Some good tips to improve your working speed in SW using 'Shortcut Bar'

Siva Praneeth V

21 Jan, 2012 10:11 AM

I am sure, most of SW beginners go to the feature manager or to the tool bars while working.
This tutorial consists of tips about keeping the cursor in the working area and improve the speed while working.
"Shortcut Bar" is actually accessed via a keyboard shortcut "S". You can customize the SB by right clicking on it and selecting "customize".

1. Step 1:

   Here's an example of a customized Shortcut bar.

   

2. Step 2:

   Hide all your toolbars- This will help you to customize the SB easily.
   

   

3. Step 3:

   Put common commands on top left – When you hit the ‘S’-key, the the upper-left corner appears under the mouse.
   

   

4. Step 4:

   Add View commands – Do this to get rid of the Heads-up-View (HUV) Toolbar at the top of each display (right-click, uncheck each checked box). This will save your time in moving cursor up and down.
   

   

5. Step 5:

   Customize as you work – Don’t try to stuff all your usual commands in. Start your sample work and Add them as you need them.

6. Step 6:

   Reduce keyboard shortcuts – Think about what you’re punching in on the keyboard. It may be faster to add a command to the SB instead of hitting ‘Ctrl-Home’ to do something.

7. Step 7:

   Hide the FeatureManager – Time for real pain. You won’t be able to do this all the time, but along with providing more workspace, it’s good insight into how you work. Try adding commands to the SB before going to the FeatureManager (FM).
   

   

8. Step 8:

   Delete relations on screen – A small relation icon appears on the screen when sketch entities are picked. Select and delete on screen instead of going to the FM to delete.
   

   

9. Step 9:

   Re-relate relations on screen – You can drag and drop sketch entities to re-relate them instead of going to the FM to delete and back to add a new relation.

10. Step 10:

    Use the Context Menus – A contextual auto-popup bar (not customizable) appears when you select certain items. Add new relations by using the pop-up toolbar after selecting entities. You can also use it to start sketches, open parts, add mates, change properties and more.
    

    

11. Step 11:

    Double-click to exit a sketch – A quicker way to exit a sketch without even using the SB.
    

    

12. Step 12:

    Avoid right-click This is the hardest to overcome, because some commands are only available via right-clicking. Be aware of what commands you’re using and add them to the SB if possible.
    

    

13. Step 13:

    Right-click to confirm an action – Right after you perform many operations, an icon will appear next to the mouse allowing you to confirm (green-check) the action. Do this to avoid using the confirmation corner and FeatureManager.
    

    

14. Step 14:

    Rotate on the model – Instead of using the HUV or right-clicking to select view options, hover over the model and use the middle mouse button to rotate and Ctrl-middle mouse to pan.
    

    

15. Step 15:

    Edit sketch/feature on screen – Using the SB and context menus, move in and out of sketches and editing parts by left-clicking on geometry and using the Context menu, not the FM.
    

    

16. Step 16:

    Finally
    Speed up mouse pointer – From your computers Start menu in the Control Panel you can change options for your mouse. It took less than a day to get use to speeding up the mouse pointer and having it snap-to default buttons.
    

    

17. Step 17:

    Finally, I would like to say,
    Each of these steps of customization might vary from person to person, that is why, I believe these are self customization tips. This help you in getting your own customized SW.