CATI Tech Notes

How Do You Batch Convert Files to the Latest Release of SolidWorks?

With each new release of SolidWorks, the file format is updated to take advantage of the latest performance upgrades, Each time a file is opened that has not been saved in the new release, a message will appear that this is an older file. Customer's continually ask what is the easiest way to convert all their files at once.

The Easy Solution - SolidWorks Task Scheduler
You can create a task to convert files from an earlier release of SolidWorks to the current release.  This optimizes them for the latest software enhancements. You can create a task to convert files on your computer or create a distributed task to run on a group of computers. You must have a SolidWorks Professional, SolidWorks Premium, or SolidWorks Office license to create a distributed task. In general the Task Scheduler should convert all the old version files.

Note: Please back-up all files before converting files. Once files are saved in the latest release, they cannot be opened in an earlier release of SolidWorks.

Click Start - All Programs - SolidWorks Install Directory - SolidWorks Tools - SolidWorks Task Scheduler

1. Click Convert Files on the sidebar, or pull down the Tasks menu and pick Convert Files.
2. In the Convert dialog box, type a title for the task or leave the default.
3. Select the files or folders you want to convert. Simply click the Add File or Add Folder button and select the files or folder to update and click Open. Repeat to select additional files or folders. If you do not want to include subfolders, uncheck Include subfolders. To delete a file or folder from the list, click its number or path, then click Delete.
4. Under Task schedule, set the Running mode (Specifies how often the task runs: Once, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.), the Start time and the Start date.
5. For distributed tasks: Click Network Monitor if it is not running. Select Distribute Task. Click Network Test (recommended) to verify group read and write access to files and folders.
6. Click Options to change conversion options and backup locations.
7. Click Advanced to change the working folder, time-out values, and other options.
8. Click Finish.

Big Files = Big Problems

Think your part is way bigger than it should be? Maybe it is... Little known facts from 2011 SP2 there was an error that caused file size to balloon.

The problem was in the creation of multiple redundant display states that are all expendable. In 2011 SP3 the issue was corrected, however files with this issue will continue to have the issue. 2011 SP3 and later added a right mouse click menu to the display states called "purge redundant display states".

This will clean your file, and in some cases a lot. We saw a 200MB+ file go down to around 17MB. Big savings there.

Please make sure to back up your files before attempting this to make sure nothing undesirable happens to any wanted display states.

Happy Purging!!
John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support

Stubborn Program Removal

We used to have a great tool for uninstalling failed installs in XP with the MicroSoft uninstall clean up utility. Since going to Windows 7 this option was no longer available as the tool was not supported with Windows 7. Great News!!! There is now a link to an updated version of the tool that is suited for Windows 7. This utility runs from their website or has options to download for machines not on the internet.

I have tried it a few times with mixed results. Not thrilling, but if there is nothing else left to loose, why not give it a shot?

 Here are the links to the new Microsoft cleanup utility:

 The Windows Installer Cleanup utility (MSICUU2.exe) has been retired by Microsoft and has been replaced a new utility (this is the download link):

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall

 

 The Microsoft KB article that has more information about this tool can be viewed at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2438651/.

John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support

 

Stop asking for a SNL License!

If you have Solidworks and eDrawings installed on the the same machine and you are pulling a license for the Solidworks but when you open up eDrawings you are Publishpresented with this......

 

 

 

 

 

Since you have eDrawings installed on your machine you do not need to pull a SNL on a standalone machine. Start eDrawings and go into tools options and un-check the box for the SNL option and while you in there un-check the RSS feeds and CHECK the box for performance report. This is the stuff that gets sent back to Solidworks to make the product better. Your machine is already generating the log files so you might as well send them to Solidworks to make better products for you the user.Hope this helps.....

 

Todd Werginz

Technical Analyst

CATI

Changes to the 2012 Toolbox Structure

As more companies are upgrading to the 2012 Solidworks, there have been several calls into support to find out what are the changes to the 2012 toolbox.  Recently I have been going thru the Solidworks knowledge base and found Solution S-057076- What is the difference between the SolidWorks 2011 Toolbox Folder Structure and the SolidWorks 2012 Toolbox folder structure?

S- 057076 2011: Please see attached screen shot ‘folder structure 2011_.png’. In the 2011 version if you drill into a browser folder from a SolidWorks 2011 Toolbox, you'll see that there are only two folder levels and the last contains every single part file in that category.  For example, if in Windows Explorer you browse to the Browser->Ansi Inch->Washers folder, within the “Washers” category you see every single washer. 2012: Please see attached screen shot ‘folder structure 2012_.png’. In the 2012 version we are introducing a third level folder.  Now, the folder structure in Windows Explorer (SolidWorks Data > Browser) looks exactly the same as in the Task Pane and Toolbox Settings (Windows Start > All Programs > SolidWorks 2012 > SolidWorks Tools > Toolbox Settings).  This change allows the user to edit the Toolbox folder structure and generally to make the portability of toolbox more flexible. It is now possible to cut, rename, copy and paste folders and parts without creating a derived standard.   Additionally in 2012, we are eliminating the dependency of toolbox on the Access database. The data stored in various tables in the database such as sizes, lengths, drive types, part numbers, and properties, will now be stored in each part file. The benefits gained will include performance improvements when: • Dragging components from the task pane to the graphics area preview • Dropping components into the graphics area to finish loading of the Property Manager • Clicking OK to complete the insert, etc. Also, please note that part of the process when upgrading Toolbox from 2011 or older versions is to create the missing third level folders and properly move each component from the second level folder where it currently resides to the new third level folder.

Borrowing Licenses From SNL

If you haven't borrowed a license in a while you may see some changes. Most surprisingly you may find that going to the borrow tab things look a little different:

Next you might notice that there are no free Standard licenses. Trying to  borrow a Standard SolidWorks Network license, the error message "No Available licenses for SolidWorks Standard” appears. This is due to a change in the borrow procedure.

SolidWorks used to require borrowing a Standard license prior to borrowing a Premium seat. Starting in SolidWorks 2011this is no longer a required process. The process of borrowing Standard license when a Premium, Professional license is requested is now automated.

If a user needs to borrow a standard license on its own follow these steps:
1. Open SolidNetWork License (SNL) Manager and browse to "License borrowing" tab
2. Click a SolidWorks Office, SolidWorks Professional or SolidWorks Premium and click borrow
3. In the drop-down list select only SolidWorks Standard license.

Now you can do more work when you get home!! Just what we all wanted!! :)

John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support

 

2012 Toolbox Hotfix 627753

Many of you launching SolidWorks 2012 SP0.0 will be receiving a message box prompting you to install a hotfix for Toolbox. This message is sent to you via the RSS news feeds on your task pane. The option for this is shown in the background tools>options>general> “Show latest news feeds in task pane”. The message box is on top of the options menu in this screen shot.

The message is alerting you to update to the hotfix and contains a link to a SolidWorks knowledge base solution article that contains the hotfix_627753.exe file and a link to the installation pdf file for this hotfix.

This hotfix is only necessary if the information in the message applies to you. If you installed a new 2012 toolbox without updating a 2010 or 2011 toolbox or a new 2012 install on a new machine do not have to worry about this. Also this fix is included in SolidWorks 2012 SP1.0 which will be fully released soon as it is in early visibility right now.

This installation will fix the toolbox listed in your Hole Wizard/Toolbox file location. If you are pointed to a network shared toolbox it only needs to be done once. So have your CAD Admin take care of it. Also a backup copy of your toolbox is suggested. So go to your toolbox file location and copy the SolidWorks Data folder to someplace safe or zip it up for backup.

If you need this fix it will take about 10 minutes to install. If you haven’t noticed an issue by now you can probably just wait until 2012 SP1.0 is released to get the updates.

Thank you,
John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support

Manually Updating Toolbox

From time to time we get the occasional request on how to update your Toolbox manually. So here are the instructions....

 

From time to time we get the occasional request on how to update your toolbox manually. Here are the instructions.

•  Turn off Toolbox and Toolbox Browser addins in SolidWorks for all users

•  Go to your SolidWorks install directory to the toolbox install folder

            1.     C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks\Toolbox\data                             utilities\UpdateBrowserData.exe

            2.   NOTE: If you have a 64 bit machine go to Program Files not Program Files (x86)

•  Run the UpdateBrowserData.exe file

•  Click the (…) button and browse for the database file

            1.     Should be located at <C>:\Solidworks Data\Toolbox\lang\english\swbrowser.mdb

 

Todd Werginz

Applications Engineer

Computer Aided Technology

Solidworks crash or system slow down

If you are a win7 user then this applies to you.  It doesn't matter if you clean your system regularly, uninstall solidworks and start with a clean slate.  Over time your computer will start to run out of memory regardless of all those things.  This can happen quicker if you uninstall and reinstall programs often.  There is a folder (C:\windows\winsxs) in the windows structure that keeps track of all the programs that were installed and nothing gets deleted from it.  I have looked through many blogs that tell you how to reduce the file size safely.  Microsoft doesn't recommend it, meaning they can't guarantee the application will work correctly. However many people have found them to work.  There are several ways so just do a google search for "winsxs".

The best recommendation to make is to reinstall windows.  Perhaps create an image of your drive and that way its quicker to get your machine back to its orignal state.

Ketul

Getting What You Paid For

In some cases where you have either upgraded or purchased a higher level of SolidWorks you may be missing some features. In most cases you probably have what you should but here is a way to fix it if you don’t.

For starters we need to open the installation manager. The most consistent way is to go to your control panel, add/remove programs (for XP) or programs and features (for Vista, Win7). Locate SolidWorks and choose change. This will launch the Installation Manager as seen below.

 

You may need to select your package type from here:

 

Next review your package inclusions and make sure they are all checked. Below is a sample of premium and it is currently missing Routing and Tolanalyst.

Once chosen SW will install them. In respect to the SNL based licenses, SolidWorks defaults to installing premium options to cover whatever license types might be on the network license. This doesn’t mean you actually can use them. Same thing would apply to a Stand Alone seat set to Premium, sure you will be able to install the options, but your license type will determine if you can use it. So don’t install anything you don’t have you will only be taking up space on you machine.

Click next and then modify now to install your selections.

John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support