Chapter 2: Navigating the SolidWorks Interface
Note
The 3Dcontrol menu entry is not part of base SolidWorks; it is part of the 3Dconnexion (spaceball) driver. n
Notice that on low resolution or non-maximized SolidWorks windows, you can run into some
space problems if the Menu Bar Menu is pinned open. The SolidWorks window in Figure 2.9 is
the SolidWorks 2010 interface with all default settings displayed at 1024 × 768 resolution, which
is a common resolution when using digital LCD projectors or small notebook computers. You need
to examine the changes in the SolidWorks interface with display size in mind. You might consider
having different sets of settings for using a laptop at a docking station with a large monitor, using
the laptop with a small monitor, or using the computer with a low-resolution digital projector.Flyout toolbar buttons
SolidWorks has implemented flyout toolbars that save space by putting several related icons on a
flyout. For example, the Rectangle tool has several different ways to make a rectangle, with a tool
for each, and they are all on the rectangle flyout.You can see all the available flyouts in the Customize menu (Tools ➪ Customize), under the
Commands tab, in the first listing in the window, Flyouts.The purpose for flyouts is primarily to save toolbar space when several tools are closely related.
SolidWorks has set up flyouts in two configurations: fly-outs that always maintain the same image
for the front button (such as the Smart Dimension fly-out) and fly-outs that use the last used button.Toolbar flyouts are listed in Tools ➪ Customize ➪ Commands and are listed from 2D to 3D through
the Weldments toolbar. After Weldments in the list, the fly-outs are Similar Function fly-outs. You
can change the order of the items in the flyouts by changing the order of the items in the toolbars.
Just display the original toolbar and choose Tools ➪ Customize to reorder it to your liking. These
toolbars will always have the same icon on the top. For example, if you use the Reference Geometry
flyout to access the Axis command, the image for the Plane icon will remain on top. The image on
top is considered the most commonly used function of that group of tools, and so remains on top.Add-in flyouts, such as the FeatureWorks flyout, are controlled by that specific add-in and again
keep the same icon always on top.The flyouts used for tools of similar function are split between using the most recently used tool
icon on top and keeping a consistent icon on top. The only tools that appear to follow the latest icon
method are the Sketch Entities tools. Sketch tools and other flyouts use a hard-coded top image.Context toolbars
Context toolbars are toolbars that appear in the graphics window when you right-click or left-
click something. When you right-click, a context toolbar appears at the top of the RMB menu,
and shows the functions that SolidWorks deems the most commonly used functions. This is a
static list, and does not change as you use the buttons. These functions are removed from the
RMB menu and replaced with the Toolbar icon in a toolbar above the abbreviated RMB menu, as
Figure 2.10 shows.