Stop your clikcin’ and a’drawin’ there for a few seconds. There’s a way to make your SolidWorks drawing experience much more enjoyable and your Bill of Material manipulation a whole lot easier.
SOlidWorks BOM’s have gotten a lot of nice functionality, but somehow, there’s bits and pieces of working with them that 1) take getting use to or 2) make you very frustrated. Two of those things are 1) getting to the BOM properties and 2) moving the BOM.
How can you ease your part list woes and move on to the excitment of Section Views and Details? The ALT key. Here’s how it works…
Use ALT to Display BOM Properties
TO get to SOlidWOrks BOM Properties, you usually have to select the top left corner. That spot is tiny and only shows up when clicked. So, instead, just hold down the ALT key and click on your BOM. Instantly, the BOM Property Manager will appear for you to make any anchor, part grouping or item number changes. Nice huh?
Use ALT to Move the BOM
As mentioned above, you have to select the top left corner to move your BOM. Instead, hold down the ALT key then press and hold down the left mouse button to drag it around where you like. It will snap to Drawing border edges and you’ll be a much more peaceful person.
This should help you out a bit, I hope. Getting to the properties is one of those things that happen quite often when working in drawings. It’s nice to be able to get to it fast, ya think?
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{ 11 comments }
Great info! I sometimes forget about the little Alt combos!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
This just made life a little more awesome.
All hail the mighty Alt key and the productivity it produces for us. Thanks for the tip Josh!!!
We are so fortunate that you use your powers for good not evil. Thanks for the Tip on ALT – BOM
WOW! Best tip ever, thanks Josh!
Not bad. I've always just used right-click though myself.
No problem, glad it helped. I get frustrated with wanting to do something and start pushing keyboard buttons., the BAM, new functionality.
Thats why I like comming HERE, every time I do I either learn something new, or get reminded of something old! Thank you…
I just noticed that you can move drawing views too when holding down the almighty ALT key. Yes!
I just noticed that you can move drawing views too when holding down the almighty ALT key. Yes!
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