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CADFanatic’s Tips & Tricks Tuesday – Display States

2 December 2008 15 Comments

Do you make use of SolidWorks Display States?  They really make it easier to work with large assemblies (or even small ones) by allowing you to set the visibilty of parts.  For example, you could create a Display State in an assembly showing two mating components, and then easily recall that display state without having to go back and hide a bunch of parts, or find the components and use Isolate.

Sw_isolate_toolbar You can manually create a Display State or create one while in the Isolate command (just press the blue disk icon).  Display States honor Display Modes too, so that you can create an image with some parts shown with hidden lines removed, for instance.

Another use I have found for Display States are for creating images for presentations, web, or manuals.  Used in combination with a custom view, you can be sure that you always get the same components in the same orientation as a design progresses.

If you don’t use Display States, you should check them out!  They can really increase your productivity.

Do you have any special tips or tricks you use to make working with SolidWorks faster or easier?  Email them to us at [email protected] and it may be featured on a future CADFanatic’s Tips & Tricks Tuesday!

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  • Steve_Calvert

    Brian, I use display states and love them except for the fact that when I add a component I have to go back and remove (hide) it from the already created display states. Do you know a way to add a component and only have it show in certain display states?

    Steve Calvert

  • I agree with you 100% Steve. I wish that the display states had a setting similar to configurations to stop stuff from showing up also and having to go back and take it out.

  • Steve,

    I'm unsure of previous versions, but in 2009 there is an option to “Hide new components” in the Display State Properties PropertyManager tab.

    http://designsmarter.typepad.com/photos/uncateg…

    Brian

  • Steve_Calvert

    Cool, we don't have anything past 2006 loaded, but 2009 is on the
    horizon.

    thanks

    Steve W. Calvert

    Lead CAD Designer Dresser Wayne

    Office: +1 512 388 8438 Fax: +1 512 388 8456

    E-mail: [email protected]

    http://www.dresserwayne.com

  • I haven't noticed this option yet. Thanks for the heads up Brian! :-)

    Ricky

  • Alan

    Is there a way to use an assemblies display state in a new assembly? What I would like to do is use a chassis assembly that has sides, a bottom, and PEM nuts where I have a display state that hides the sides, and use it in a new assembly. When I try this and look at the properties, the referenced display state box with the saved display states is grayed out. I would like to use the new assembly for a parts manual just showing the chassis in it's display state with some other components.

  • Alan

    I found that I can do what I need to do in the new assembly.

  • Alan,

    Glad you figured it out! I was going to see if I could recreate what you were doing, but just haven't had the time this morning!

  • Alan,

    Glad you figured it out! I was going to see if I could recreate what you were doing, but just haven't had the time this morning!

  • Alan

    Is there a way to use an assemblies display state in a new assembly? What I would like to do is use a chassis assembly that has sides, a bottom, and PEM nuts where I have a display state that hides the sides, and use it in a new assembly. When I try this and look at the properties, the referenced display state box with the saved display states is grayed out. I would like to use the new assembly for a parts manual just showing the chassis in it's display state with some other components.

  • Alan

    I found that I can do what I need to do in the new assembly.

  • Alan,

    Glad you figured it out! I was going to see if I could recreate what you were doing, but just haven't had the time this morning!

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