
Sincerely,
Mark

 

[Arlin]

Have you tried the above directions (mine if you have a MS mouse or RawheadRex's for a Logitech)?

Otherwise, I have noticed that you sometimes need to first click in the model window for the mouse zoom/rotate/pan functions to work. Big PIA IMO, maybe ER time....

 

[Mark84106]

I tried clicking in the model window and no luck. This is a brand new computer and a brand new cd. I can't believe I'm having this problem. Does anyone else have any suggestions. Thank you for your reply Arlin.
Mark

 

[Mark84106]

Strike that last message. Arlin you did it! Thank you so so so so much!
Mark

 

[Mark84106]

Now I'm unable to put a hatch in a square space. It says "unable to hatch boundary". Does anyone know what could be the problem?
Thank you,
Mark

 

[Arlin]

Mark84106,
Glad you got it working. What was the trick?

 

[LoveAeris]

JNR,

This is a bit out of topic, but I believe many of you guys will amaze that SW has many convenient functions, but we just don't use or don't know.

Go to Help and hit "Search" tub and type in "Middle Mouse Button" "Keyboard shortcuts"

If the pointer is outside of the graphics area, the center of the model zooms into view.

"Keyboard shortcuts" gives good one too.

 

[Mark84106]

Arlin,
The trick was to go to the mouse control panel and hit "troubleshoot" in the scroll wheel tab. I have another question...I'm trying to put a leader line inside a 3d solid and when I do a 3d orbit after I think I got it in it turns out it's WAY WAY off in another plane. How can I get it in the middle of the 3d box every time. I've been wasting hours trying to figure it out. Loveaeris, what does "SW" mean? Also can someone tell me how to create my own question from scratch and post it.
Thank you in advance. All the best,
Mark

 

[Arlin]

Leader question:
First place it like you are, then switch to various views and move it to where you want some more. Sort of an iterative process. Certainly not an exact science.

SW-SWX-sldworks-SolidWorks: all the same thing

To start a new post, just go to the forum home (you know, where all the thread titles are listed). Scroll down to the bottom of that page, fill in a subject, body, and then hit Submit Post.

 

[SBaugh]

Mark84106 please read faq731-376 - no offense.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
When in doubt, always check the help

 

[Mark84106]

Got it Scott. Thanks.
Mark

 

[TheTick]

re: Scroll button on mouse:

I haven't used SW at home in a while, so it took me a while to notice. On my home computer, where I have a scrollwheel/button for a middle button, I have a similar issue.

When I click the scroll wheel, I get the "mouse scroll" double arrow icon for interactive panning. When I click on the right mouse button, it reverts to rotation. No problem with ctrl-middle or shift-middle control for pan and zoom.

Good and evil: wrap them up and disguise it as people.

 

[dumitru]

Hi,

I might be going too far but, still, here is my bullet

I got used with Catia V5 middle button settings (some combination between mouse buttons to do all the view operations) Is there anyone else who's feelings are like to get same utility in SW too and ....got it

Well, respectfully thank you for any thoughts

 

[JNR]

LoveAeris: I hear you. I was not saying it's not cool stuff, just that my personal style does not include keyboard shortcuts. That's my loss perhaps. I think part of the problem is I use so many different programs that using shortcuts would be too confusing with so many sets to remember. (Mind you, I never could stand WordPerect either...).

RawheadRex: This might sound a bit condescending, but is meant it the best spirit. Mouses (mice? I'm always confused on that one!!) are really cheap to buy these days.

If you can get an OEM version neatly packaged with the paperwork, etc. in a plastic sandwich baggie, you will discover that it appears to be the fancy box and individual packaging that costs most of the cash!!! We are getting (genuine) Microsoft mouses(ice);-) almost for pocket change. (Try buying a mouse/keboard combo if the dealer won't cooperate - if they try to charge more than about $12 for the pair they are ripping you off.)

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......