Selecting components in assembly

[joshposh]

I am new to Solid works, my experience has been from solid edge.

Is there a way of selecting components from the graphics window, or the assembly tree of an assembly and only viewing those items.

I have worked out a 'show all' and 'hide all' solution but I seem to have lost a lot of display functionality in the cross over to works.

Is there something I am mising.

PS do not mention configurations. they are NOT the answer.

 

[SBaugh]

You have to select those compoents you don't want to see and hide those. Then you can view the ones that you want to see.

But if you made a configuration in your assembly and hide those parts, etc... then next time you need to see those parts only or some thing similiar to it, then you would only have to do a single double click.

So Configurations could be the anwser to help speed up your process of switching to showing of certain parts next time.

If you disagree with that then try it for yourself and let me know that that didn't help you at all.

Otherwise if you just want to select "X" components and RMB abs select "Show" you will have to turn in an Enhancement request @ the SW website.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[joshposh]

This is the answer only if it is a small assembly. As the number of parts increase the act of selecting those you dont want to see becomes a problem. The next problem after that is having to select all the parts that you do want to see.

All I want is to be able to select a few components from an assembly of hundreds and only displaying those. That way I can edit parts and be sure of what I am seeing.

I have started to look at envelopes are they the answer.

 

[SBaugh]

Have you looked at the help and read up on this yet?

Have you tried making one? It's not that hard especially if you follow the help.

I don't think this will answer your problem either.

All you do is start a new part (The Envelope part) Extrude a box around the area that you want to view or what parts you want to be located inside of that area. Then exit the part at the assembly stage.

All you get is a Cyan semi-transparent part around the area. If you open the part it's just a box.

Envelopes are good for those people that make Robotic Arms. They can get and idea of the area at which the arm can reach.

If you want to have certain parts visible, then you should look at making a Configuration of certain parts you want to be seen and those you don't. you only have to do it once and the configuration will be set after you save it. You can select more then one part at a time. you hold your Control key down and pick those components or if you have multiple files in the tree. You can pick the top part, hold the Shift key down and pick the last part. RMB and select Hide or suppress.

I think if you always want to see "X" components then configurations are the answer, whether you like it or not.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

joshposh You have not lost the functionality, you just have to achieve it slightly differently. The Show only feature in SE is one of the few things which is better than SW.

To get the same effect (unfortunately with more steps):-
Select all the parts by clicking on the first component in the tree.
Scroll down to the last component & do a shift-click on it which should highlight all the parts.
Deselect the parts you want to show using control-click.
Then do an Edit > Hide & select which config option.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

BTW, when you get used to SWs configuration functionality you will realize just how powerful & useful it can be. It is far & away superior to SEs "Family of parts/assemblies" features.

 

[brengine]

The Visibility Toggling macro at:

http://www.kentcontract.com/swmacros.shtml

will do "Show Only" as well as a few other things. It does cost $20 tho. But that is much cheaper than trying to write it youself or all the hours you will search for another solution to this problem...this has been asked many times before but SW doesn't seem to be listeneing to this one.

Personally, I feel that a better utilization of subassemblies would negate the need for a "Show Only", but nothing is 100%.

Ken

 

[maartenmk]

Try 'Advanced Select' (under Tools), it's quite powerful. First hide all components, then create the criterea to select the components you want to display, run the query, and show them using the RMB menu.

This also a great way of hiding or suppressing small items by the way.

Regards,

Maarten

 

[joshposh]

I can understand that this can be usefull. Can you give me some advise on the best way to select items. THe only way I can find to select small items i to use a weight criteria but this doesn't always work.