How Can You Optimize SOLIDWORKS Performance for Maximum Efficiency?

 

UNLOCKING SOLIDWORKS POTENTIAL: IMPROVING PERFORMANCE EFFECTIVELY

First and foremost, to get the most out of SOLIDWORKS, you must use the best computer hardware available. A faster machine with the necessary parts will likely run SOLIDWORKS more accurately than a legacy machine.

Typically, this includes a processor with high clock speeds, as much memory RAM as possible, a solid-state drive (SSD) with fast read/write speeds (preferably NVMe), and a powerful workstation graphics card like the NVIDIA RTX or Quadro.

It’s an effective strategy to keep your software and drivers updated. For SOLIDWORKS, this means making sure you’re using the most recent release and service pack. SOLIDWORKS continuously improves the overall effectiveness

SYSTEM OPTION
Making adjustments to your SOLIDWORKS SYSTEM OPTION for better productivity.
Be Sure to get back up your existing system options before making any changes. If you need to reload or revert your settings, this is the better option.

GENERAL

❖Thumbnail Graphics in Windows Explorer: Disabled

❖Freeze Bar: Enabled

Note: The Freeze Bar can enhance performance, preventing them from being unnecessarily rebuilt.

❖Display Latest Technical Alerts and News in Welcome Dialog: Disabled

DRAWINGS

❖Automatically populate View Palette with views: Disabled

DRAWINGS→DISPLAY STYLE

❖Edge quality for wireframe and hidden views: Draft Quality

Note: Draft quality views load the model in a lightweight format, optimizing performance for faster load times and smoother operation.

❖Edge quality for shaded edge views: Draft Quality

DRAWINGS→PERFORMANCE:

❖Show Contents while dragging drawing view: Disabled

❖Allow auto-update when opening drawings: Disabled

COLORS

The background color in SOLIDWORKS can significantly impact performance. To optimize performance, it’s recommended to enable the following option.
❖Background Appearance: Plan (Viewport Background color above)

❖Use specified color for drawing paper color (disable image in sheet background): Enabled

❖Use specified color for Shaded with Edges mode: Enabled

❖Envelopes: Opaque

DISPLAY

Display options in SOLIDWORKS have a significant impact on software performance, particularly when working with complex assemblies or large files. Adjusting these settings can help achieve a balance between visual quality and speed.

❖Assembly transparency for in context edit: Opaque assembly

❖Anti-aliasing: None
   o Smoothens edges for better visuals, but it consumes more GPU resources.
   o Disabling it can boost performance.

❖Dynamic highlight from graphics view: Disabled
   o If performance is crucial and you’re dealing with very large models, you might consider turning this feature off to boost responsiveness.

❖Display temporary axes upon hover over cylindrical faces: Disabled

❖Display shaded planes: Disabled

PERFORMANCE

❖Verification on rebuild (enable advanced body checking): Disabled
      o Enabling Verification on Rebuild can be slower, particularly with large assemblies or models. Every rebuild will involve extra checks, which can take up additional processing time and resources.

❖Transparency > High quality for normal view mode: Disabled

❖Transparency > High quality for dynamic view mode: Disabled

❖Curvature generation: Only on demand

❖Assembly loading: Automatically optimize resolved mode, hide lightweight mode: Check

❖Mate animation speed: Disabled

❖Save > Update mass properties while saving document: Disabled

❖Use shaded preview: Disabled
    o Disabling the Shaded Preview can lead to improved performance, especially in large or complex parts and assemblies

❖Enhanced graphics performance (requires SOLIDWORKS restart): Enabled

❖Hardware accelerated silhouette edges: Enabled

ASSEMBLIES

❖Save new components to external files: Enabled

❖Update model graphics when saving files: Disabled

❖Automatically check and update all components in Large Design Review mode: Disabled

❖Change mate alignments on edit: Prompt

❖Update out-of-date SpeedPak configurations when saving files: None

❖Use Large Assembly Settings when the number of components exceeds: Enabled

❖Use Large Design Review mode when the number of components exceeds: Enabled

❖Large Assembly Settings: Enabled (set all settings in this group to ON)

❖Envelope Components > Automatically load lightweight: Enabled

EXTERNAL REFERENCES

❖Load referenced documents: Prompt

❖Reference Documents specified in File Location: Disabled

FEATURE MANAGER

❖Scroll selected tree item into view: Disabled

❖Dynamic highlight: Disabled
     o Disabling Dynamic Highlight removes the real-time visual feedback for selection, which can speed up performance, especially in large or complex models.

❖Use transparent Flyout Feature Manager tree in part/Assemblies: Disabled

❖Enable preview of hidden components: Disabled

VIEW

❖Zoom to fit when changing to standard views: Disabled

❖Transitions: Disabled (set all settings in this group to Disabled)

In Conclusion:

The performance of SOLIDWORKS largely depends on how you configure the settings based on the size of your model, your system specifications, and your workflow needs. By customizing these settings, you can improve both productivity and efficiency in SOLIDWORKS while maintaining the level of visual fidelity that suits your task.

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Feel free to reach out!

Email: mktg@egs.co.in
Phone: +91 94454 24704

How to Improve CAD Conversion Using the Derived Format Converter in 3DEXPERIENCE?

Improvising CAD Conversion Using Derived Format Converter

To generate the derived output by using the tool Derived Format Converter for the files which created in the Desktop\3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS.
Let’s take a look on how to execute this operation.

Note: Admin of the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform only eligible to create and manage the conversion rules.

The conversion rules for the derived format can be assigned on the Derived Format Management.

To access this, Login to the Platform using the admin credentials.
Go to the dashboard Platform Management > Content tab > Collaborative Space Configuration Center > Derived Format management

Note: These rules assigning for the derived format conversion process are applicable to all the users in their 3DEXPERIENCE Platform

For better convenience, expand the widget to Full screen.

By default, there is some conversion rules exists on it.
To remove the existing conversion rule, select the one and click the (Bin)  icon.

Now, we going to add a new conversion rule by clicking (Plus) icon and then the page appears as below.

Let’s take a look on rule options with example of Part to STEP conversion.

Converter: Select any given software based on the type of the files which needed to your conversion

Origin: As like as converter, select the software as origin which used to work with 3DEXPERIENCE collaboration

Type: Select the file format which you are used as source of conversion.

Target Format: Select the file format, which you need to be converted.

   


Note: The available file format in the drop-down list on the Target Format is based on the selection of converter and Origin

Event: To set the conversion process automatically execute on which operation occurs.

       

1. On Status Change – Runs the conversion process based on the file’s Maturity status as shown in the image. Eg: If the status set to ‘Released’, the conversion exists only when the file is in Release maturity state.
2. On Demand – At Default Active runs the conversion process when you upload the files in 3DEXPERIENCE. At Default Inactive runs the conversion process manually in the Derived outputs tab.
3. On Save from Connector – It specifically for save files to 3DEXPERIENCE using Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWOKRS.
   
   Parameters: It only highlighted when applying PDF conversion from drawing for preference of drawing sheets.
   
   After specifying the rule, click OK and Apply to deploy the rule.
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
   

   The rule was applied and now save the part file in 3DEXPERIENCE and change its maturity status to Released.
   
   

   
   
   

   Now open the information of the file and we found that the STEP file was created in Deriver Format Converter with the download option.
   
   

   
   
   
   

   Download the file and open using SOLIDWORKS to verify that the model geometry (3D Data) is properly converted.
   Similarly, we can create PDF for our SOLIDWORKS drawings, Microsoft Office documents & Image files.
   
   Limitations:
   •Modification on the existing (or) created conversion rules are restricted.
   •Conversion of Neutral File Format (.stp, igs) for an SOLIDWORKS assembly file is incapable.
   
   
   Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Feel free to reach out!
   
   Email: mktg@egs.co.in
   Phone: +91 94454 24704

How to Configure SOLIDWORKS Parts Using Excel Design Tables?

CONFIGURATION USING EXCEL

DESIGN EXCEL TABLE:
Design tables are a way to create different parts or assembly configurations by defining parameters in cells, rows, and columns of an integrated Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

NOTE: To use design Excel table, must have Microsoft Excel 2016-2021 on computer for SOLIDWORKS 2022-2025.

Desing table for part:
1. Used to edit any dimensions of a 3D part.
2. Also used to create multiple configurations of the same part.

STEP 1: Creating part in SWX
Part has been developed using SOLIDWORKS 2025 shown on Fig1.

Fig 1

Step 2: Creating Excel Design table
Insert -> Tables -> Excel Design Table

Fig 2

Step 3: Creating auto design table

Fig 3

Please make sure the resources listed above are enabled, since modifications made to the design table or model will be updated automatically.

Step 4: Creating consideration in table
Each of the following parameters and dimensions has been chosen to be featured in the table. Considering this is a simple part file, the dimension names are not customized.

Fig 4

Step 5: Saving the design table.
Now the design table have saved to desired location.

Fig 5

Step 6: Mapping the table with part

• Once the table has been saved delete the configuration table in the SOLIDWORKS configuration manager.
• Once again, we need to add the table to the part as from file option so that the part file no need to opened and make changes.

  Note: Make sure to enable the link to file option.
  
  

  
  Fig 6
  
  

  Step 7: Building configurations.
  
  • The SOLIDWORKS part has been saved and closed.
  • The saved excel table has been opened and the excel data has been added with 40,50,60mm etc … configuration.
  • After all the updates the excel has been saved and closed.
  • The SOLIDWORKS part has been saved and closed.
  • The saved excel table has been opened and the excel data has been added with 40,50,60mm etc … configuration.
  • After all the updates the excel has been saved and closed.
    
    
    
    Fig 7
    
    

     Step 8: Changes in Part file
    The part file has been opened on SOLIDWORKS.
    
    By default, the Pop up appears with two different options which would be selected by user as shown below.
    
    

    
    Fig 8
    
    

    
    Fig 9
    
    

    The Part has been configured as per the data updated on the excel.
    
    
    Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Feel free to reach out!
    
    Email: mktg@egs.co.in
    Phone: +91 94454 24704

How to Link SOLIDWORKS Custom Properties in a Drawing Template?

SOLIDWORKS Custom Properties Linking in Drawing Template

Open new drawing document Click New (Standard toolbar) or File > New. In the dialog box, select “Drawing” or your standard custom drawing document.

Editing drawing sheet format by clicking the sheet format tab on command manager tabs then click edit sheet format icon.

You can edit the size of the title block boxes and If needs to insert company logo you can insert then if the text boxes were needs, click Title Block Field.

There you can add the multiple text boxes for the values, text or custom properties of the files been added.

When you are in sheet format editing window you can see the $PRPSHEET followed by the attributes been enter or link to the custom properties as shown below.

If the $PRPSHEET is used to link the custom properties of the part or assembly file once the model were inserted here.

When the $PRPRSHEET is not available in some of the fields then we need to add the text boxes and then you can fill them manually or link to the custom properties of the part file or assembly file.

By clicking the Text box fields it shows the options in Property manager by clicking the link to property under the text format it opens the Link to property window.

In Link to Property window select the Model found here radio button and select the desired property under the Property name drop down list and click OK.

Below image shows that text boxes were linked to the custom properties and updated to the drawing files sheet.

Save this drawing file as drawing document template by click File> Save as>Drawing Template(*.drwdot) from the save as type and click save.

Here, The drawing document template has saved and mapped the document template on file location in SOLIDWORKS Options.

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Feel free to reach out!!

Email: mktg@egs.co.in
Phone: +91 94454 24704

How to Enable Auto-Update for PDM Values in MS Word Using a Macro?

Enabling PDM Auto-Update in MS Office using Macro

In MS Word all Macros are “Disabled by default” in some of the PCs. PDM Values has to be updated in Word document and this will be done using a “AutoOpen” Macro. This has to be enabled so that MS Word will properly communicate with PDM Environment.

Without the macro, if you update the value of the linked fields by editing the file data card, the values are not automatically updated when you open the document. Please use the below steps to enable the macro.

STEP 1: Click File

STEP 2: Go to Options

STEP 3: Click Trust Center -> Trust Center Settings

STEP 4: Select Enable all Macros. Also Enable Trust access to the VBA project Model. Click OK

STEP 5: If still the Fields are not Updating, Create a New Word Document and Create & Run “AutoUpdate” Macro & Save the Document.

AutoUpdate Macro: 
Dim aStory As Range
Dim aField As Field
For Each aStory In ActiveDocument. StoryRanges
For Each aField In aStory.Fields
aField.Update
Next aField
Next aStory

After Saving the Macro, Run the Macro and Save the Word Document.

This will solve if there is any “AutoUpdate” Macro problem exists in the Microsoft Word.

Thanks for reading!! Stay tuned for another tips and tricks or tutorial updates!!!

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Feel free to reach out!

Email: mktg@egs.co.in
Phone: +91 94454 24704