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Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?
3

Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

(OP)
I installed service pack 3 and have been having more crashing problems than with 2.1. These files are mostly 2 to 6 years old. In fact I couldn’t view or open a couple of file without closing out and restarting SolidWorks.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

No problems here. I have opened drawings created in SolidWorks 2001 plus, they opened fine. I am having fewer crashes with SP 3 than ever before.

Bradley

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

I have less crashes also. We do have users here that still crash, but they all have video cards that should be upgraded. They have 3Dlabs, I use NVIDIA.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

I have been having MULTIPLE issues with SP3.0
1.  When using the toolbox components have to be used completely IN SEQUENCE, or and error is given that the part is already open.  
    For example:  If I insert 4 socket head cap screws, then a washer, and come back to socket heads, it will give me the error "A document named "Socket Head Cap Screw_Al" is already opened.  Do you want to show this already-opened document?"  This is very annoying, as you loose the drag and drop mating preview (and the part insert preview altogether).
2.  Model light sources seem to change with every save.  
     For example.  I have an assembly with standard overhead lighting.  Next time its opened the lighting is from the direct right.  Next time the left.  Next time the front... and it appears COMPLETELY random.
3.  EXTREMELY SLOW and choppy Physical Dynamics movement of an assembly, even very simple ones.  It also overly sensitive now with collisions in this view.  So long as a part isn't impedeing the motion of the assembly WHO CARES if that non-motion related part started in a colliding position (such as a random bolt).  Funny thing is, it will let you do the motion once (and choppy), but the moment you release the object grab, move the model, and try to do it again, it THEN tells you that the model started in a colliding position, even when its NOT!
4.  Random components are turned transparent during Physical Dynamics.  No idea why, they just do.

If anyone has any ideas if maybe my system settings got jacked, or can test to see if they are experiencing similiar problems it would be greatly appreciated.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

Quote:

1) When using the toolbox components have to be used completely IN SEQUENCE, or and error is given that the part is already open.  
    For example:  If I insert 4 socket head cap screws, then a washer, and come back to socket heads, it will give me the error "A document named "Socket Head Cap Screw_Al" is already opened.  Do you want to show this already-opened document?"  This is very annoying, as you loose the drag and drop mating preview (and the part insert preview altogether).

No problem here. I just dragged and dropped 4 SHCS into and assembly with a part (with holes) and that did fine. I dragged and dropped a washer in there. Went back to the SHCS and no problem.

Are you working over a network install of Toolbox?

Quote:

2.  Model light sources seem to change with every save.  
     For example.  I have an assembly with standard overhead lighting.  Next time its opened the lighting is from the direct right.  Next time the left.  Next time the front... and it appears COMPLETELY random.

I have not seen this issue - I would do a repair on the installation to see if that helps. FAQ559-908

Quote:

3.  EXTREMELY SLOW and choppy Physical Dynamics movement of an assembly, even very simple ones.  It also overly sensitive now with collisions in this view.  So long as a part isn't impedeing the motion of the assembly WHO CARES if that non-motion related part started in a colliding position (such as a random bolt).  Funny thing is, it will let you do the motion once (and choppy), but the moment you release the object grab, move the model, and try to do it again, it THEN tells you that the model started in a colliding position, even when its NOT

That sounds like a possible video card driver. Have you tried reinstalling your Driver? You didn't have a AV on when you installed or when you installed the SP?

Quote:

4.  Random components are turned transparent during Physical Dynamics.  No idea why, they just do.

Check Tools\Options\System Options\Display Selection - Change your Assembly transparency for in-contect edit to "Opaque assembly".

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.scottjbaugh.com

FAQ731-376

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

If everything that Scott listed doesn't work, try reinstalling SolidWorks with anti-virus turned off (nothing running in the background).

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

EdDanzer
Don't mean to rub your nose in it ... but ... this is what happens when you don't keep all your files updated to the latest version!!

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

I've found that lofts & sweeps are finicky in sp3.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

Scott,

By finicky (fussy) I'm refering to how they act.  You can have a part that was modeled in SW2004 sp2.1 and open it in sp3.0 and have rebuild errors.  I've found that some times all it takes is shortening a guide curve.  One other thing I've noticed is one can not simply select a face as a profile and always get the loft to work.  However if a sketch is made using the Convert entities command it will work.  

I've talked with the local VAR about this issue.  From what I've been told this is an issue that should be addressed in the next service pack.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

2
(OP)
Although I have not had time to do much testing I did clean out the temp files, and repaired the install, and it seems to be better. But I won’t be doing much until next week. I have to spend a few days building what I have designed.
Thanks, Scott

CorBlimeyLimey,
How long has your company been using SolidWorks and how many files do you have?
The cost of updating the files with SolidWorks has been one of our largest expenses. When we did one update in 1997 several thousand files got corrupted buy a bug. By December of 1999 we had over 20,000 files and about 20% had problems. We spent over $6,000.00 on file maintenance in 1999 and still had an estimated $6,000.00+ to repair the 20% with problems. We are a small business and don’t have the resources to spend $500.00 to $1,000.00 per month on file maintenance. I doubt any company would welcome an expense like this if they knew before purchasing the product. One thing that is a real time burner is repairing corrupt drawing files. These file must be opened and reviewed, just opening and saving them will not fix errors. I spent over 5 hours fixing one page this year alone that was created in 1999, opened and saved in 2000.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

We converted thousands of files via DXF to SolidWorks 2003, then 2004. We have not yet had a corrupted file. Curious...EdDanzer what program did you convert from? Was it from an old version of SW? How were they corrupted, not opening, geometry messed up? I am not clear. Thanks

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

Ed - I could'nt agree with more.  Updating a large amount of data is definitely a problem for any company.  I wonder if SolidWorks is aware of this and could they produce a program to solve the amount of time spent by companies on this type of activitie?

Just my two cents worth..........

Vince

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

(OP)
All the files were created in SolidWorks. We started using SolidWorks in 1996. Many are copies so if one is a problem, several will have the same problem. One rev. of 97 corrupted an assembly and SolidWorks had to manually repair a few hundred files, and we discarded several hundred more. This mess cost us several thousand dollars in lost time.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

EdDanzer
The company has been using SW since 98. I have been involved with it since 2000. We also are a small company ... just little ol' me using SW. We have less than 6,000 active files and less than 4,000 archived. When I took over from the previous SW user we upgraded to SW2000 & the first thing I did was convert all the active files (approx 2000 at that time). Of those I had about a dozen or so files listed in the "Failed" log. Before trying to fix those, I checked the backup copies using SW98 & of the "Failures" all of them were bad files before being converted. After fixing those files in SW98 I converted them to SW2000 without problems. Since then whenever the company upgrades SW, or even if I load a Service Pack, I run the Conversion Wizard on the active & archive files and have never had a problem. I have not loaded SP3 yet, (just finished 2.1 conversion today) so probably should have kept my opion to myself till I have ... I may have to eat my words. (Wouldn't be the first time, probably won't be the last).
For a full version upgrade I usually run the conversion overnight to save my time, but for a SP I often run it during the day as I have found it to be very quick. Maybe I have been very lucky, but I have asked a few of my contacts at other companies using SW & they in general have had little if any problems also. The contact who had the most problem was the one who did the least frequent coversion!!!!!
The 20% failure rate you mention sounds extremely high & if I were you I would be upset too, but I would also be looking for other possible sources for such a high rate.
Good luck.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

My company has been working with sw since 97. We don't convert our old 97 files to 2004 because we rarely use them again. But I just tried to open a few assembly's of machines we've build a few years ago and all open/convert without any problems...

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

EdDanzer: If you have any of the corrupted old files around, try using the Conversion Wizard (in your latest SW version) per CorBlimeyLimey. If you haven't yet. Take an assy and its parts and move to a separate folder together on your hard drive when converting. Just a thought. Sounds like to me something else corrupted the files other than SW.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

(OP)
One reason we may have a higher level of problems is volume of files handled. I ran a search for SolidWorks files modified from 1/1/04 to 5/7/04. For one customer it was 142 SolidWorks files, for our products it was 1834 SolidWorks files, and 39 DXF files for flame cutting. That is an average of 400 files per month, and I only use SolidWorks 20 to 30 hours per week. I have to do customer service, sales, material ordering and some manufacturing the other 20 to 30 hours per week. Most weeks I work about 60 hours so my sense of humor about file problems is low.
I will try to run the update wizard on portions of the files starting this weekend.
When I did my search I noticed that many of the files do not have the new file extension, no icon in front of the file name, just a windows flag.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

We have had a few parts, very important ones though, made in SW2001 SP 6 and they don't rebuild in any other version. So Ed's problem is definitely not unique.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

When I installed SP3 (went from SP2.1 to SP3) it created a second SolidWorks directory (detailed in a another thread somewhere) had to do a complete reinstall, all is ok now

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

Quote (EdDanzer):

When I did my search I noticed that many of the files do not have the new file extension, no icon in front of the file name, just a windows flag.

Many of which files ... the converted or original files?
What do you mean by the new file extension?

If the icon has a windows flag that means that the Windows OS does not know what program to associate the file to, which is understandable if it has no extension.

Are other non-SW files missing extensions?

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

(OP)
The older SolidWorks part, assembly and drawing files that were opened in 2004, modified, and saved in 2004. This process of opening, modifying rebuilding, and saving a file should change the file extension from .sld to .sldprt, and associate a program with it. With Windows 2000 the file extension is not viewable in Explorer. To view the complete file name you create a short cut, then check the short cuts properties.
The icon problem seems to SolidWorks only, but there were not many other file types created.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?


EdDanzer
You should not have any SW files with only .sld as an extension.
The conversion process should not change the extensions.
SolidWorks files have always had .sldprt, .sldasm & .slddrw as it's file extensions!!!

As for the file extension not being viewable in Windows 2000 Explorer, Open any folder in Explorer, select Tools > Folder Options > View then under Hidden files & folders deselect Hide extensions for known file types

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

The .sld extension is associated with AutoCAD & XnView "Slide" files, Paint Shop Pro Styled Lines and, I believe, some Powerpoint Presentation slides.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

Early versions of SWX had file extensions of .prt, .asm, and .drw.  Around SWX 97-98 they went to .sldprt, .sldasm, and .slddrw.  The newer versions of SWX would recognize and open the older files with short extensions and would properly convert them to the new version, but they didn't automatically update the extensions to the new version.

- - -Dennyd

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

OK ... I stand corrected ... thanks DennyD
I have only been involved with SW98 & later files.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

EdDanzer,

You stated "With Windows 2000 the file extension is not viewable in Explorer. To view the complete file name you create a short cut, then check the short cuts properties.
"

I would reccomend opening Windows Explorer and go to the Tools pull-down, then Folder Options..., and go to the View tab.  Uncheck "Hide file extensions for known file types".

This setting is on by default in Win 2000 and is terrible for working in SWx where parts and drawings probably have the same name, just different extensions.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

(OP)
Melam,
Thanks for the tip.

Several files that I worked on in Feb, March, and April don’t have a program associated with them even though they are .sldprt extension. One file was created September 17, 1999, and a file save as was done April 22, 2004.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

If you RMB the file and go to the Properties of that file. It will list the Created, Modified and Accessed date and time on the file. Have you checked that to check your file information?

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.scottjbaugh.com

FAQ731-376

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

Is there a best practice to update files which are checked into PDM/Works?

If one has to check out and check back in manually, this could get painful.

Even if there's an automatic method in the conversion wizard, this will get messy. Bumping revision numbers may confuse BOM's for active products.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

rokahn, you should start a new thread. Do a search also, there are other therads on this topic. FYI, files have to be checked in manually. Start from the detail part dwgs, then move to the top assembly dwgs.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

"1.  When using the toolbox components have to be used completely IN SEQUENCE, or and error is given that the part is already open.  
    For example:  If I insert 4 socket head cap screws, then a washer, and come back to socket heads, it will give me the error "A document named "Socket Head Cap Screw_Al" is already opened.  Do you want to show this already-opened document?"  This is very annoying, as you loose the drag and drop mating preview (and the part insert preview altogether)."


I have this exact same problem. Not only do I loose the preview, but I can only place one part at a time. This is VERY frustrating.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

UPDATE: Regarding the problem I mentioned above, it seems that if I drop a part out of the toolbox, I get the error. However, if I just accept it and drop the part somewhere out of the way, I can then go back and drop parts normally.

It seems like it only happens with the first part dropped from the toolbox into the assembly.

I dropped a PEM press nut that I didn't want into dead space, then went back an dragged in all the correct press nuts that I needed. When I was finished, I went back and deleted the first, unneeded, nut.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

RETRACTION: That must have been a one time deal, because I can't get it to repeat it.

RE: Is anyone having problems with service pack 3.0?

When we upgrade to a major release of SolidWorks I run the converssion wizard over the weekend. When we went to sw 2005 the conversion wizard had to convert over 30,000 files, of those 30,000 files there were 10 that did not convert. The reason they did not convert was mainly do to poor practices on the part of the person creating the parts.
It took 2 weekends to finish the converssion though. We are not a large company either

But I would think if you dont convert files everyh release that there would come a time they would not convert just becouse of the changes in SolidWorks.

Roger

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