SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Chapter 2: Navigating the SolidWorks Interface

Adding hotkeys

For many users, hotkeys are an integral part of the everyday experience of using SolidWorks. You

can easily assign hotkeys and manage the assignments by following these steps:

1. Choose Tools ➪ Customize ➪ Keyboard.


2. In the Search For text box, type Options.


3. Click in the Shortcut column, and type O.


4. Click again in the Search For text box, and type Customize.


5. Click in the text box next to the Tools ➪ Customize entry and press Ctrl+C. Click
   No to the question of whether you want to reassign the hotkey. Press Ctrl+T instead.


6. Click OK to exit the Customize dialog box.


7. Press the O key to open the Options tab. Click OK to exit.


8. Press Ctrl+T to open the Customize dialog box. Click OK to exit.


9. Press Alt+F, and then click the Close button to exit SolidWorks.

Combining macros with hotkeys

The following steps show you how to link a macro to a hotkey:

On the CD-ROM
You can use the macro called rectangle.swp, located on the CD-ROM. n

1. Find your SolidWorks installation directory. By default, this directory is C:\Program
   Files\SolidWorks.


2. Create a folder called Macros in the SolidWorks directory and put the rectangle.
   swp macro in it.


3. Open SolidWorks.


4. Create a new blank part document.


5. Press Ctrl+T to access the Customize dialog box.


6. Click the Keyboard tab.


7. In the Search For text box, type rectangle.


8. Click in the Shortcut column next to the listing with the Category of Macros, and
   press R.


9. Click OK to exit the Customize dialog box.