Adjust pickbox size, similar to AutoCad?

[Bob45801]

Is there a way to shrink the selection area of the cursor?

With AutoCad I shrunk the pickbox size allowing more specific entity selection using the cursor.

In Solidworks, it takes a lot of scrolling in and out to select entities within busy sections of drawings and sketches. I'd like to have better control with less zooming, yet not have to set and reset filters frequently.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[smcadman]

What do you mean pickbox size? Are you using the SW 2D Emulator add-in? I would suggest not using it because it is a crutch. (Been there, done that) Even though you may have withdrawal symptoms, you can do it, leave AutoCAD...

Flores
SW06 SP4.1

 

[ctopher]

SW does not change the pick area size like ACAD. ACAD allows it because of the detailed 2D lines that can be cumbersome to select. In SW, you select edges or surfaces and can also ask to select behind something. Welcome to the 3D world.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

 

[handleman]

Do you have "Dynamic Highlighting" enabled?

 

[Bob45801]

Handleman, yes I do. It's just when I'm in a particularly 'busy' area that the region around, say, a dimension seems much larger than necessary, stopping me from picking a short edge or face "behind" or very near the dimension without scrolling or using more clicks to select other, etc. I'd like to shrink the cursor's selection area some to better select specific close entities.

smcadman and ctopher, you made your point. I won't mention the other software again, lest I be chided for ever having used it. I've been using Solidworks since before joining this group in 2003 but still have about 10,000 legacy drawings. I appreciate Solidworks. I just wanted to know if there's a Solidworks feature available. I wasn't trying to find an excuse to avoid using the software. BTW, you CAN draw in 3D in AutoCad AND change the pickbox size.

 

[ctopher]

I know you CAN draw in 3D in AutoCad AND change the pickbox size ... I just don't use it.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Bob ... smcadman asked if you were using the 2D Emulator ... are you? Do you still have problems using the SW arrow "cursor"?

I find the zoom function to be faster than using the filters. In fact I have not used a selection filter in years.


Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091

 

[Bob45801]

No I'm not using the 2D emulator. Would it help? I need the 3D capabilities to design my products.

I don't use filters much either. Seems a bit bulky for day to day use for me.

 

[smcadman]

Adjust pickbox size, similar to AutoCad

With that heading, I assumed you were using the emulator, because, well that's what it sounds like. I actually like AutoCAD for 2D geometry, but usually those who mention AutoCAD here want SW to act like AutoCAD (layers, dimstyles, etc.)

I have even gone so far to say that some thing SW added in 2006, Mechanical Desktop 6 was doing 6 years ago, but we don't want to start any flame-wars (too late).


Flores
SW06 SP4.1

 

[GBor]

smcadman,

All I noticed worthy of starting "flame wars" from your last post was SW 2006, MD 6, and 6 years ago...Da Vinci Code? Subliminal Messaging? Conspiracy?

 

[ctopher]

All of a sudden my mouse started moving on its own!

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

 

[SnowCrash]

ctopher (Mechanical) 29 Jun 06 14:22
All of a sudden my mouse started moving on its own!
Chris

Check for bugs. esp., cockroaches.



--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2005 SP 4.0 (reluctant to change)
Nvidia Quadro FX 1000
AMD Athalon 1.8 GHz 2 Gig RAM

 

[Jabberwocky]

If I understand the problem correctly, try this:

Instead of L-clicking, R-click and use "Select Other"

This basically draws a ray from the surface of your screen clear through the part, orthogonal to your monitor. Everything touching that ray will come up in a dialogue box and you can pick from those choices. No filters required.