SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [210]
Open documents
The large selection box in the Part/Assembly to Insert panel displays any models that are open in SolidWorks at the moment. If the model that you are looking for is not in the list, then you can use the Browse button to look for it.
I typically use Create Drawing From This Part/Assembly if the part is open, and if not, I drag-and-drop the part onto a new drawing created from a template with Predefined and projected views on it. This combination saves a lot of extra steps.
If you click in the drawing window for some reason (for example, if you are expecting it to simply place a view), then a prompt appears, stating that you have selected a drawing document, and that only parts and assemblies can be inserted into drawings.
Thumbnail Preview
This is a nice option that shows the part that you selected in the Open Documents window. It is a useful feature, but because it is collapsed by default, it is easy to miss. After it is used the first time, it remembers the expanded setting.
Start Command When Creating New Drawing option
The Start Command When Creating New Drawing option causes this PropertyManager to open immediately when a new drawing is created. If you click in the drawing window, then the prompt appears, telling you that you are not paying attention.
Reference Configuration
The Reference Configuration list enables you to select which configuration of the part to show in the view. This shows up not only when creating new views, but also in the generic Drawing View PropertyManager that shows up when you select any view.
Select Bodies
When a part has multiple bodies, a button called Select Bodies also shows up in this panel. If the part does not have multiple bodies, you will not see this button, When you click the button, it immediately takes you out to another PropertyManager, the smaller one shown in Figure 15.3 called Drawing View Bodies, where you are sent back to the model window to select a body. Clicking the green check after selecting a solid body in Drawing View Bodies then sends you back to the drawing to place the view. It does not send you back to the Model View PropertyManager.
If you click the red X in the Drawing View Bodies PropertyManager, SolidWorks leaves you in the part window, and you will have to press Ctrl+Tab to get back to the drawing window.
Cosmetic Thread Display
Many people see the High and Draft quality options and assume that the option refers to the quality of the view, while in fact it refers to the quality of the cosmetic thread display. Cosmetic threads can display in either high or draft quality. The distinction is made for performance reasons. The difference in terms of display is that in high-quality mode, hidden cosmetic threads (cosmetic threads that are behind a face) do not display in shaded mode.
Number of Views and Orientation
To create multiple views, toggle multiple view creation on in the Orientation panel of the Model View PropertyManager. Next, select all views from the Standard Views icons that you want to be displayed, including choices from the More Views list such as Current Model View and any named or annotation views that exist. These views are indicated on the drawing as boxes (representing view borders), as shown in Figure 15.3.
This is really useful functionality. It makes view selection and placement very easy and is visually clear. Unfortunately, the Single View setting is the default setting, and the PropertyManager does not remember the last setting that was used. Still, the combination of Multiple Views and Orientation is far better, in my opinion, than the View palette.
FIGURE 15.3
Placing multiple views
Import Options panel
The Import Options panel is for bringing annotations into the drawing view that is being created. You should find it an advantage, being able to select these items quickly from the PropertyManager while the