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This section contains tips related to Solid Edge ST.
EditGeneral
- Don't worry about getting translated files without history/features, it doesn't matter.
- Don't worry about "hack & whack" modeling workflows, it doesn't matter.
- DO NOT blindly convert files SE "Traditional" files to ST. You need to fully understand ST's limitations and understand what kind of geometry the part you want to convert contains. Files convert "in place" and cannot be converted back(good idea to backup files or make a copy first). Depending on the type of geometry the part contains, it may become difficult or impossible to fully edit after conversion. Swept/lofted features cannot be fully edited in ST and will have to be deleted and reapplied in many cases. Good news is the sketches used to create the feature are still there.
- No need to keep sketches/features simple. It is often faster is ST to put as much detail as possible in one sketch and extrude it once. Hard habit to break though!
EditAutomatic plane selection
- When sketching and not drawing on a face or reference plane, the sketch will fall on the principal plane flattest to the view. So for example if you want to draw on XY, just rotate your view so that XY is sort of flat to the view (doesn't need to be exact, just more flat than the other principal planes) and start drawing - the elements will land on the XY plane.
- This works for dimensions also. When you place a dimension it will fall on the principal plane flattest to the view. If you don't like the plane it is choosing, just rotate the view a bit while placing the dimension and it will automatically realign with the now-flattest plane.
EditDefault Sharpness
- Solid Edge does not persist your sharpness setting from session to session. You can manually define a registry key using regedit.exe that will force a value between 1 & 5. In the following example, you will need to replace 'XX' with your version of Solid Edge.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Unigraphics Solutions\Solid Edge\Version XX\PrefSets\Options-View
"DefaultSharpness"=dword:00000003
EditExtrude command
- Do NOT use the Extrude command. (except in rare instances). Choose the Select Tool and pick the region instead. Extrude command remains rather "old school" and will have more steps than the pick and go method. Extrude is still on the Ribbon, so its very tempting to pick it since that is what you have always done.
EditFile Properties
EditWindows XP x64
If you're running Solid Edge 32-bit and need to see Solid Edge file properties from Windows Explorer, you'll need to run
%windir%\syswow64\explorer.exe /separate. This starts the 32-bit version of Windows Explorer.
EditPlanes
- Don't worry about what plane you draw on, It doesn't matter.
EditSketches
- Don't spend too much time constraining sketches, It doesn't matter.
EditThemes
It's probably not supported but you can choose from 4 different color themes for Solid Edge ST. Using regedit, you can modify HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Unigraphics Solutions\Solid Edge\Version 100\DEBUG\Theme with one of the values from HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Unigraphics Solutions\Solid Edge\Version 100\DEBUG\Theme Choices.
 Registry |
 Aqua |
 Black |
 Blue |
 Silver |
EditSolid Edge
This section contains tips
NOT specific to Solid Edge ST.
EditInstallation
EditDual Installation
In a command prompt, enter
msiexec /i "Y:\solid edge\solid edge\solid edge vXX.msi" MULTIVERSION="Yes"
Change Y: to match the drive letter of your installation source and change vXX (for ST - ST##) to match the current version to install.
You may need to run the ISScript####.Msi file prior to installation.
After installation, the user must make due two things
1. Make the correct version current prior to launching the application. In the C:\Program Files\Solid Edge vxx\Program folder is a file MakeVerCurr.exe. It is highly recommended to create a desktop shortcut of this executable (renaming it to reflect the version of Solid Edge made current) to be run prior to launching the respective version of Solid Edge.
2. Revmanger menu short cuts will change to the newest version. To change these back to current version. Got to file options through explore then file type. Find each extension par, dft & asm and edit each and change ST to V20 (Note: when you do "MakeVerCur", it will change them back to ST. "MakeVerCur" for 20 will not convert them back to 20 or any other version)
EditDual Installation Removal
To remove the dual installations, first remove both the products from the control panel > 'Add remove programs'. Then run Solid Edge\SptTools\MSI Cleanup Utility\msicuu2.exe and Solid Edge\SptTools\SECleanup\SECleanupAll.exe from the BOTH the product install locations.
It's very important that you run both the clean up from the correct versions to get rid of install information from the registry. Otherwise you won't be able to run the Solid Edge installation again without using the MULTIVERSION option. Moreover, executing the the SolidEdge.Application from a script may also fail.
EditSilent Update Installation
Solid Edge Updates can be installed silently, but must be prepared before they will do so. The following steps outlines the preparation process.
Open SEUPDATE.EXE in Winzip or other compression utility that opens EXEs.
Extract the contents to a folder.
Issue the following from a command line "
path\setup -s"
The update will now install silently with no user interaction.
(NOTE: Older Updates did not contain an SETUP.ISS file which means one would need to be created before the Update will install silently. This is done by recording an install by using the command line "
path\setup -r". The SETUP.ISS file will be deposited in the Windows\System32 folder. Move it to the folder you unzipped the Update to.
EditKeyboard Shortcuts
File Category| Command | Shortcut | Assembly | Draft | 2D View | Part | Sheet Metal | Weldment | Profile | Exploded View | Feature Recognizer | Simplify | Simply Motion | Virtual Studio | XpresRoute |
|---|
| New | CTRL + N | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | X | X | | | |
| Open | CTRL + O | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | X | X | | | |
| Close | CTRL + F4 | X | X | X | X | X | X | | X | | | | | X |
| Save | CTRL + S | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | X | X | | X |
| Print | CTRL + P | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Exit | ALT + F4 | X | X | X | X | X | X | | X | X | X | | | X |
Edit Category| Command | Shortcut | Assembly | Draft | 2D View | Part | Sheet Metal | Weldment | Profile | Exploded View | Feature Recognizer | Simplify | Simply Motion | Virtual Studio | XpresRoute |
|---|
| Undo | CTRL + Z | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | X | | | X |
| Redo | CTRL + Y | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | X | | | X |
| Cut | CTRL + X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | X | | | X |
| Copy | CTRL + C | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | X | | | X |
| Paste | CTRL + V | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | X | | | X |
| Delete | DELETE | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | X | | | X |
| Select All | CTRL + A | | X | X | | | | X | | | | | | |
View Category| Command | Shortcut | Assembly | Draft | 2D View | Part | Sheet Metal | Weldment | Profile | Exploded View | Feature Recognizer | Simplify | Simply Motion | Virtual Studio | XpresRoute |
|---|
| Zoom | CTRL + F12 | | X | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Zoom In | CTRL + Up or CTRL + Left | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Zoom Out | CTRL + Down or CTRL + Right | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Pan Up | CTRL + SHIFT + Up | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Pan Down | CTRL + SHIFT + Down | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Pan Left | CTRL + SHIFT + Left | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Pan Right | CTRL + SHIFT + Right | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Rotate about X-axis (Screen orientation, not Model Space) | Up | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Rotate about X-axis Negative (Screen orientation, not Model Space) | Down | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Rotate about Y-axis (Screen orientation, not Model Space) | Right | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Rotate about Y-axis Negative (Screen orientation, not Model Space) | Left | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Rotate about Z-axis (Screen orientation, not Model Space) | SHIFT + Right or SHIFT + Up | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Rotate about Z-axis Negative (Screen orientation, not Model Space) | SHIFT + Left or SHIFT + Down | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Fit View | ALT + RMB | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Refresh | F5 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Previous View | ALT + F5 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Next View | CTRL + F6 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sketch View | CTRL + H | | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| Zoom Tool | ALT + Z | | X | X | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bottom View | CTRL + B | X | | | X | X | X | | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Front View | CTRL + F | X | | | X | X | X | | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Back View | CTRL + K | | | | | | | | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Isometric View | CTRL + I or F8 | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Dimetric View | CTRL + J or F7 | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Trimetric View | CTRL + M | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Left View | CTRL + L | X | | | X | X | X | | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Right View | CTRL + R | X | | | X | X | X | | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Top View | CTRL + T | X | | | X | X | X | | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Clipping On/Off | CTRL + D | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | | X | X | X | X |
| Graphics Information (Probe) | CTRL + SHIFT + P | X | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
EditVariables
A lot of this information can be found (buried) in help.
EditCreating rules for variables
You can also define a discrete list or limited range of values for a variable by typing the proper characters into the Range cell for a variable in the Variable Table. The following table and examples illustrate how to do this:
| Character | Meaning | Where Used | Variable Type |
|---|
| ( | Greater Than | Beginning Only | Limit |
| ) | Less Than | EndOnly | Limit |
| [ | Greater Than or Equal To | Beginning Only | Limit |
| ] | Less Than or Equal To | End Only | Limit |
| {} | Encloses a Discrete List | Use both as a set | Discrete List |
| ; | Separates Values | Between values in a limit or discrete list | Limit and Discrete List |
Examples
- To define a variable that must be greater than 5 and less than 10, type the following in the Range cell: (5;10)
- To define a variable that must be greater than or equal to 7 and less than or equal to 12, type the following: [7;12]
- To define a variable that must be greater than or equal to 6 and less than 14, type the following: [7;14)
- To define a variable that must be limited to the following list of values: 5, 7, 9, and 11, type the following: {5;7;9;11}
EditView Manipulation
| Combination | Environment | Description |
|---|
| CTRL + T | 3D | Top view |
| CTRL + B | 3D | Bottom view |
| CTRL + L | 3D | Left view |
| CTRL + R | 3D | Right view |
| CTRL + F | 3D | Front view |
| CTRL + K | 3D | Back view |
| CTRL + I | 3D | Isometric view |
| CTRL + J | 3D | Dimetric view |
| CTRL + M | 3D | Trimetric view |
| ALT + F5 | 3D | Previous view |
| SHIFT + RMB | 3D | Rotate |
| CTRL + RMB | 3D | Zoom |
| SHIFT + CTRL + RMB | 3D | Pan |
| ALT + RMB | 3D | Drag does Zoom Area |
| ALT + RMB Click | 3D | Fit |
| Arrow Keys | 3D | Rotate the model parallel to the defined direction |
| SHIFT + Arrow Keys | 3D | Rotate the model with the axis coming out of the screen |
Other Shortcuts for those who have a wheelmouse (wheel used as
Middle
Mouse
Button):
- MMB: Rotate
- Wheel Rotate: Zoom
- Ctrl+Shift+Wheel Rotate: Changes perspective view angle
- Ctrl+MMB drag: Zoom
- Shift+MMB drag: Pan