SolidWorks:Heard! 2007

2007 Top Support Cases: This podcast is a roundtable discussion with Quinton and Joe of DDi's tech support team. We discuss some of the top support calls that come into our support group and how some of the support has changed over the years. Topics covered: - Activation - Installation and the SW Installation Manager - SolidWorks Customer Center - Performance, Operating Systems and Hardware - File management & Toolbox - Assembly management - Modeling techniques - Support trends Have a safe and Happy New Year! The next show will be the first show of 2008 so don't miss it! Don't forget to register for SolidWorks World and watch me take the heat when I sit on the panel of chumps in the breakout session "Stump the Chumps"! SolidWorks World Conference will be in San Diego California on January 20 - 23 and has over 150 breakouts including hands-on and seminar style sessions. For more information about SolidWorks World click here! Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

Instant 3D: This podcast covers the new capability in SolidWorks 2008 to create and modify geometry. I believe once you understand all that this new feature can bring to the table you will start to use it more regularly. This is one of those tools you may skip over if you tend to use SolidWorks the way you have for years. It is simple, if you want to change it, drag it! Topics covered: - Overview of what Instant 3D is. - Creating Features - Modifying Features - 3D On-screen Ruler - Live Section Have a safe and Merry Christmas everyone! I will have one more show to finish off the year so say tuned! Don't forget to register for SolidWorks World and watch me take the heat when I sit on the panel of chumps in the breakout session "Stump the Chumps"! SolidWorks World Conference will be in San Diego California on January 20 - 23 and has over 150 breakouts including hands-on and seminar style sessions. For more information about SolidWorks World click here! Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

Interface Work-Arounds: This podcast covers some work-arounds in the new SolidWorks 2008 interface. Program interfaces are taken very personal by its users and usually causes some frustration. In talking with customers, I have compiled a few complaints and some options to get back to the previous functionality or a way to achieve the same function. Topics covered: - Window Sliders? Where did they go? - Window Splitters - Multiple view options - Window Options for the active document (minimize window, tile/maximize window, close window) - Heads-Up View Toolbar - How to hide or customize - CommandManager - Why I like it and how to customize it. - Shortcut Menu - Customizable pop up window anywhere in SolidWorks. Don't forget to register for SolidWorks World! SolidWorks World Conference will be in San Diego California on January 20 - 23 and has over 150 breakouts including hands-on and seminar style sessions. For more information about SolidWorks World click here! Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

Stump The Chumps: This podcast describes the breakout session I will be doing with a group of other SolidWorks users at SolidWorks World Conference in San Diego. It includes a few clips of the interview we did with SolidWorks and you will understand why this breakout is the one to go see. If you have never been to SolidWorks World Conference is it a great training and networking opportunity. SolidWorks has all kinds of information for you to help convince your manager why this would be worth attending. SolidWorks World Conference will be in San Diego California on January 20 - 23 and has over 100 breakouts including hands-on and seminar style sessions. For more information about SolidWorks World click here! Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

DFMXpress: This podcast covers the new design for manufacturing (DFM) check tool that is included inside of SolidWorks 2008. This tool really is a start to bridge the gap between engineering and manufacturing. Topics covered: - Introduction - Tool Layout - Settings - Result Options - Upgrades? Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

COSMOSFloXpress: This podcast covers the new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool included in SolidWorks 2008. If you have not done CFD before this is your chance! It is simple to use and gives great visual results to what is happening inside your designs. Topics covered: - Introduction - Getting Started - Wizard Layout - Result Options - COSMOSFloXpress vs. COSMOSFloWorks Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

DriveWorksXpress: This podcast covers the new rule-based design automation tool included in SolidWorks 2008. Don't let the "Xpress" name fool you into thinking this tool is not useful. Topics covered: - Introduction - Layout - Guidelines - How it differs to SolidWorks design tables - DriveWorksXpress vs. DriveWorks Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - SW Office Premium - Routing & TolAnalyst: This podcast is the eighteenth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. This chapter covers SolidWorks Office Premium's Routing and new TolAnalyst. Topics covered: - Routing General Enhancements - Electrical Connectors with Multiple Connection Points - Fixed Length - Lightweight Connection Points and Route Points - Stock Lengths for Pipes - Auto Route improvements - 3D Flattened Routes - TolAnalyst Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - SW Office Premium - ScanTo3D: This podcast is the seventeenth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. This chapter covers SolidWorks Office Premium's ScanTo3D tremendous enhancements in this 2008 release. Topics covered: - ScanTo3D General Enhancements - Deviation Analysis - Mesh Editing Tools - Curve Wizard - Mesh Prep Wizard - Surface Wizard Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - SW Office Pro Components Part 2: This podcast is the sixteenth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. This chapter covers SolidWorks Office Professional components that were updated in the 2008 release. Topics covered: - SolidWorks Design Checker - Solidworks Task Scheduler - SolidWorks Utilities - PDMWorks Workgroup - Toolbox Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - SW Office Pro Components Part 1: This podcast is the fifteenth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. This chapter covers SolidWorks Office Professional components that were updated in the 2008 release. Topics covered: - FeatureWorks - PhotoWorks Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Other Functionality Part 2: This podcast is the fourteenth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. This is a "catch-all" chapter that covers the rest of the enhancements in the 2008 release. Topics covered: - Import/Export - SolidWorks Explorer - Mold Design - Sheet Metal - SolidWorks Rx - Weldments Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Other Functionality Part 1: This podcast is the thirteenth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. This is a "catch-all" chapter that covers the rest of the enhancements in the 2008 release. Topics covered: - Installation - Application Programming Interface (API) - DFMXpress - DriveWorksXpress - eDrawings Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - COSMOSWorks Part 2: This podcast is the twelfth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - Analysis Studies - Loads & Restraints - Mesh - Bonding & Contact (for Static Studies) - Result Viewing Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - COSMOSWorks Part 1: This podcast is the eleventh of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - General Enhancements - New Study Types Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Dimensioning & Tolerancing: This podcast is the tenth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - Overview - DimXpert for Parts - TolAnalyst Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Drawings & Detailing: This podcast is the ninth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - General Enhancements - Drawing Sheets - Drawing Views - Bills of Materials - Tables Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Motion Studies: This podcast is the eighth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - Motion Studies interface - MotionManager Enhancements - Assembly Motion - Physical Simulation - COSMOSMotion Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Configurations: This podcast is the seventh of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - General Enhancements - Creating a PropertyManager to Configure Components - Creating and Modifying Configurations Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Assemblies: This podcast is the sixth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - General Enhancements - AssemblyXpert - Derived Components - Hole Alignment - Layout-based Assembly Design - Mates - Selection - Simplified Representations - Smart Fasteners Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Parts: This podcast is the fifth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - Mate to Coordinate Systems - Inserting Sketches when Inserting Parts - Breaking the Link to a Part - Custom Properties of Parts - Automatic Positioning of Parts Using Mate References - Isolating Bodies in Part Mode Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Features: This podcast is the fourth of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - Boundary Surfaces - Fillets - Hole Series - Instant3D - Patterns - Split Lines and Parts - Sweeps Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - Sketching: This podcast is the third of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - 3D Sketch Symmetry - Blocks - Consolidated PropertyManagers - Auto Trace Tools - Show/Hide Sketch - Sketching in Instant3D - SketchXpert - Splines Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - RealView: This podcast is the second of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - RealView Workflow - Appearances - Scenes - Dynamic Highlighting Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 What's New - User Interface: This podcast is the first of a multi-part series on the What's New PDF highlighting all the new features of SolidWorks 2008 release. SolidWorks 2008 SP0 went live on the web Friday, September 14th and is available for download in the customer portal. Topics covered: - Menu Bar - CommandManager - FeatureManager Design Tree - Tags - Heads-up View Tools - Context Toolbars - Shortcut Toolbars - Recent Document Browser - Open Document Browser - Task Pane - Flyout Tool Buttons - Control of Message Display - Design Clipart Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

SolidWorks 2008 Round Table: This podcast is a round table discussion with two of the SolidWorks bloggers Jeff Mirisola and Ricky Jordan who were nice enough to take some time to chat with me about SolidWorks 2008 and their impressions of this new release. There are some great recommendations to moving to SolidWorks 2008 and some of the major highlights that they feel will have the most impact. Jeff Mirisola works for a reseller up in Seattle, WA and keeps a blog called Jeff's Toolshed. Ricky Jordan works out of Huntsville, AL and his blog is called Ricky Jordan's Blog. Please take a moment and visit their blogs since they are full of tips and tricks!!! Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

Getting ready for 2008: This podcast covers the steps to get ready for SolidWorks 2008. With all the graphics advancements as well as the option of running on Vista, there is a lot to know in order to get ready for this exciting release. Topics covered: - SolidWorks Early Visibility SP0.0 available for download - How to use early versions of SolidWorks - Supported Operating Systems - Supported graphics cards and Realview support changes - SolidWorks 2008 Release Notes (highlights) SolidWorks 2008 is an exciting release and with some of the graphic advances it is important to know what to expect. Many of you that listen to the show have probably already been running either beta or pre-release but I always like to remind users that anything, I mean anything can be pulled before SP0 so take the features that you have experienced to date with a grain of salt because nothing is in stone yet. I have watched features all of a sudden disappear due to instability in order to ensure better quality of the final release. Keep posted for the shows to come as I will get into the nitty gritty of 2008! Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

Spline Tools: This podcast is an overview of the different modification and display tools available for Splines within SolidWorks. Topics covered: - Spline Feature Manager (2D & 3D) - Editing splines - Spline modification tools - Spline display tools - Applications - Updated spline help Splines have come a long way over the past few releases. Whether you are just trying to clean up models or trace an outline of a shape as clean as you can, the spline tools are extremely powerful. Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

Macros & API: This podcast is an overview of how to begin with Macros inside of SolidWorks. Macros are the product of the VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) included with SolidWorks. Topics covered: - Getting started with macros - Recording macros - Editing and running macros - Assigning macros to icons, keyboard shortcuts, and menus. - API help and resources inside of SolidWorks. Many people know that SolidWorks can record macros but have never tried it! Give it a try! You may find out that where you can automate actions to reduce those tedious tasks. There are also examples you can download and just run to see how others have approached similar tasks. Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

August Tech News: This podcast is a review of the tech news for August 2007. With SolidWorks 2008 coming up there are many updated services and offerings up on the SolidWorks website worth talking about. Topics covered: - SolidWorks 2008 Pre-Release 2 Ships! - SolidWorks Labs gets a refresh. - SolidWorks 1 Minute Tips launches. - SolidWorks World call for papers. Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

Surfacing Roundtable: This podcast is a roundtable discussion with Ben Eadie from the Mountain Wave Video Podcast and the creator of the new SolidWorks community site SolidMentor on surfacing. Many users look at surfacing with some hesitation because of its complex geometry it can create. Together we shine the light on this modeling technique and how it can be used as just another tool in your arsenal. Topics covered: - Why use surfacing? - Surfacing applications - Products that tend to lend themselves to surface modeling - Surfacing tips and tricks - Other surfacing resources. Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums.

Enhancement and Service Requests: This podcast covers a few of the common features of the customer portal. All of us as users have wanted to add our own features or enhancements to SolidWorks as well as followup with issues or software bugs that we have submitted. This show will get into the details of how to put in your two cents, as well as search tools to see the status of your reported issues. Topics covered: - How enhancement requests are used by SolidWorks - How to fill out enhancement requests - How service requests are used and how you can check their status - What SPR really stands for and checking the status of these reports - Tips to make sure your issue is made more visible to SolidWorks. Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and Forums. *Get into the SolidWorks community at SolidMentor "Eureka! The Mighty Secrets Found".*

Sheet Metal Tables and Tools: This podcast covers some of the table options as well as some of the more obscure tools in SolidWorks. There are some great examples in the default installation to help you get started. Topics covered: - Bend Table types and options - Gauge Tables - Converting imported or standard parts into sheet metal - Corner Treatments - Forming Tools I hope to have a blog posting on ripping parts using sketches in the next week. In the mean time, is you have a great tip, add it to the forum! Check it out at SolidWorks: Heard!: Forum . *Get into the SolidWorks community at SolidMentor "Eureka! The Mighty Secrets Found".*

PDMWorks Workgroup - Best Practices: This podcast will be the second of the two part series on PDMWorks Workgroup covering best practices in order to avoid the pitfalls of PDM. This show will talk about the common areas that have caused issues with other companies. Topics covered: - Name Schemes - Configuration Management - Revisions & Lifecycle - Vault Maintenance & Performance - Toolbox & Library Parts - File Management Tips *Don't forget to register for the SolidWorks Heard Forum so you can ask additional questions about the show topics or to post questions that other members can answer. Have a great tip? Add it to the forum! Check it out at SolidWorks: Heard!: Forum .* **Don't forget to check out SolidMentor and join the community that Ben Eadie has created for all of us to contribute to. It is a fantastic site that can really be a resource for questions and a place you can go to get answers from other users just like yourself.**

PDMWorks Workgroup - Capabilities: This podcast will be the first of a two part series on PDMWorks Workgroup covering the capabilities and best practices in order to better understand how this system handles document management. This show will be focused on what PDMWW is capable of as well as the layout of the software. Topics covered: - General Concepts - Client Types - Rules of Engagement - Vault Features - Next week will cover best practices and common implementation plans. **Don't forget to check out SolidMentor and join the community that Ben Eadie has created for all of us to contribute to. It is a fantastic site that can really be a resource for questions and a place you can go to get answers from other users just like yourself.**

File Management Tools: This podcast covers tips and tools for working with SolidWorks files. As we all know, parametric modeling has some very powerful, associative file references that can have the potential to cause some trouble if your not careful. I also wanted to cover these tips prior to getting into PDMWorks in some future shows. There is a fantastic training manual that covers all things file management called SolidWorks File Management. If you don't have a copy of this book, give your VAR a call and get one. It untangles the associative web and has some great information to tackle your file management questions. Hopefully this show can give you some good nuggets to get you started! Topics covered: - Tricks to reducing file size - Working with file references - Saving files - Sharing files - Tools of the trade

Belt & Mechanism Tools: This podcast covers some tools in SolidWorks to conceptualize mechanisms and other mechanical interfaces. Sometimes when you need to figure out a concept, modeling all the components and placing them into an assembly with mates may be overkill. Especially if the concept changes quite a bit. Topics covered: - Creating belts in sketches - Inserting belts into assemblies - Interface options - Traction relation - Make path options - Applications

3D Annotations:This podcast covers SolidWorks' support for ASME Y14.41 - 2003 standard.  Populating the 3D model with the necessary annotations has become a growing standard in the industry.  Topics covered:- Inserting 3D Annotations- Inserting Annotation Views- Displaying Annotation Views- Using Annotation Views to create drawings- Limitaitons & applications

3D Sketching:This podcast covers the 3D sketching capability of SolidWorks.  This feature is the underlying technology to many of the tools we use like in SolidWorks like Routing, Weldments, and the Hole Wizard.  Topics covered:- Where to find- General functionality- Similarities to 2D sketching- Differences from 3D sketching- Relations & Inferencing- Sketcher Triad- Applications- Extrude a 3D sketch?

SolidWorksHeard.com:This podcast covers the new SolidWorks:Heard website that offers many new features to build a community around the show.  Topics covered:- Solidworksheard.com- Layout- New SWH Podcast site- New SWH blog- New SWH forum - Forum registration- Sidebar options

SolidWorks 2007 Bible:This podcast is an interview with Matt Lombard who is the author of the new SolidWorks 2007 Bible.  Matt also writes a SolidWorks blog called "Matt Writes".  Topics coved:- Matt's background- "Matt Writes" Blog (www.dezignstuff.com/blog)- SolidWorks Bible uniqueness- What resources were used- Future of CAD.- Where to find the SW Bible

SolidNetwork Licensing (SNL):This podcast covers the FLEX lm network license option for SolidWorks products, which is an alternative licensing scheme to product activation.Topics covered:- Requirements- Installation- Windows firewall configuration- How it works- Products supported- Where to find install help

SolidMentor:This podcast is an interview Ben Eadie, creator of the new site SolidMentor.com.  This new site is a one stop shop for all things SolidWorks!  This is a bit longer than my usual shows but worth the extra time.  Topics covered:- Why SolidMentor?- What features does it offer?- What makes SolidMentor unique?- What are the future plans?- How to sign upI want to thank Ben for coming on the show and creating this amazing site for SolidWorks users by SolidWorks users!  Nice work Ben!

Administrative Director:This podcast covers alternative ways of installation using the Administrative Director tool in the SolidWorks master setup.  This tool can help streamline your installs and make upgrades a snap.  Topics covered:- Where to find it- Step by step procedure and options- Installation tips - Other alternative install options- Recommendations

Smart Components:This podcast covers the powerful automation the Smart Components function can bring to your designs.  Topic covered:- Introduction to the SC technology- Creation- Editing- Inserting - SW Tutorial topics- Mountain Wave video tutorial on Smart Components- SolidProfessor tutorial offerings with great free task pane add-in!

3D Instant Website:This podcast covers the Office tool that allows the creation of a website from your SolidWorks documents.  Topics covered:- Layout- Options- Publisher- Administrator- Customization- Tips & Tricks

FeatureWorks:This podcast covers the layout and functionality of the feature recognition tool in the SolidWorks Office suite.  Topics covered:- Overview- What does it recognize?- Interface layout- Limitations- Recommendations

Complex Patterns:This podcast covers the patterns options other than linear, circular and mirror.  There are many options within SolidWorks for patterning features so tune in!  Topics covered:- Table Driven Pattern- Sketch Driven Pattern- Curve Driven Pattern- Fill Pattern- Pattern option details- Pattern Tips and Tricks

SolidWorks 2008 Beta:This podcast covers the layout of the SolidWorks Beta program and how to get your hands on the newest release of software before it ships!  Topics covered:- How to get started- Beta resources- Supported operating systems and schedule- Beta point & reward program- Recommendations

Power Utilities:This podcast covers the remainder of the Utilities suite of tools that is part of SolidWorks Office, Office Pro, and Office Premium.  These tools are very easy to use and can perform multifunction modifications to your SolidWorks documents.  Topics covered:- Find / Replace Annotations- Format Painter- Feature Paint- Find, Modify, Suppress, Simplify- Power Select- Tips & Limitations