15 comments

• 

  Matt

  2 years ago

  Interesting take on the interface changes. I don't believe it is true that you have more space. That's something that can be measured. The new interface takes up more space than the old one, and more of it is blank. By putting everything on the CommandManager, there is more clicking to do.
  
  The main things to me are the loss of flexibility and the problems with shifting back and forth between text and icons in the RMB menus.
  
  Anyway, I do like the pop-up toolbars, but the S key won't benefit me much. You can have hotkeys directly to the functions on the toolbar, why have a hotkey bring up a toolbar from which you select something? That adds a step.
  
  Once you look past the gloss of the shiny new interface, the actual functionality is less than 2007 in several areas.
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• 

  Josh

  2 years ago

  Yeah, I actually did measure it. I have 45 more pixels of usable space, which isn't much, but I really like it.
  
  In terms of functionality, do you mean they've added less than they did in 2007?
  
  I think the interface provides better functionality or maybe functioning. I didn't at first, but the more I used it and then went back to 2007 made me wish I was using 2008.
  
  What would be interesting is to compare the speed between version. One person has asked me (kind of sarcastically) if it's faster that 2001.
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• 

  Matt

  2 years ago

  You have to measure to the bottom of the tabs, or the bottom of the heads up toolbar, not just to the bottom of the gray area.
  
  About functionality, I mean that they have removed functionality that existed in 2007.
  
  Oh, and the graphics stuff is only a benefit if you have a new card capable of taking advantage of it. I have two nice cards both about 1.5 years old, and they are both on the "not recommended" list (FX3450). For most users like me, the graphics are going to be a step backwards in performance. Mine looks good, but rotates like a Radeon.
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• 

  Ricky Jordan

  2 years ago

  Josh,
  
  Very nice job with your review. You went into some great detail. I'll be preparing a user interface post for my blog and will be linking to your post.
  
  I can tell the UI change will be a big topic of discussion. I have had an experience similar to yours. I find myself looking for the new right click menus now in SW2007!
  
  Matt brings up some good points. It is disappointing that a 1.5 year old high end graphics card cannot run the new Realview very well. If I was in his situation, I would feel the same way. There are going to be quite a few users that are stuck in the same situation.
  
  Looking forward to all the posts to come in the next few weeks/months.
  
  Best Regards,
  
  Ricky Jordan
  http://www.rickyjordan.net
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• 

  Bruce Buck

  2 years ago

  I think the biggest beef I have with some of the new interface changes are not the actual changes themselves, but the fact that they're not customizable. Like you said, the first one that bothered me the most the Heads Up toolbar. I like the idea, but let me customize it. I like the new RMB functionality, but again, let me have the CHOICE as to whether it is an icon or below in text, and where the icons are placed, in what order (my hand naturally goes right->down when picking from RMB menus not right->up).
  
  Regardless I'm definitely looking forward to the dimensioning and tolerancing capabilities for 2008.
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• 

  Josh

  2 years ago

  Yeah, having to buy a new video card is going to be a big disappointment if you’ve just bought one. Were running 6-12 month old systems with nVidia Quadro 1300/1400 and haven’t seen any problems yet, but we don’t use RealView typically.
  
  You would think SolidWorks looks at the curve on this, because they have to stay economic as it pertains to hardware as well. It may be that most of their statistics show users within the threshold of system upgrades. That would be an interesting set of data to look at.
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• 

  Ulrich Hanisch

  2 years ago

  i´ve defined the short cut bar to be started using the fourth mouse button at my logitech ... i´ve customized my shortcut bar to include all toolbar icons as i´ve used before in command manager ... sketch icons, feature icons, surface icons, sheetmetal icons, asm icons and so on ... and i´ve deactivated command manager and all standard toolbars ... just a click with my thumb, and i get the whole set of SWX functions by using nearly fullscreen graphics area ... very cool !!
  
  my biggest chock is the right click > down move reflex if using RMB menu: after 9 years of SWX, its really hard to change my reflex :-) i still hope that SWX build in an option setting for this !!
  
  the biggest flop are the hardware requirements for RX ... it gives the best graphics result i´ve ever seen in 3D CAD but i worry that it makes RX a demo tool ... no real live engineer gets new hardware every 12 month !!
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• 

  Josh

  2 years ago

  That's a great idea Ulrich. I'll have to try it out. I do not use the Command Manager either. All I have is the top menu bar and 1 row of icons.
  
  I hope they make all the flyouts and the heads-up toolbar more customizable too. Those do really take some getting use to.
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• 

  Lin Shaodun

  2 years ago

  Hi :Ulrich Hanisch
  
  Could you show us some screen captures of how you setup the whole interface? or give more detail instructions for your interface setup?
  My email address is sdlin@flash-eng.com.
  
  Thanks in advance
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• 

  Lin Shaodun

  2 years ago

  Hi :Ulrich Hanisch
  
  Could you post your Solidworks 2008 settings files (by copy setting wizard) here?
  
  Thanks in advance.
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• 

  Ulrich Hanisch

  2 years ago

  hi lin shaodun! it´s very easy: just turn off command manager and all toolbars by using tools > customize ... then close this dialog ... when in sketch mode, press `s´ key and you´ll get the standard shortcut toolbar for sketcher ... right click to this toolbar and customize .. one can add all icons which are available in standard toolbars ... best is to use flyout icons for not using too much space in the toolbar first level ... after finishing the shortcut toolbar in sketch mode, switch to a part modeling situation ... again: press `s´ key and right click to customize this shortcut toolbar ... one can define seperate shortcut toolbars for sketcher, part modeling, asm functions and drawing functions ... unfortunately, there is no special shortcut toolbar when in blank started SWX (to select file open or file new) or when cosmos tab is active (for cosmos related things) ... if you´ve finished your customization, and if you´re using a four button logitech mouse, you can define any keyboard key to be automated when click to the fourth mouse button ... in this case, you should define the `s´ key to be used at your fourth mouse button .. one can do this inside the logitech driver software .. i think, there are similar tools for other mouse manufacturers ... that´s it .. and then you need some hours of training to get the same speed in your thumb as known from the old workflow :-)
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• 

  Josh

  2 years ago

  Thanks for leaving that comment Ulrich. That is a really interesting approach to the new interface. I'll try it out.
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• 

  ARUN

  1 year ago

  i say solidworks is the wellriched,advanced & faster than any other mechanical design software,also its very user friendly, any one can learn this software very quickly.
  i have one question:
  
  is there any additional option for electrical wiring & circuit modling in the software for electrical design
  
  iam using soildworks-2008
  
  if anybody knows please mail me
  my mail id - arun_k1987@rediffmail.com
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• 

  aWhatmough

  1 year ago

  I would suggest using SolidWorks® routing to start. If you are already you want to upload all the SolidWorks® routing profiles. I have a video posted on my site (inspirtech.com) that will show you how to do that. It is entitled Unleashing weldments, but it applies to routing profiles as well.
  
  
  Also, try to make use of the design library to save your common components.
  
  I hope this is a help,
  
  AL
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  Rosana

  11 months ago

  Just follow up your instinct and people will believe you.
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