SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part III: Working with Assemblies

Second, you can use the Edit Component button to begin or finish editing a part that is already in

an assembly. When you are editing a part in the context of an assembly, the title bar of the

SolidWorks window reflects the fact that you are editing a part in an assembly, the toolbar changes

to a part-editing toolbar, and the lower-right corner of the taskbar displays the words Editing Part,

as shown in Figure 16.4.

Third, a confirmation corner image exists in the upper-right corner of the graphics window

when you are editing a part in the context of the assembly. This makes it easier to exit Edit

Component mode.

FIGURE 16.4

Indicators that you are editing a part in-context

Editing a component can also mean editing a subassembly in the context of the top-level assembly.

You can create in-context assembly features and mates if necessary; however, you will do this far

less frequently than editing parts in-context.

Note
Creating in-context relations is not the only reason to edit a part or subassembly in the context of the top-level
assembly. Sometimes it is simply more convenient to do normal editing when you are in the top-level assembly;
this way you can see how the part relates to other parts after making changes in the assembly without making
relations between the parts.

Editing a subassembly in the context of the upper-level assembly is often useful as well, to see how changing
subassembly mates affects the top level. n