SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [39]
• Arrange Icons. When windows are minimized to icons, this menu selection arranges the icons neatly, starting in the lower-left corner of the window.
Figure 2.41
The Window menu
The images in Figure 2.42 are meant to show the arrangement of the windows, not the content of the windows. Also, remember that you can use the F9 key to close the FeatureManager, the F10 key to remove the toolbars to create extra interface space when arranging several windows in the graphics window, and the F11 key to remove portions of the interface and enable you to work full screen.
FIGURE 2.42
Window Arrangements: cascade and tiled
Changing windows
You can use several techniques to change from one SolidWorks window to another. By clicking on the Window menu, you can view a list of open document windows (refer to Figure 2.41). You can then select the desired window directly from this menu, as shown in Figure 2.43. Press Ctrl+Tab to open the Open Documents dialog box (see Figure 2.43). This enables you to select the document visually that you want to open.
FIGURE 2.43
The Open Documents dialog box
Additionally, by default the R hotkey opens the Recent Documents dialog box, similar to the Recent Documents list in the File menu. This can also be accessed via the File menu if necessary. The Recent Documents dialog box is shown in Figure 2.44.
FIGURE 2.44
The Recent Documents dialog box
Getting to Know the Interface
By this point, you have learned quite a bit about all the tools involved in using the SolidWorks interface. In this tutorial, you get some hands-on practice at manipulating the interface. This tutorial is intended to reinforce the following skills:
• Adding and removing toolbars
• Adding and removing toolbar buttons
• Adding and removing items from drop-down and RMB menus
• Setting up the CommandManager
• Setting up hotkeys
• Linking a hotkey to a macro
• Changing interface colors
Also, don't forget to check out the video tutorials on the DVD for this chapter. The videos cover CommandManager, FeatureManager, and PropertyManager, along with the Graphics Window and Shortcuts.
Copying the existing settings
Regardless of what your initial settings are, you do not want to lose them. Before you start to make changes to your system, you should save out the existing settings to a file from which they can be recovered. You can do this using the Copy Settings Wizard, as shown in Figure 2.40.
To use the Copy Settings Wizard, follow these steps:
1. Close SolidWorks.
2. Choose Start⇒Programs⇒SolidWorks 2011⇒SolidWorks 2011Tools⇒Copy Settings Wizard.
3. Select Save Settings, and click Next.
4. Enter a location and a name for the file.
5. Select the items that you would like to save. For the purposes of this tutorial, make sure that the following options are selected: Keyboard Shortcuts, Menu Customization, Toolbar Layout, and All Toolbars.
6. Click Finish. Browse to the location where you saved the file and make sure that it is there.
Applying default settings to interface items
You can set the interface back to the default settings using one of two methods. The first method, editing the Windows registry, may not be available to all users. It requires Administrator access to your computer and a good familiarity with Windows.
Caution
Editing the Windows registry can be dangerous if you make a mistake. Do not attempt this method if you have any doubts about what you are doing.
To set SolidWorks back to its default settings by editing the Windows registry, follow these steps:
1. Close SolidWorks.
2. Choose Start⇒Run.
3. Type regedit, and click OK.
4. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2010 or the appropriate folder for the version that you are using.
5. To return all settings in SolidWorks to default, rename the entire SolidWorks 2010 folder to include “(old)” at the end of the filename.
6. Close the Registry Editor.
7. The folder is re-created when SolidWorks starts up again, and is populated with default values. If you need