SolidWorks:HEARD! - Episode 416 - 2013 Rendering Tips

2013 Rendering Tips:

This podcast covers a few common questions that I was asked during the weeks of rollouts of the new 2013 software to the masses.  Many questions came up on how to get Luxology appearances as well as how the new network rendering tools and setup works.  Topics covered:

- 2013 support for LXP appearance files

- How to get access to the Luxology Asset Sharing Site

- Adding and previewing LXP in PhotoView 360

- Where to download the Network Rendering client

- How to setup/configure the new PV360 Network Rendering client

- Enabling and using network rendering from PV360

Now that the new release of SolidWorks is out and all the beta is behind us it is time to dig deeper into the new features and understand how to get them working.  Two areas I specifically received a lot of post-presentation questions on were related to both the new Luxology appearances and how to download them.  This is not especially straightforward and since this is a feature only for subscription customers, it also needs to see an active login to the customer portal.

In addition to these appearances, a very popular new feature is the PhotoView Network Rendering capability that uses Bonjour, Apple's zero configuration network solution, and a new client-side software utility that allows other systems to use the CPU resources to participate in render jobs from PhotoView.  Since nobody installs from DVD, finding the download on the customer portal is also a bit of a challenge since it is buried in the manual downloads (32 bit).

These new capabilities and expanded libraries of materials and content from Luxology may make this the best release of PV360 yet.  Unfortunately, in order to take advantage of it, there is a bit of discovery to get the tools needed to get started.  Happy rendering... ~Lou

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SolidWorks:HEARD! - Episode 406 - WN2013 - Release Notes & UI

Release Notes & UI:

This podcast dissects the What's New PDF, outlining all the new functionality in SolidWorks 2013 with tips, tricks and insights in the new major release.  Topics covered in this show:​

Release Notes:​
- System Requirements
- Installation
- Technical Alerts
- Functionality
- Documentation

​​Chapter 1: Welcome to SolidWorks 2013
- Highlights
- Top Enhancements
- For More Information

Chapter 2: User Interface
- Customizing Shortcut Bars
- Easier Access to Troubleshooting and Administrative Tools
- FeatureManager Design Tree
- Scrolling Through CommandManager Tabs​

​​Welcome and UI, covering chapters 1 and 2 of the What's New PDF, outlines changes/enhancements to the SolidWorks product line since the previous release.  If you have not done so, please download this PDF and walk through the areas that are most important to you.

The goal of this series is to provide a portable, audio version of the 2013 What's New, providing a quick way to evaluate new features that have been changed/added/removed in the SolidWorks product line.  We all fall victim to the "ruts" of using SolidWorks from release to release and knowing what's to come brings awareness early.

I will be releasing an additional show a week as well as the usual monthly Tech News shows (up to 3 a week) in order to cover the entire What's New PDF before FCS (First Customer Ship). Between the podcast, blog and other posts around the web, there will be no shortage of SolidWorks 2013 content to come!

Check out the SolidWorks:Heard! Blog and follow us on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!

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SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 389 - 3DVIA Composer 2013

3DVIA Composer 2013:

This podcast covers the release notes of the newest build of 3DVIA Composer V6R2013 that shipped this past week.  Topics covered:

- Overview of the 2013 Release Notes

- New Image Workshop

- New "Align Magnetic Line" feature

- Updates to Rights Manager

- New Default Document options

- New Advanced Application Settings

3DVIA Composer has been releasing on a ~6month schedule, twice as much as the SolidWorks product line. Although these releases are more frequent, the tally of new features doesn't even compare to the 200+ enhancements from SolidWorks, which is not a bad thing.  The Dassault Systems composer team seems to be of the "iterate and ship" mentality, getting updates to users fast.

The last release of 3DVC was V6R2012X, which had a lot of focus on cameras, animations and rendering, 2013 seems to focus on productivity and application settings.  I'm sure as the user base grows they are beginning to get a lot of feedback on shortcomings and workflow.  They even added 8 more methods to the API, which as you know, any love to programmers is welcome here!

The download is approximately 512MB and the CATIA importer seems to eat up the bulk of the installation time but it appears it has a baked in 30 day trial period, which I don't remember seeing in the past.  It also cannot be launched in a remote desktop session, which drives me insane!

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SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 328 - 3DVIA Composer 2011x

3DVIA Composer 2011x:

 

This podcast covers the new features/changes to the newest 3DVIA Composer version V6R2011x that shipped on 2/14/2011. This is the most enhanced version since the product came into the SolidWorks community back in 2007. Topics covered:

 

- General & UI enhancements

 

- SolidWorks compatibility enhancements

 

- Technical Illustration & vector output updates

 

- High Resolution & raster output updates

 

- Changed/Removed features

 

- API updates & hardware support

 

Back at SolidWorks World 2011 there were a few things that were shown on the main stage about the next version of 3DVIA Composer 2011x.  3DVC has been on a bi-annual release schedule, releasing a version named with the year and then is followed by an 'x' version. With the release being so close toether, the enhancement lists are usually pretty short but typically the enhancements are very well received.

 

2011x is packed with enhancements and unlike previous releases, this list is long and packed with great enhancement across the product.  One of the areas that continues to improve is the compatibility with SolidWorks and the preservation of SolidWorks specific names, colors, etc.  This prevents rework in 3DVIA Composer when pulling and syncing from a SolidWorks data source.

 

There are a few enhancements that have been introduced in this release, however, that do come with some backwards compatibility limitations.  The shift to Unicode character support, which brings better multi-language support, does make files created in 2011x no longer backwards compatible.  Although not new to those of use using SolidWorks, it is a functionality shift in what previous versions of 3DVIA Composer. ~Lou

 

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SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 292 - 2011 What's New - Assemblies, CircuitWorks, Configs & Design Checker

2011 What's New - Assemblies, CircuitWorks, Configs & Design Checker:

This podcast is an audio version of the What's New PDF included with every major release of SolidWorks. Topics covered:

Assemblies:

- Assembly Features & Visualization 

- Defeature for Assemblies

- Equations

- Interference Detection

- Mates

- Rebuild Report

- SpeedPak

CircuitWorks:

- User-defined Coordinates for Component Orientation

- Interface & Workflow Improvements

- Comparing Boards

- Export to PADS PowerPCB Format

Configurations:

- Configuration Publisher

- Modify Configurations

- Parameters

- SpeedPak

Design Checker:

- Building checks from SolidWorks Files

- File location, dimension precision, feature positioning & standard template checks

- Design Checker Report

- Summary report for Task Scheduler

- Design Checker Task in Enterprise PDM

This covers chapters 5-8 of the What's New PDF which outlines changes/enhancements to the SolidWorks product line since the previous release.  If you have not done so, please download this PDF and walk through the areas that are most important to you.

The goal of this series is to provide a portable, audio version of the 2011 What's New so users can have a quick way to evaluate the features that have been changed/added/removed in SolidWorks' product line.  We all fall victim to the "ruts" of using SolidWorks and knowing what's to come brings awareness early.

I will be releasing an additional show a week as well as the usual monthly Tech News shows (up to 3 a week) in order to cover the entire What's New PDF in September before FCS (First Customer Ship). Between the podcast, blog and other posts around the web, there will be no shortage of SolidWorks 2011 content to come! ~Lou

Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!

SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 291 - 2011 What's New - UI, Fundamentals, 3DCC & Administration

2011 What's New - UI, Fundamentals, 3DCC & Administration:

This podcast is an audio version of the What's New PDF included with every major release of SolidWorks. Topics covered:

User Interface:

- SolidWorks Search

- PropertyManager Icons

- Error Reporting

SolidWorks Fundamentals:

- API

- Pack and Go

- Documentation

3D ContentCentral:

- Defeature Tool

- Configuration Publisher

- 3D ContentCentral for Suppliers

Administration:

- Converting Files to SolidWorks 2011

- Installation Improvements

- SolidWorks Rx

This covers the first 4 chapters of the What's New PDF which outlines changes/enhancements to the SolidWorks product line since the previous release.  If you have not done so, please download this PDF and walk through the areas that are most important to you.

The goal of this series is to provide a portable, audio version of the 2011 What's New so users can have a quick way to evaluate the features that have been changed/added/removed in SolidWorks' product line.  We all fall victim to the "ruts" of using SolidWorks and knowing what's to come brings awareness early.

I will be releasing an additional show a week as well as the usual monthly Tech News shows (up to 3 a week) in order to cover the entire What's New PDF in September before FCS (First Customer Ship). Between the podcast, blog and other posts around the web, there will be no shortage of SolidWorks 2011 content to come! ~Lou

Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!

SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 284 - 3dvia Composer V6R2011

3dvia Composer V6R2011:

This podcast details the new enhancements in the latest release of 3dvia Composer V6R2011 outlined in the release notes.  Topics covered:

- Enhancements to product structure (Assemblies and import)

- Updates and changes to authoring (Views, hatching, linking, collaboration)

- Changes in system properties and workshorps (FKA task panes)

- User Interface streamlining (Gizmos, modes, tool tips, etc)

- Documentation enhancements

- Changes to API, Removed features, system requirements

After a few weeks of using this newly released version of 3dvia Composer V6R2011, it is apparent to me that SolidWorks and Dassault are making strives to add uniformity to the interfaces of their various product lines. 2011's updates to the UI have brought familiarity and consistency to the software, especially for those of us who use both 3DVC and SolidWorks.

I listed my top 5 enhancements on the blog this week and even mentioned that one of my favorite additions, Magnet Lines, I hope to see within SolidWorks in the next few releases.  With interactive icons like drag handles, fly up cursor menus, tooltips, and even drag rulers, SolidWorks and 3dvia Composer feel like sister products.  The sharing of technology between these two products, I believe, will bring greater adoption in the long run and the more recognition of CAD-specified attributes will lower the barrier to those who are tasked to use both tools.  2011 seems to bring with it enough "needed" features to warrant anyone using 2010x or earlier to migrate to it. ~Lou

Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!