Fit command places components under the pathfinder? Any fix for this. 1

[ThunderStik]

Im fairly new to SE and as such going through many of the growing pains of learning a new software. I have the opportunity to change to solidworks but im trying trudge forward and deal with this...for now.

Anyway when I use the fit screen command one of the things that irks me is that it places the left side of the component and/or dimensions under the Pathfinder. So its not actually fitting to the screen.

It would be fit to the screen if the pathfinder were not there but thats not the case. Is there any fix for this? Hopefully its just a stupid button I have yet to find somewhere. lol

 

[toffeet]

What version of Solid Edge and operating system are you using?

Kind regards,
Theodore

Solid Edge ST3 MP6 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[ThunderStik]

ST3, its all up to date on its service packs.

 

[toffeet]

Are you using Windows 7? Windows 7 allow the transparent pathfinder option.

Solid Edge ST3 MP6 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[ThunderStik]

Here is a screenshot. Its not on just this part, I just happened to grab this one.

 

[ThunderStik]

Yes im using 7. It does the same thing on the transparent. It becomes a real pain when the tree gets larger.

 

[toffeet]

Let me see if I got this right? All your tabs are set to auto hide except the pathfinder tab. Is the pathfinder tab docked to the side of the screen or is it floating around?

Solid Edge ST3 MP6 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[ThunderStik]

HAHA, LOL, You got me thinking because I didnt know the answer to your question so I just grabbed it and started dragging it. About that time a set of blue arrows came up in the middle of the screeen and gave me a choice of where to put it, so it auto-docked on the left side.

And now it works properly. Thank you sir for your help. Dumb little things will get ya every time.

 

[toffeet]

I am glad you figured it out, I wasn’t sure how I would have explained the blue arrows to dock your pathfinder. If you have any other questions, please ask. I do hope that you give Solid Edge a fair chance.

Solid Edge ST3 MP6 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[ThunderStik]

Well, im not a rookie at software and through the years I have learned more than a few.

I have vowed to give it a fair try but thus far (while admittedly a novice at SE) its not nearly as intuitive as solidworks nor is it as customizable.

They will both do all the same things but with SE everything takes more steps to get it done.

My local rep has been good about giving me tech support.

When we first spoke and I told him about some of my issues we both agreed that it was probably because of my lack of experience. After he showed up, he confirmed the fact that "yeah SE wont do that, or that ...". And it seems like im just coming across more and more things that it doesnt do or its a pain to do (takes more steps) that right now im leaning towards SW. I dont want to have to change over but getting used to doing things less efficiently is draining my brain and taxing my time.

We will see.

 

[toffeet]

I have been using Solid Edge for almost 10 years now and unfortunately I have no experience with Solidworks so I can’t compare the two. It might be interesting if you can share some of the issues over time. I might be able to show you a shortcut or two.

Solid Edge ST3 MP6 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[ThunderStik]

Well for many of them there are just no shortcuts to be had (at least that I have found out thus far).

Just right off the top of my head, its shortcuts themselves.

In SW you can program single button hotkeys, even the spacebar. When most CAD guys sit down at the PC 1 hand goes on the mouse and 1 hand on the kboard. Im right handed so my left goes on the KB.

If you actually look where you place your hand most of the time the thumb is on the spacebar. After that my whole left side of my KB was all hotkeys, single keys. NO need for a bunch of finger gymnastics, I just build the keys around where my hand sets on the KB. I never have to pull my hand from the mouse and my screen has very few buttons on it. The letter Q could do 3 or 4 different things when combined with combined with alt,Ctrl or just by itself, which all the most common commands get single keys.

I also program usually 5 button on my mouse. Setup like this its easy to get to the point where you think faster than the PC can react. And it does save time.

Smart Dimension in Edge to me just an oxymoron. Try measuring something on an angle. In edge you have to go to your box then change the settings from horiz/vert to then place your dim (dont remember if you have to change it back).I hate window washing with the mouse. Plus some dimensions you have to use dist-between or any of the other ones they have.

In SW you click the position and it instinctivly knows what your trying to do, you just place the dim wherever you want. No window washing or switching boxes or stuff like that.

There are more things but this is a long enough post. LOL

 

[toffeet]

It is almost midnight here in Cape Town so I think I am calling it a night. I will post some tips tomorrow. Just a question, do you make use of the radial menu? With regards to the Smart Dimension, I think you either hold down shift, alt or Ctrl before placing a vertical/horizontal dimension of a line that is at an angle.


Solid Edge ST3 MP6 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[ThunderStik]

I havent started using the radial yet in SE but prob will soon. I didnt use it much in SW because if im moving my mouse, that means its heading somewhere and my left hand has already taken care of what im going to do when I get there LOL.

As far as the ctrl and alt on the smart dim, its doesnt always pull the proper dimension or in the proper direction when its used. I have found errors using that method. The only sure I know if is to change the settings in the box.

By all means have a good night and any tips or pointers you have, im all ears.

Thanks for your time.

 

[beachcomber]

Smart dimension is really easy.
If you pick an angled line it will first give the length.
Hold the SHIFT key and drag left or right it will give the vertical height, drag up or down and it will give the horizontal length.
Press the 'A' key and you will get the angle, either from vertical or horizontal depending on where you drag the mouse.
On a circle it will show diameter, but try posiitioning your mouse at the top/bottom/left and right quadrant points.

If you use Smart Dimension on an arc it will first dimension the radius. Press the 'A' button for length or 'A' again for arc angle.

Dimensioning between points - hover the mouse over a line and press 'M' to get mid point, or 'C' for the centre of a circle or arc.
If you just click on the circle it will automatically pick the centre, just avoid the quadrant points.
When dimensioning between 2 circle or arcs pressing the 'T' button will toggle between keypint selection and tangential selection.

Simples.

Please don't compare CAD systems, they all work differently - if you want something that works like Solid Works then use Solid Works. I'm sure you would be just as frustrated if you went from SE to SW.

By the way, many people, including myself, have their left hand on a Spaceball, so having keyboard shortcuts is not really much use.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?

 

[toffeet]

Thank you Beachcomber, I could not have said it better. Below is an interesting bog post by Matt Lombard. Matt is very well known in the Solidworks community as the author of Solidworks Bible.

http://www.dezignstuff.com/blog/?p=4052

Solid Edge ST3 MP6 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[beachcomber]

Other STANDARD shortcuts -
CTRL + F Front view
CTRL + L Left view
CTRL + T Top view
CTRL + B Bottom view
CTRL + K Back view
CTRL + I take a guess!!!!!!!!!
CTRL + J Dimetric
CTRL + M Trimetric
CTRL + Q Show/Hide previous level (when in Edit-in-place hides other assembly parts)

CTRL + RMB Zoom
CTRL + Shift Rotate
CTRL + SHIFT + RMB Pan

For a complete list of default keyboard shortcuts see the help, and search for 'Shortcuts'.
TBH there are far too many to remember - that's why I rarely use them

If you go to the ribbon customisation window you can set up your own combinations.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?