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Anyone using SW2008 yet?
2

Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Anyone using SW2008 yet?

(OP)
Just loaded SW2008. What was DS thinking? I hate the new user interface. Very annoying. If I wanted this sort of headache I would have purchased Inventor!

Why is my handle 65Roses?
Please visit http://www.cff.org/aboutCFFoundation/About65Roses/ to learn why!

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I've been using SW '08 for a couple of months now and I really like it. It takes a bit to get used to, but keep an open mind. The Instant 3D is pretty cool, as are the new DimXpert and FilletXpert tools. Out of all the enhancements, there have to be a couple you like, right? Plus, there really isn't any point in fighting it, you will be assimilated. borg2

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
Dell M90, Core2 Duo
4GB RAM
Nvidia 3500M

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

(OP)
We are not a design company and I don't use SW works on a daily or sometimes a monthly basis. I use SW to make tooling improvments every now and then for our manufacturing equipment. With all the changes to the interface I will just about have to start over on the learning curve.

Why is my handle 65Roses?
Please visit http://www.cff.org/aboutCFFoundation/About65Roses/ to learn why!

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I'm still waiting for the DVD.

Chris
SolidWorks 07 4.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

We have the dvd's but are waiting until we finish this short scheduled project....no time for pissing around with a new UI

Heckler   americanflag
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SWx 2007 SP 4.0 & Pro/E 2001
      o
  _`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

This post contains no political overtones or undertones for that matter and in no way represents the poster's political agenda.

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

No discs here yet, either.  Methinks corporate SW still hasn't updated our address. ..(?)  I'm waiting for SP1 anyway, especially after my experience with 2007 SP0 last year.

I AM looking forward to some of the new features.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Installed 2008 yesterday, SP0.1 today.

I hate it already.  

Everything is in a different place, and works differently.  

There's a whole palette of crap that follows the cursor around.  Okay, it's not crap, it's stuff that used to be in other places, and pretty much stayed put ... so you could find it when you needed it.  The contents of the palette changes, probably in relation to context, but so far it seems more random than that.  Everything is an icon, which will explain its meaning eventually, but waiting for the meaning to appear, or remembering the correct click, is a _lot_ slower than reading a labeled button.

EVERYTHING fades in and out like a damn Cheshire cat.

All of this UI complexity does not come for free.  It's noticeably slower.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Theophilus,

After two years worth of requesting that our VAR update the address that our disks were shipped to, I found a link to do it on the customer portal.  Log in, click on My Profile and hidden in the space between the My Profile and My Company sections is a line that says “To request a change to your email address or company information,Click Here.”  That link lets you fire off an e-mail to the people who can change it.  I received a reply back later that day.

Eric

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Mike ... that's the first reaction many people have had, but after trying it for a while they are finding that they are liking it.

Apparently most of the "enhancements" you mentioned can be disabled. You may have to wade through the Help and Options to find all the OFF switches ... unless people start posting them here.

cheers

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I installed the beast on Monday, and I'm still customizing it so I don't have to look all over Hell's creation for commands.  FYI not all of your settings from '07 will import directly.  I've had to change some of my templates to get up to snuff, add/remove toolbars and commands, etc.  By the way, they still haven't fixed the undocking toolbar issue.   Yesterday I actually got to do some designs with the new set-up.  Mike has a good point.  It is a bit slower.  I may have to cram some more RAM into my rig.

I tried the open the 13K+ body part that we worked on in thread559-198429: Anyone tried this?, to no avail.  I think it's all of the Realview Graphics/ Photoworks stuff bogging things down.

Even with these issues, I'm with Mirisola.  There are some good ideas and improvements here.  I does take a bit of getting used to, but such is progress...r so they tell me.  It'll probably take a couple of weeks to get full use out of every nook and cranny of the new release.  Old(ish) habits die hard.

It will be interesting to see whether or not we all end up liking these changes.

Dan

www.eltronresearch.com

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

About changing the address, it took me 3 calls in the past year to have them change it. I'll find out if/when the DVD gets here.

Chris
SolidWorks 07 4.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Thanks, Eric!  Wish I'd known that three years ago when SW kept sending my discs elsewhere.  I had the same problem of SW corporate having no idea my REAL address was held by my VAR.  You'd think a common database would be SOOOOOO easy in comparison with building this sort of software.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I installed it from the DVD on Monday and found out my CadMan would no longer work so I ordered a Space Explorer through the 25% off 3dConnexion website for SolidWorks subscription users. So I have not only have to get used to the software but the controller also. It is very different but I find it a lot more intuitive. I usually attend a what's new at the VARs but it didn't happen this time. I've been using this since 2001+ and I think this has been the most significant change in the overall look. So far I like it, some getting used to but in the long run I think this will prove to be easier to navigate and also be more productive. Just MHO.

Dennis

SolidWorks 2007 SP3.0
Windows XP Pro, Pentium4 3.00GHz
1GB RAM, Nvidia FX500
Logitech Marble Mouse, SpaceExplorer

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Oh, I forgot to mention that some of the older after-market add-ins don't seem to work either.  SolidMech and my 3ds import tool won't work in '08.

Dan

www.eltronresearch.com

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I have the DVD but I am scared.

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Noth'n to be scared about. We are here for you.
blues

Chris
SolidWorks 07 4.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

(OP)
Ok, I'm finally getting over the shock of the change. I'm a little happier now since I've opened up some tool bars and arranged them to get a similiar look and feel to that of SW2007. The changes in SW2008 really caught me off guard.

Why is my handle 65Roses?
Please visit http://www.cff.org/aboutCFFoundation/About65Roses/ to learn why!

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I should have rephrased. I am scared after Beta 1. I will end up installing it today.. I will go into it open minded.

I am actually looking forward to the save to illustrator format right out of a drawing.

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

To all you 08 haters out there.

Learn to Adapt.

That's why we humans are still on this earth you may hate it at first but I expect 2008 to be more efficient.

Notice that all the valuable toolbar space that used to be wasted on several types of arcs and lines and dims now have flyouts to compress the space they take up. Also when adding constraints instead of having to go to the Manager Tab they are conveniently located as well as the Dimension toolbar right whhere your mouse is.

When you click on any sketch entity and that mini floating toolbar appears there are constraints as well as the dimension icon that you can select to add dims.

One thing I wish the constraints tool bar had was a pin type icon to allow it to stay visible after adding the initial constraint for a set of entities similar to how UGNX does it. On NX if you hold CTRL down while picking entities it will show available constraints that can be added after your first constraint pick.

Another thing I dislike is the inability to use Alt keys to switch between he 3 tabs that display for dimensions. At least you don't have to scroll to the bottom for more Properties but you can't use CTRL+r either.

Michael

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I agree.
People seem to hate change more these days than ever before.
When 2009 comes out, some will not want to give up 2008!

Chris
SolidWorks 07 4.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I hope the new interface changes aren't an effort to free up screen space (again--like 2004).  Everyone's already got big monitors now, except maybe a few laptop users--who would still have high-resolution screens, even if small, so this wouldn't be an issue.  I signed up for the beta but never had time to mess with it this summer--so I don't know if this is a case of requiring more mouse clicks to do the same thing in an effort to free up screen space or not.  If so, that's why the 2004 interface failed--it didn't turn out to be more efficient.

Regardless, I'm eager to make use of some of the other new stuff--and to see this new interface.  Has SW posted the What's New PDF already?

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I installed it a week or so ago and I like it so far. It takes a little change in your methods but as I go I find that I can work faster.

It helps if you went to a roll out seminar and got to see how it works and where things are. :)

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Thanks, CorBlimeyLimey!  I'll check it out.

I like going to the roll-out gigs, since it's a quick way to get caught up with the new stuff--but I just moved and was between VARs--plus our new VAR is quite a drive from here.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

2008 is a signifigant change in the interface & there are many added features & functions.

Did you know that you can now use any cylindrical surface (instead of an axis) for a circular feature pattern...?

I firmly believe that the "bang" of the added functionality will outweigh the "buck" of the new interface... real soon.

Anybody try the "S" key shortcut menu yet?

The FILLET EXPERT rocks absolutely too...!

I could go on...

Quote (Jack L Tate):

Right-click. It's friggin' magic!
FAQ376

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I just now recieved my 2008 DVD. I will try to install this afternoon or sometime this week.

Chris
SolidWorks 07 4.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I've been running it since first available and aside from not having my spacepilot work until last week it's not too bad so far.  The new UI is decent and takes some getting used to just like M$ Office 2007.  I just wish I could get the 'copy with mates' feature to work on a multi-body assembly (see rebar in concrete).

Tony Murschel, CSWA
Dual Xeon 5160 10GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro FX 4500
Solidworks 2008 SP0.1 x64
Solidworks 2007 SP4.0 x64

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

OK after being scared, i installed it. After shutting off instant 3D, and getting used to the flyout toolbars.... i don't mind it.

Searching the feature tree is nice, as are the flyouts when you click on a feature to edit sketch/feature.

The UI seems to bog down the process a little bit more than 2007, but I am working with moderately heavy surface files, so that is to be expected I guess.

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Did you remember to update the video driver?

cheers

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Well, I got 2008 installed finally today. It took 4 tries! Turns out, the license file that was sent to me was a temp file. I called my VAR, he sent me the correct one. Then, it didn't like having the 2007 info on the server. I had to delete it! banghead
nightmare!hairpull3
But it works now. yawn

Chris
SolidWorks 07 4.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Ok, installed it on <b>one</b> machine in the department for testing purposes. The only question that I haven't been able to find anywhere in any of the documentation is this: What is the point of the BOM drop down menu in the customer properties?

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

I haven't seen it (can you show an image) but it is probably related to the new bi-directional functionality between the BOM and the Custom/Config Properties. Maybe it's showing the properties which are being used in, or created by, the BOM.

cheers

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Only for some users ...
I had found out today, if you are using both SolidWorks and AutoCAD, you need to have SW installed first, then ACAD. SW has add-ins that attach to ACAD.
If you see errors like "lmgrd", etc., SW & ACAD are not communicating well.
If ACAD is installed, uninstall it, then install SW, reinstall ACAD.

If both are installed, with errors, uninstall both then install SW then ACAD.
PITA!

SolidWorks says that it is not a problem having ACAD installed first. This is true for some users, not all. Depending on setup, hardware and license type.

Chris
SolidWorks 08 0.0/PDMWorks 08
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

CBL - I'll post an image when I get some time to hop on our test machine today. Look for it some time in the afternoon.

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

"Just loaded SW2008. What was DS thinking? I hate the new user interface. Very annoying. If I wanted this sort of headache I would have purchased Inventor!"

and then:

"Ok, I'm finally getting over the shock of the change. I'm a little happier now since I've opened up some tool bars and arranged them to get a similiar look and feel to that of SW2007."

What a surprise winky smile Why complain about something having installed it 5 minutes before and not trying it out first? Some people are very strange!

In my opinion it is very nice and took barely any time at all to get used to. Seems just as, if not more, intuitive than previous versions. My only complaint would be that the graphical loveliness comes at a price - even with 2Gb of RAM it runs noticeably slower sad

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

(OP)
sixmillionways....

5 minutes......I didn't say anything about 5 minutes. A lot of background information I left out on purpose. Everyone's situation is different and I was just stating my opinion.

I do agree with you completely about the RAM.

Why is my handle 65Roses?
Please visit http://www.cff.org/aboutCFFoundation/About65Roses/ to learn why!

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

Even with 3 Gig of ram it runs noticeably slower.  I don't think more ram would fit in the computer.

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

It's a tiny bit slower on my PC. Kind of the nature of things......DOS would probably scream on this computer....even Windows 3.1 would be instantly fast compared to WinXP. Of course, who wants to use that.

Someone had a video of SolidWorks 95 installing. It took just seconds to install. Fast for sure but you'd lose quite a bit of functionality.

Even after using 2008 just on and off for the last few months, its beginning to be painful to use 2007. The pop up menu is just too quick and find myself greatly missing it when doing "real" work in 2007.

Jason

SolidWorks 2007 SP5.0
SolidWorks 2008 SP0.1
WinXp sp2 (32 and 64 bit)

RE: Anyone using SW2008 yet?

2008 Screenshot

I posted this in another forum but for those non 2008 users or 2008 users who don't know about the Shortcut Bar it is a toolbar that comes up depending on what SP you have of 2008 in 0.0 you type S key to have it display but if you use that key for suppress you can pick another I chose B.

If you are in Editing Sketch you can show the toolbar and right click on the background to customize it and drag any icons into it and resize the toolbar rectangle. If you are in Edit Part mode you can type the shortcut bar key you set and see fillets, pattern feature, Rebuild or what ever other valid part toolbar in the shortcut bar which appears next to your cursor when shown. It's very powerful and completely customizable.

Even if you prefer the 2007 UI you'll learn to love the Shortcut bar.

Michael

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