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Do you like the new in-context toolbars in SolidWorks 2008?

As you first notice, there is a big change in the interface in SolidWorks 2008.  With this interface change SolidWorks is trying to increase your productivity by minimizing your mouse movements.  However, I have found that some users still prefer the older methods. 
Are you annoyed by the little icons that appear whenever you click on something?  Do you want to have them back into the right click menu as words and not just icons?  To revert back to the older set-up, go to Tools>Customize.  There is a section for Context Toolbar Settings.  If “Show on selection” is checked, whenever you click on a face, feature, sketch, etc., an in-context toolbar will pop up with commonly used commands (represented as icons) that you can select.  Uncheck this to prevent that box from appearing when left-clicking.  With “Show in shortcut menu” checked, when you right-click on something, you will see the in-context toolbar pop-up with commonly used commands.  Uncheck this box if you would prefer to have those commands listed in the right click menu as words like in previous versions of SolidWorks.  However, I do recommend that you try out this new set-up for a week if not more.  You may find that it is faster, easier, and you may even come to like it!

Design Better!

Leslie Lougheed

COSMOS Network License (with SolidWorks standalone license) - Setting up Host ID-based licensing

Users Often Get Confused about using COSMOS network seats with SolidWorks stand alone licenses. This is not an uncommon scenario as companies want to save money and share the same COSMOS seat amongst multiple users. Here is a low down on what needs to be done.

Instructions to use COSMOS 2008 with a SolidNetWork License (SNL) file:

1. Save and unzip the SNL_AllowMultHostIDs.zip to any location on the server. (call CATI 888-285-2284 or email us support@cati.com)
2. Clicks on the Registry file SNL_AllowMultHostIDs.reg - This modifies to following registry location to make Host-ID-based licensing option available in the SNL Manager[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SolidWorks] "SNL Allow Multiple Host IDs"="1
        Note: Action only needed on the server
3. Save the text file License file(s) (.TXT) to your computer's hard drive.
4. You MUST Download and Install the SolidWorks 2008 SolidNetWork License Manager.
5. When the SolidNetWork License File Wizard starts select single and click Next.
6. Verify the Computer Name is correct and note the Port Number (default is 25734).
7. Change Dongle ID to NIC Address for allowing Host-ID based licensing option. Click Next.

**Make sure you check the box "A firewall is in use on this system" if you currently have the Windows Firewall enabled on the system.  You can find the Windows System Firewall on Windows XP SP2 or Windows Server 2003 SP1 systems and it is listed under Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall. If the inbound and outbound communication ports are not open in the firewall and a static outbound port has not been specified in the .lic license file the clients will not be able to connect to the license server to obtain a license.

8. Click Read, then Browse and locate the license.txt file that you saved in step 1.
9. Click Finish, and then Finish again.

Instructions to use COSMOS 2008 on client machine:

1. On each of the SolidWorks 2008 SP0 SNL client computers run the SNL License Administrator by clicking: Start > Programs > SolidWorks 2008 SP0 > SolidWorks Tools > SolidNetWork License Administrator e.g. for SP0, click Start > Programs > SolidWorks 2008 SP0 > SolidWorks Tools > SolidNetWork License Administrator
2. Click on the Server List tab, click the Add button and make an entry for the SolidWorks 2008 SP0 SNL server that was installed in step 2.  For example, if you used the default port number then the entry would be "25734@computerName."  If you are unsure of the computer name you can find it in the Start > Control Panel > System > Computer Name tab or click the Windows Key + Pause/Break and go to the Computer Name tab.  The name of the computer is the full computer name without the domain name added to the end.

NOTES:

The SolidWorks 2008 SP0 SNL manager cannot be installed on a computer that is running any of the 2004-2007 SNL managers.  The 2004-2008 SNL managers use the same vendor daemon and running multiple versions on the same system will create a conflict. Supported Operating Systems:  Windows XP Professional and Windows 2003 Server are the only supported operating systems for the 2008 SolidWorks SolidNetwork

Design Better!

Rajat Trehan

Save Sheet Metal Parts Directly to DXF or DWG!

Hello everyone.  In the past couple of releases of SolidWorks I have received questions from several different companies about how to save from a sheet metal part directly to a DXF or DWG file that you can take to a laser or plasma cutter.  When the question came again today I figured that maybe if I add this little bit of info to the blog some users may find it useful.  Previous to SolidWorks 2008 I would have called this a limitation, or shared a macro with the customer that allowed them to do just that.  SolidWorks 2008 now allows us to do exactly what those customers were asking for without a workaround or macro.  If you right click on the flat pattern of a sheet metal part you will now notice that there is an option to “Export Flat Pattern to DXF/DWG”.  By default it will bring up the save dialog box and allow you to choose between DXF and DWG.  It will also add the words “Flat pattern” to the existing file name. Just an example of how SolidWorks gives users the tools they request.

Design better!

Keith Schaefer

Having Trouble Keeping Track of Your SolidWorks Activations?

As some of you may or may not know starting with SolidWorks 2007 SP3.0 SolidWorks has moved away from a Registration Code for controlling SolidWorks licenses and has moved to Activation Based licensing of SolidWorks Products.

This new way of licensing SolidWorks has made is a lot easier for customers to install and get their software up and running but has made it harder for CAD administrators to keep track of who and where their SolidWorks licenses have been activated.

We at CATI Tech Support have seen many customers run into these issues as employees have left companies and new employees have started or as computers have been upgraded within engineering. We have created a simple Excel form that you can download at the link below, to help you keep track of your licenses.

This form is set so that you can easily keep track of either your Standalone or Network Home Use Licenses (HUL) of SolidWorks The information inputted into this form will also aid CATI support in the case that you have an employee leaves the company and fails to deactivate their Home Use License of SolidWorks. All you and your users need to do is fill in the following information:

·        Users First and Last name

·        Home or Work Computer Name (see notes on form acquire Computer Name)

·        Date of Installation

·        Email Address that was entered into the Activation Form

·        Standalone Serial Number

There is also an area to fill in information about Network Home Use License (HUL).

If you would like more information about SolidWorks License Activation and Deactivation or some of the new information about Home Use Licensing for SolidWorks 2008 please see the posting about these topics on this CATI Tech Notes blog or by contacting CATI Technical Support at 888-285-2284 or support@cati.com

Download solidworks_activation_license_tracking.xls

Design Better!

Josh Altergott

SolidWorks License Activation and Deactivation

SolidWorks now uses online License Activation instead of a registration code as of SolidWorks 2007 SP 3.1 for standalone seat licensing. You get two Activations per SolidWorks license, one for Office use and one for Home use.

To Activate a License

·      The first time you start a newly installed version of SolidWorks it should automatically ask if you want to activate your seat. If not go to the Help menu in SolidWorks and select “Activate Licenses”

·       Follow the onscreen instructions, and prompts. Fill out the form with the required information making sure that you select the appropriate location “Home” or “Office” under the “Location of Use” menu.

·       The activation will take some time to process as it communicates with the SolidWorks License Server.

·       You will then see a confirmation window that the Activation Succeeded and you are ready to Design with SolidWorks.

To Deactivate a License

·       If you receive a new machine to do your SolidWorks designing on you will need to deactivate a license of SolidWorks before uninstalling the software off the old machine.

·       Start SolidWorks and go to the Help menu in SolidWorks and select “Transfer Licenses”

·       Follow the onscreen instructions and prompts, and wait as the deactivation will take some time to process as it communicates with the SolidWorks License Server.

·       Once SolidWorks is deactivated you can then uninstall and move the software to your new machine and follow the Activation process listed above.

Design better!

Josh Altergott

Text beyond border when opening a DWG file!

Have you ever opened a legacy DWG/ DXF file in SolidWorks or DWG Editor just to do some simple editing only to see that all of your fonts have grown in size and now go over you existing spaces in your title block?

If so, this is a common problem and one that has a simple resolution.

Problem:When we open a file that was created in ACAD into the DWG Editor we are seeing the following. The text over runs the border and the font ISOCPEUR is listed ad “font not found”

Solution: ISOCPEUR text is an AutoCAD specific font, and AutoCAD is not loaded on the problem machine.

To resolve this you will need to do the following:

·        Find a machine with ACAD loaded on it and do a search for that text file (if you do not have a machine with ACAD loaded on it you can either do an internet serach for the font or contact CATI Tech support (888-285-2284 or support@cati.com) to get a copy of the font.)

·        Copy that new file to the problem machine and place it in the following directory C:\Windows\Font folder (Note C:\ in this case is the drive Windows was loaded on to, if you have installed Windows on a different drive letter, please adjust the path accordingly.)

You will then be able to open the files in the DWG Editor or SolidWorks and they will behave correctly. Below is a screen shot of a machine I tested this on and you will see that it loaded the Font and all Attributes related to the font. As you work with your existing files you may find that there are other fonts that are ACAD Specific and need to load those to the user’s machines as well.

Design Better!

Josh Altergott

SolidWorks Home Use Licensing changes starting with SolidWorks 2008

The Home Use License Agreement form for SolidWorks has changed as of 9/30/2007 .  Attached to this blog posting is a copy of the HUL Agreement form that needs to be filled out and faxed back to CATI at the number listed on the bottom of the form.

Download home_use_agreement_form_eng.doc

The key items to note are as follows:

·        Home Use Licenses (HUL) are now activation based.

·        SolidWorks still requires HUL agreements for any new SolidWorks Network licenses purchased.

·        On the form there is now an area for “# of Activations Required” if left blank SW will only issue 2 activations for that HUL. CATI Admin Dept. will fill in a number to match the number of seats owned unless instructed otherwise by the customer.

·        If you are not issued a total number of HUL activations that matches the number of network seats owned you will need to contact CATI support (888-285-2284 or support@cati.com) to have that number increased.

·        With the release of SolidWorks 2008 SolidWorks Corp. will no longer require customers to submit new HUL agreement forms to upgrade their HULs to the latest version. If a customer has an existing 2007 HUL and their SNL is on current subscription their HUL serial number will automatically be updated to 2008.

·        All HUL licenses created will match the lowest level product on the Network that all users can access at one time. (No change from previous versions)

·        If a user leaves a company and does not deactivate their HUL seat the customer will need to contact CATI support to have that HUL seat deactivated.

Enjoy using SolidWorks at home!

              

Design Better!

Josh Altergott

What is the SolidWorks 2008 Installation Manager?

Now that SolidWorks 2008 has been released, many of you are going to download it and try it out before the new DVD’s arrive, which by the way, should be in the beginning of November. One of the first things you will encounter after proceeding to the download page at the SolidWorks website is the new 2008 SolidWorks Installation Manager and its capabilities. Those of you that are already familiar with SolidWorks know about the 2007 Installation Manager. Here are a few things that are new about the 2008 IM.

SolidWorks 2008 uses a new version of the Installation Manager and the goal here is Electronic Software Distribution. It is a Standalone application that can download, update, upgrade, install, modify and repair all SolidWorks products. It can be used to create and manage admin images and standalone installs all within the same user interface. It is a different application than the 2007 Installation Manager. It does not upgrade the 2007 Installation Manager but both versions can coexist on the same machine and you will want to continue to use the 2007 Installation Manager to download service pack updates for the SolidWorks 2007 Install, if you will be using more than one version of SolidWorks on the same workstation at the same time.

How does it Work?

The Installation Manager downloads, verifies, and extracts all the files in parallel during the download process to create the source for all products. Once the files are downloaded, IM will install all of the products automatically. IM uses Windows Installer and installs all products silently passing the required parameters to the installations so that the installations do not have to query the user for anything.
You will specify just one file location for the installation.  This location will be used as the root folder for the installation of all the products. The IM keeps all the products under the same folder in the Startup programs list and it creates only one listing in Add/Remove Programs menu. It will be listed as SolidWorks 2008 SP0.0 initially or higher depending on the service pack you are on.

Design Better!

Paul Niedermann

Are You A SolidWorks Feature Explorer?

I was talking with a colleague the other day and we got in to a discussion about all the great new functionality that has been built into SolidWorks in the last couple of years.
A few questions came up, "Are users of SolidWorks really making use of all that is available to them?" "Do users try out all the new features and incorporate them into their daily tasks or do they avoid new features and stay with the tried and true?"
I thought, these would be great questions for the blog, let’s find out what users think!

My questions for all SolidWorks users;
Are you an Explorer, an Avoider or somewhere in the middle?
What new features have you tried?
What new features do you enjoy?
What new features do you avoid using?
Are there any tasks or features you fear?

If you’re a new SolidWorks user than it’s understood that they are ALL new features.
What has helped you learn the most about new features, a presentation, the Help menu, a What’s New document, a CATI Training class or an education tool like SolidProfessor or the SolidWorks Tutorial?

It would be great to hear your responses to any or all of these questions.

Design Better!

Paul Niedermann