SolidWorks® 2011 Parts Bible

CHAPTER 2

Navigating the SolidWorks Interface

IN THIS CHAPTER

Discovering elements of the SolidWorks interface

Customizing the interface to work for you

Exploring the interface

The SolidWorks interface offers a wide range of tools. You will find more than one way to do almost everything. There is no one best way to use the interface; and each method has strengths and weaknesses depending on the task, and depending on the individual.

In this chapter, I will start by displaying the entire default interface, but in the rest of the book I will only show a reduced interface, mainly to save space and keep the focus on the graphics window.

Once you have mastered the various interface elements and customized your SolidWorks installation, working with the software becomes much more efficient and satisfying. You may find your mastery of the interface comes with practice and experience. Many existing users may discover features in this book that they were not aware of, even though they have been trained and have used the software for years.

I explain each interface element identified in Figure 2.1 in detail within this chapter.

You might want to put a bookmarker in this page and refer back to Figure 2.1 often, as much of the interface discussion refers to elements illustrated in this figure.

FIGURE 2.1 Elements of the SolidWorks interface

Identifying Elements of the SolidWorks Interface ...