Multiple Instances of Solidworks

[jobiewan99]

Prior to SW2007, I was able to run 2+ instances of SW at a time. With dual monitors, it was handy for me to reference a drawing on one screen while working on a new drawing on the other screen. I preferred doing this over printing out the drawing I was referencing.

Prior to SW2007, I just got a warning along the lines of: "A journal file could not be created. Another instance of solidworks may be running on this machine." I would click "OK" and a second instance of solidworks would open and function normally.

With SW2007 installed (sp2.0), one of the following things happen:

1)Nothing
2)I will get the same warning detailed above, click ok, a new solidworks window will come up briefly and either lock up or close by itself.

Any suggestions on resolving this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

JEM
Solidworks 2007 SP2.0
2GB Ram/3GB Switch
Quadro FX1300
P4 3.40GHz Duo
XP Pro SP2.0

 

[mncad]

Jobiewan,

I'm not sure why you have the problem, that same scenario works on my machine. Running Windows XP Pro and SW2007 SP2.2. I got the typical error about a journal file, now it added that Autorecover won't work and then SW started and worked just fine. I know I have also had 2007 and 2006 running at the same time.

mncad

 

[jobiewan99]

O.K. So I have an idea..

We are set up on a network license. I watched my windows task manager when I try to start my second instance of solidworks. It temporarily flashes a second instance of SLDWORKS.exe and a second instance of SolidWorksLicTemp.0001. Then these lines just plain go away.

The only weird thing is that I had run multiple instances before with the network license set up the same way.

Is it possible that this could be causing me problems? If so, how can I "trick" my license setup?

Thanks,

JEM

Solidworks 2007 SP2.0
2GB Ram/3GB Switch
Quadro FX1300
P4 3.40GHz Duo XP Pro SP2.0

 

[handleman]

Why run two instances? Just open the app across both screens. You should be able to set up your NVidia settings to allow SW to span both monitors but not allow child windows to span. That way you don't have two instances of a resource-hogging app running.

 

[PDMAdmin]

If all you're doing is referencing a drawing in the one session, why not view it with something like eDrawings viewer?

 

[jobiewan99]

Well, I guess I solved it. I was running the setwindowtitle macro. It displayed the full file path in the title bar of the active solidworks window. I couldn't find the forum with the link to the file, or I would have posted it.

Anyway, I disabled the switch that ran that macro at Solidworks startup and my problem went away. I simply assigned a shortcut key to run the macro when need be.

Thanks for the suggestions. Sorry to waste y'alls time.

Regards,

JEM

Solidworks 2007 SP2.0
2GB Ram/3GB Switch
Quadro FX1300
P4 3.40GHz Duo XP Pro SP2.0

 

[fcsuper]

handleman, there's just something weird about having SolidWorks open across two montors. It just doesn't feel right. I prefer to use two instances too, but it is rare when I need it.



Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA

http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php

 

[handleman]

What do you mean by "wierd?" Here's one reason to use the same session: I often like to have a part/subassembly open next to a drawing/assembly. If you have a part file open in one session and then open an assembly or drawing referencing it in the other session then changes to the part don't get reflected to the assembly unless you save the part and reload it in the assembly. What a pain! I have two of my mouse's bonus buttons set up (for SolidWorks only) to throw a SW child window from one monitor to the other. In any other application the buttons throw the application window.

 

[TateJ]

I just switched my setup to span 2 monitors... seems a little wierd right now... but it's just too cool to give up so quickly... sort of like my first experience with a SpaceBall.

Windows XP / Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000
SolidWorks 2007 SP1.0 / SpaceBall 5000
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com

FAQ376​

 

[fcsuper]

I actually spill over my toolbars on to my second monitor to open up more viewing space on my first. Maybe if I had a third monitor, I wouldn't dislike opening it up wider.

Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA

http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php

 

[keepinitcool]

It's "weird" when the two monitors don't operate on the same resolution. Or even if they are not the same size monitor, it is odd to work with. I would like to be able to open Solidworks and have a part or assembly on one screen and a drawing on the other screen, but if you maximize the window for the part it spans both screens. I guess you have to manually resize the windows, because it seems to me Span is the only setup that will work for Solidworks since you cannotdetach the toolbars from the main Solidworks window (at least not that I'm aware of on 2006). At least I couldn't do it like it can be done on Photoshop/Illustrator.

 

[handleman]

Your video card drivers should be able to force child windows to remain on a certain screen.