Mike Puckett's Blog

Understanding Your VAR's Achievements, Live On The Web

As a SolidWorks customer, you are most likely purchasing your SolidWorks software, and subscription services from A Value Added Reseller (VAR).  So how can you tell what parts of the SolidWorks Software your VAR is certified to teach?

There has always been a reseller directory where you could find out this kind of information about your VAR, but it wasn't tied into any system that would keep it automatically updated.  That is until today.  The Certification team at SolidWorks has completed the software tie in to allow the status of a VAR's achievements to be viewed live on the web.  So how does it work?

Let's say an employee of a VAR takes his Workgroup PDM Support Technician Certification Exam, and passes it.  The power of the Tangix Virtual Tester software uploads those results to the profile of the VAR, and they are instantly awarded the certification.  If that employee leaves the VAR, his profile is transfered and the VAR he left looses the certification.

This ensures that when you want to find a Certified Training Center, you can be sure you are choosing one that has someone in place to teach what you are looking for.

You can access the directory by following this link: Certified VAR Directory

SolidWorks Tools You Have, But Rarely Use....

...And most definitely forget about!

Such was the case recently for me when I was setting up SolidWorks on both my work desktop, and work laptop computers.  I created toolbar layouts in the Command Manager that I also wanted to use in Assemblies, and Drawings.  Well SolidWorks gives me the tool to make that a simple task, but I couldn't for the life of me remember how to copy the tabs across the different templates.  It's one of those tools you use once, and then forget how to use it when you need it a few years later.  Here is how you do it:

Once you create a tab layout in the Command Manager you like, you right click anywhere on the Command Manager, then click 'Customize'.  The next step is to then right click the tab you want to copy to another template, and then simply click 'Copy Tab To Assembly', or 'Copy Tab To Drawings'.  The wording of these options will change based on which template you are in at the time of the customization.  You will want to do this for each tab you wish to have copied over to different templates. 

Free Stuff for Subscription Customers

The Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Certification Team has extended the free CSWP, CSWA, CSWP-SMTL, CSWP-CDES Exam offer for current subscription customers for 2009.  Customers who have a current and valid subscription can receive this value added benefit by logging into the customer portal, then going to the Certification Page under Community.  From there you will see the offer listed on the right hand side of the page.  Customers wishing to take the exams must redeem their code no later than December 31st, 2009, and all the exams must be completed by July 31st, 2010.

Here are a list of the free exams being given out:

CSWA

As a Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA), you will stand out from the crowd in today’s competitive job market. CSWA certification is proof of your SolidWorks® expertise – cutting-edge skills that businesses seek out and reward.

CSWP

A Certified SolidWorks Professional is an individual that has successfully passed our advanced skills examination. Each CSWP has proven their ability to design and analyze parametric parts and movable assemblies using a variety of complex features in SolidWorks.

CSWP-Sheet Metal

Learn about becoming a Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWPSMTL) Advanced Sheet Metal Specialist.

CSWP-CDES

Learn how to become a Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWPCDES) Simulation Specialist.

Information on individual tests can be found HERE.

Is It All Just Marketing Hype?

Where do marketing campaigns end, and truth start to set in?  Sometimes it's hard to tell, other times words directly from the competition is the best weighting factor.

Fellow Blogger Gabi Jack had a short but very good post today that really shows that when SolidWorks says its the leading 3D Cad program in the industry, someone thats pretty entrenched with Autodesk pretty much confirms that.  Read the story HERE.

That same kind of story can easily be related by doing a simple search on Monster.com.  Go there and search for 'inventor' and then search with 'solidworks'.  The ratio of jobs listed will be 2 to 1 in SolidWorks favor, and thats not even considering the fact that the term inventor is generic enough to throw in some non cad related job postings.

So what does it mean?  Well if I was a student, or someone looking for a job, I would know what 3D CAD package would be helping me find work, or college classes to take!

SolidWorks 2009 Service Pack 2.0: Print To Scale

Service Pack 2.0 for SolidWorks 2009 re-introduces the print to scale feature that was removed for SolidWorks 2009 SP 0.  Print to scale allows you to print the entire sheet at a scale that you set in the print dialog interface:

You can see at the bottom of the print dialog the option for Selection.  If you select that, you can then set your custom print scale or choose one of the preset options.

Also note that new in SolidWorks 2009 is the ability to preview your print settings from the print dialog window.  Now when you make a change, you can preview those changes without having to exit out of the print dialog like you had too in SolidWorks 2008 and earlier.   

SolidWorks 2009 Service Pack 2.0 Available

Its a day that that SolidWorks users always enjoy, the day a new service pack gets released.  The chatter on the social media sites is always about what new bits of functionality are included in the service pack, and what improvements have been done to the software.

If you are a SolidWorks customer with a current subscription contract, all you need to do is launch the SolidWorks Installation Manager, and it will do the work for you.  You can find the SWIM by clicking Start > All Programs > SolidWorks Installation Manager > Check For Updates, or if you are using Windows Vista, simply Click Start then type Check For Updates in the search box, and the result will appear.  You can also access the update inside Solidworks by clicking Help > Check For Updates.

You will first get a download of the newest version of the Installation Manager (approx 20mb), and then it will find all the files you need based on your serial number(s).

To see a couple of the new added features that come with Service Pack 2.0, read up on this post found HERE and also HERE.

Let me know if you find anything else.  Happy downloading!

Inside Solidworks 2009...

...Inside both the software, and now the company. 

...First, inside the company.

As most of you know I recently accepted a position working for Solidworks at their headquarters in Concord Mass.  In fact today is my second day in the office.  Comming to work in a corporate environment is much different then what I'm used to from the manufacturing shops I have worked in the past 13 years or so.  The coolest change, free beverages!  What seems to be the biggest obstacle that I will have to overcome is trying to find my way around the three floors of the building.  Solidworks is a bit differnet in that most of the people working here have offices as opposed to cubicles.  With cubes you can stand up, look around, and figure out which way is out.  Not so easy to do when the walls go all the way to the ceiling!  As expected the people here are very nice and helpful.  In talking with a few people yesterday and this morning, its also very evident that everyone shares a passion for doing their part to make Solidworks the best 3D CAD program out there. 

Right now the buzz is all about Solidworks World 2009.  The event is shaping up to be another great one, and a few changes to the normal format have already been released to the community.  First off this years suprize speaker was announced back in November.  Sir Richard Branson will be delivering this years keynote, but with a twist.  Instead of standing infront of a podium the entire time, Sir Branson will take some of his time to sit down with DS Solidworks CEO Jeff Ray to answer some questions.  But not just Jeff's questions, your questions too.  If you would like to submit a question to be asked, simply leave a comment on Jeff's blog post found Here.

Another event taking place at Solidworks World which is sure to be a fun time is the CSWP event.  Unlike years past, this years event is going to be a more interactive experiance for the attendees.  There is a contest being held with some pretty cool prizes.  You can read all about the event Here.

And finally any customer with current subscription service will be able to submit, and vote on the top 10 enhancements to be presented at Solidworks World 2009.  Simply visit this Link and join in the process of shaping future versions of Solidworks.

Also, don't foget that the deadline for the last price deal for Solidworks World 2009 is this Friday!  Visit the Registration Page for more info.

 

As far as inside Solidworks the software, Service Pack 2EV for Solidworks 2009 was released about 2 weeks ago which means the full release should be out soon.  Included in the EV are a couple of new functions not seen in SP1.  First off is a new face selection tool that is described in very great detail by the techs at Solidworks Reseller Digital Dimensions in Arizona.  The tool will be very usefull for selecting multiple faces on a part, make sure to read the story HERE.  The second bit of new functionality is the ability to  publish a Solidworks model or assembly directly to the 3DVIA Website without having to perform a seperate upload.  This time its Lou Gallo from Solidworks Heard that has a great write up about it Here.  The great part about getting bits of new functionality in service packs is that it makes subscription service that much more of a value added service.  Some may say that there two items are petty enhancements, but if your one of the many users out there that will save time by these two new options, you will be excited! 

(Writters note: Once again the Type Pad spell check interface seems to be down, so please excuse any spelling mistakes)