Usually default settings are what the average user wants to use. I think there are three that SolidWorks really missed the boat on. Consider changing these three options under the view menu from within the Enterprise vault. You’ll be glad you did.

- “Set focus to active configuration”
- With this option on, Enterprise will always display the datacard with the configuration tab open when selecting a SolidWorks part or assembly. It seems a majority of companies want to store their meta data in at the part [@] level instead. With this option off, the @ tab datacard will be the one displayed by default.
- “Show bitmap for SolidWorks files.”
- Not many things in life are cooler than the eDrawings preview for SolidWorks files from within the Enterprise interface. Downside – using eDrawings, it takes a second or two for the preview to load. With this option on, the preview will show a bitmap of the file instead. -Making stepping through files much faster! If you do want to see the file in eDrawings, click the bitmap and the file will be loaded in eDrawings. Spin, view markups and measure to your heart’s content.
- “Show full UI in SolidWorks preview.”
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Jeff Sweeney Engineering Data Specialist |
Tags: EPDM, Jeff Sweeney, settings





Hi Jeff -
Here is another tip with regards to the “Show bitmap for SolidWorks files” setting. If you have a SW file with multiple configurations and you save the file with all bitmap previews, position your cursor in the Preview tab and RMB to select which configuration bitmap you would like to preview.
Regards,
Joy
Jeff, you are a character! Keep up this “offbeat” approach to informing the world!
Just learned a downside to the “Show bitmap for SolidWorks files” setting. With it on, you cannot use eDrawings to preview .stl files. Send in your enhancement requests now!