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SpaceClaim, SolidEdge, Inventor: User Interface A-Go-Go

Published
by
Josh
on July 15, 2008
in Business
. Tags: , , , .

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Funny thing, these 3D CAD user interfaces. I figured I’d spare you any 2008/09 SolidWorks interface opinions and show you what the other CAD companies are doing. It looks like some are getting a little inspiration from each other, but really it just the onslaught of Ribbon bar bliss brought about by Microsoft and their Office 2007 program interfaces.

Think about it, how much can you really do with a the top left corner of a CAD program? Here’s the three - SpaceClaim, Siemens SolidEdge and AutoDesk Inventor.


SpaceClaim has been out a while with this interface, SolidEdge got revamped with the Synchronous Technology (ST) version and AutoDesk is getting ready to bring forth the ribbon bar wrath with an Inventor 2009 update.

Microsoft Office 2007

SpaceClaim, SolidEdge, and Inventor

Update:
A ‘Cleaner’ SolidEdge Ribbon (Courtesy of Mark Burhop)

Mark Burhop, a developer for SolidEdge, seems to think the ribbon bar provides productivity. Ralph Grabowski of WorldCAD Access seems to think it provides confusion. I would tend to side with Ralph. I love new interfaces and seeing better ways to use programs, but I found it strange when I didn’t like, in Office 2007, how commands were grouped in the ribbon bar, how much space they took up and changing tabs.

What do you think? Is it good business practice to create a UI similar to a Microsoft product? SolidWorks kind of has a ribbon bar too, although it differs quite a bit from the Office 2007 layout, the concept is the same… I have it turned off. Why did the CAD companies decide to go this direction? I know I’m extremely glad Adobe and Firefox, the two other most frequent programs I use, have chosen not to imitate the form of programmatic interaction determined by Microsoft.

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Viewing 32 Comments

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    The new Solidworks setup caught me off guard at first, and though I've since gotten used to it, I'm still a bit annoyed at having to switch tabs so frequently. It's nice that there's the option to switch back, and I imagine that most serious professionals have a workstation display that's large enough to accommodate multiple toolbars.

    Your comment about Adobe and Firefox got me thinking, and then I realized the factor that keeps them from accepting the ribbon, they are cross platform applications. As long as these modeling programs stay Windows exclusive, I think they are much more likely to fall in line with the moves Microsoft makes in the UI arena, whether benefitial or not. I imagine it's an attempt at providing customers with the most consistent UI possible. At least they are all doing it in very similar ways, it may make switching between software packages much easier. My head still reels when I switch from working in 3DsMax into AliasStudio, the UI's are so dramatically different.
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    Good point Ocell. switching between software packages is easier if the commands are structured the same, but if the workflow in the program is different, I think it's better to have options. For example, I'm glad I can switch it off in SolidWorks and I'm glad I have the option of accessing a command directly on the screen with the Shortcut Bar.
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    I'm not a fan of this, but for slightly different reasons. I get the whole, I want it to look like Excel and Word thing, but I'm not convinced its the best UI for 3D based work. I thought Ocell's comment was interesting, about making "switching between software packages much easier." I can't see that happening, aside from the layout of the UI, the rest of the elements still differ dramatically.. I dunno, maybe I'm just getting old dude..
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    For sure Al, I don't think it is the best UI. I like accessing commands in the work area. After using 2008 I started wishing programs like Photoshop had a shortcut bar for commands I don't use via the keyboard. I like that SolidWorks went this way. I use SolidWorks mostly, so that may sound biased, but I also use Word and Excel and there is a difference in workflow.
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    Ribbon bar is horrible. whenever i can switch it off and go with the classic UI im all for it.
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    Microsoft made this possible so there using it I like it for once.
    The reason there following Microsoft is just because they can so.
    A friend of my that was graduated from computer science told me this: Microsoft just gives them design templates for there programs and they just use it. What I am waiting for is when are some 3D cad programs going to be on linux?? And for people that don't like the ribbon get used to it or stop using windows because this is the next standard of windows.

    Here some ideas they could try:
    Mouse gestures.
    Putting the s menu around the mouse and 70% transparent until you mouse goes over it.
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    I agree the ribbon is disorganized and takes up too much space. Funny people are just now noticing this.

    Unfortunately, software developers follow MS like a bunch of mindless lemmings. With the ribbon and Vista, MS has run off the cliff, and everyone has followed them.

    At least SW had the sense not to implement the actual MS Ribbon, but to develop their own that they can tweak as needed. I can neither confirm nor deny that a future version which may or may not be in beta currently has enough options to be customizable enough to use. The Command Manager is a great idea, and the interface can be set up with the Command Manager to run efficiently. There are a couple of things I wish SW would implement, one being the ability to use dual Command Managers, one for features and one for tools. I always keep the sketch toolbar off the CM because I need to use it so frequently, it would cause too much tab switching.
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    I can neither confirm or deny it either :) That's a cool idea about dual managers. That would really help with the tab switching. Even though I don't prefer the command manager right now, I like testing it out and trying new workflows.
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    Since we have not upgraded to SW 2008 or 2009 yet, I cannot comment on the new interface yet. Seeing the screen shots of the new "Ribbon" interface adopted by the other vendors, it does seem to be trying to cram way more stuff into a small area than is desirable. I do like the suggestion of two (2) Command Managers.
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    Rod,

    Since 2009 is still in Beta and thus under NDA, I can't really comment on it either.

    Although hypothetically speaking, if 2009 has any interface at all, since Jeff Ray said his idea of a perfect interface was a blank screen ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3sRBDDryOI ), IF SW still has an interface in 09, I could neither confirm nor deny that it is a big breath of fresh air.
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    Good catch on my loss of thinking on 2009. Atter getting a couple of emails asking for beta testers you think I could remember that. I may have something to do with working 7 days a week for the last month and a half.
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    Well, I'm not a fan of any "space eater" ribbon or toolbar, CAD, Office, or other apps. I used a lot my fingers - there are so many advantages using fingers... errr... shortcut keys...and so painful sometimes :-). I need more additional keys on my keyboard.
    Really, how they measure the "productivity" factor? They used "ergonomics" specialists to "design" this ribbon? They used their own employee for this?

    And, yes, Marijn's idea about mouse gestures is a great one.
    3D CAD and Linux? He, he, he, he - good joke. I have dreams about that, but one SW Europe's HQ trainer reply when I asked about SW migration from windoze to Linux "SW will make this step when Linux will make money, real money.” So...

    Matt, you are my favorite SW Guru but I disagree with you: Command Manager is waste of time and space. Touch screens, VR, data gloves, trackballs, mouse gestures, shortcut keys, anything but CM.

    Regarding differences between different 3D CAD interfaces, I don't know I feel that lately they tend to have "suchlike" toolbars and icons. I mean, 10 years ago was such differences between SW and Pro/E interfaces, but now WF4's interface is quite familiar to me.
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    I think if you saw some alternatives for CM set up, you might relent a little. SW has soooo many tools, and if you use more than extrude and revolve and don't like the drop downs, you almost have to use the CM. The CM in 08 is completely unusable, utter waste of time and space. I like it in 07, and 09 works better than 08.

    I agree about the hotkeys. Hotkeys are my favorite, and I easily run out of key combinations or memory to remember all of them.
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    Matt,
    I jump over the fence.
    You're right partially: I'm using a lot of macros to simplify my work but there are so many project types that I have to open sometimes too many toolbars. I prefer to "assemble" personalized toolbars instead of using CM although. But, when you have to work on long term projects (6-24 moths) I think a toolbar with many macros and assigned hotkeys is better than CM. Or if you spent more time on Excel configs and functions than on modeling CM is useless.

    I would like to play with 08 and 09, but I already have headache because of using 05, 06, and 07 with different SP’s on the same PC... a real nightmare. This is off topic but how do you manage when you have to work on different projects, with different SW releases, on the same PC? I didn't find any PDM capable to work with SW2005 Off Pro SP3.1 and SP5.0, SW2006 Off Pro SP3.1 and SP4.1, SW2007 Off Pro SP1.0 and SP3.1 simultaneously. Any idea?
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    Wow, different SPs? Your customer has stuff that specific? That's crazy.

    I haven't worked with it for a few releases, but PDMWorkgroup can work with various versions, but you might get in trouble with SPs. I have no idea how you'd distinguish between files in different SPs other than a custom prop.

    I use 07, 08 and 09 for projects, but I'm always on the latest SP of each.

    Sounds like a nightmare. They don't let you cross any bridges on your drive home, do they?
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    No Matt, they are different customers, each working on its own or customized PDM.
    With some we use a thin web client to reach their PDM and basically we work with their servers. Each has its own spec and standard for models, assemblies and drawings and I have to set Design Checker, start parts, paths to symbols, notes, color swatches, etc, etc. I've found an excel table with macros on web to get and set all SW hidden params, but this work only for one SP. I have to play with registries and that's really painful, because I am Mechanical Engineer, not an IT guru.
    We work with many shared spreadsheets for projects management, but this is nit error free method.
    Anyway, how do you manage to work with 07, 08, and 09 for projects? Do you have a tool, a method, a public secret :-)?
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    I have some customers with "special needs", and some with no CAD at all. So I get to pick what I use if they don't have any CAD or if their suppliers aren't using SW. I get sub-subcontracted sometimes and the end customer is very far away, and harder to stare down.

    I have one customer who doesn't have SW, but he has suppliers that have it, and some suppliers have 07, some 08 and some I have to give IGES files, so I do several different outputs for this one guy.

    Since most of what I do is individual parts, I don't have a lot of really problematic file management situations. I actually just use good ol' Windows Explorer with searches and sorts by date. My customers typically have no PDM, so I have to send them files with dates in the names to serve as file mgt.

    I know I preach against this method, but this works for me because the vast majority of my parts have no external relations.

    As far as installations, all of the software works well together, except for sometimes. When I installed a recent alpha version, it hosed my 07 and 08 installations on one computer. Usually different versions play nicely together, and can even be run simultaneously.
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    Hey no clues for why all CAD developers are moving to the ribbon bar system, but now as I am using all the latest versions, I feel less of confusion while working, but do get bored of watching the same UI. But for your IGES problem, I feel you should SpaceClaim. Try if it solves your problem, I am still evaluating it as I find it interesting having common enviroment for CAD and CAE. will surely wait for your reply, to know if you find any loop hole or drawbacks of any of these softwares
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    managing SP's!? good night man. that sounds insane. no doubt you have a headache. I would at least keep different versions on different computers for that kind of rowdiness. If you can