Solidedge Model/Assembly view rotation (very disappointing)

[cmcbain]

I have to preface this question by saying (very embarrassed) that I am working in V19. I work for the US Navy. What does that tell you about our government?

Now, I before I got this job I did a fair amount of work in ProE, SolidWorks, and NX. Most of my work I've just done with a mouse, but I've also used a SpaceCommander device as well.

I have never really had cause to complain about the way those program rotated parts and assemblies before. Even when working in HUGE assemblies, they always seemed to know exactly where I wanted to rotate the view about when I clicked that middle mouse button.

I've been working in Solid Edge for around 3 years now, and I have yet to figure out how to get that same level of satisfaction when rotating/reorienting my view. When I pust the middle mouse button, it seems like some arbitrary point way out in space is always chosen. In parts this is annoying but doesn't cause too much pain. With assemblies, especially ones that have a mix of physically very large and very small parts, if I am trying to rotate while inserting some small part in the assembly (very zoomed in) I am never able to do this sucessfully with the middle mouse button (whatever I'm looking at just zooms off the screen as my rotation center is so far away). The best workaround I've found is to use the rotate button and then choose a specific edge to use as an axis for rotation. It works, but seems clunky...

Does anyone have similar difficulties? Is this a problem that has gone away in later versions? Is there any solution that can keep me from feeling like I want to throw my monitor through the nearest wall?

Would greatly appreciate your help.

 

[Spaceballster]

If you have the space commander, you can use the function "Select Rotation Point". I have this function under one of the buttons on my space mouse. Otherwise your assembly will always rotate about the origin. Pain in the ass, but we just upgraded to ST4 and you can now rotate about your mouse cursor with the middle mouse button like you described.

 

[cmcbain]

I saw that other thread that talked about being able to do that with the space commander. Surprise, surprise, the gov't wouldn't think of purchasing a useful tool like that (I complain but other than the computer programs I actually like my job). I just did a little experiment, and rotation is about the origin in part files too.

Well, all I have to do now is cross my fingers and wish for a more current version of Solid Edge...