Avast! an issue with SolidWorks

Off of a recent support call we learned that Avast! Internet Security has been found to cause a problem on x64 machines while installing SolidWorks. Even though SolidWorks does not required to us shut down the anti-virus programs anymore during installs, it is still common place during trouble shooting to turn it off to rule it out. In this case it was a culprit in producing a SolidWorks environment that was unstable. This system exhibited these symptom:

Could not save any new part file, assembly file, or drawing document. Crash during save.

Avast! 5.0 AV was the culprit.  It had to be uninstalled completely, just stopping it from the services wasn't enough.  After that, SolidWorks would save again.  It didn't even have to be repaired.  SolidWorks is tested for version 4.0, but apparently not 5.0.  SolidWorks is going to do more testing with it, and has issued an SPR 544717. The only work around so far is to not use it, or install 4.0, or a new AV package.

Here is a list of the currently supported/tested Anti-virus programs found on SolidWorks Knowledge Base S-045741.

Q: What are the most current anti-virus (AV) applications have been tested (install and usage) with SolidWorks?

A: http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/AntiVirus_SW.html

The following Anti-Virus (AV) applications have been tested (install and usage) with SolidWorks.  For the applications listed below, it is not necessary to turn off or disable the anti-virus (AV) during installation. These applications have been tested for the current supported version(s) of SolidWorks.

If installation issues with one of the listed AV applications are encountered, report the issue to your Reseller and follow the recommendations given by Technical Support.

If an application is not listed, SolidWorks cannot verify whether the application will block the installation of SolidWorks software or Windows® components. This means it may be necessary to turn the anti-virus off during the install and then re-boot the system.

Note: Always keep the anti-virus pattern file up-to-date. See the vendor for details.

avast! Professional Edition 4.x - Pass 

AVG Anti-Virus - 8.x Pass

CA eTrust™ AntiVirus - 8.1 Pass

eScan AntiVirus - 9.x Pass 

ESET NOD32 - 3.x Pass 

iolo AntiVirus™ - 1.5 Pass 

Kaspersky®  AV - 2010 Pass 

McAfee® VirusScan - 8.7 Pass  Only "Normal mode" is supported.

Norton AntiVirus - 2009 Pass 

Panda AntiVirus - 2009 Pass 

Sophos™ Anti-Virus - 7.6.x Pass  Warning message on install/uninstall (see SPR 516307)

Symantec™ Endpoint Protection - 11.x Pass 

Trend Micro™ OfficeScan™

Until next time!
John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support

SolidWorks World 2010 Proceedings Website

SolidWorks released all of the sessions for SolidWorks World 2010 today. If you were not able to attend this year or if you did attend SWW but were not able to get to all of the presentations you wanted you can now go online to download all of the presentations. Some of the sessions even have a video of the PowerPoint and the audio of the presenter.

 
Below is the link to the conference proceedings site: http://www.solidworks.com/swworld/index.htm. Unique log-ins are not being provided, you can log into the site by using your SolidWorks Customer Portal log-in. If you do not already have a log-in you can create one by clicking on the log-in button at the top of the page.  If you have any problems accessing the site please email swworldinfo@solidworks.com   

Hope to see you in San Antonio, TX at SolidWorks World 2011

Josh Altergott

CATI Support Team Leader

It's Just Time to ...Let XP Go

   I liked XP,  I really liked XP.  Who didn’t?  The OS as a whole has been and still is a main stay in our company.  I talked to a customer on the phone a couple of days ago that just ordered a new machine.  He was reciting the specs of this machine to me almost as if he was a proud father.  This guy was amped.  Sweet video card, lots of ram, and then he said it.  He ordered the machine preloaded with a XP 64bit downgrade.  I had to stop him.  You did what?  Why on earth at this point in the game would you take a new 64 bit system and not put Windows 7 on it?  He likes XP.   I know, I like XP too, but at some point we have to let go.  Embrace the new OS.  I like XP. I really like XP.  But I love my Windows 7.  The new features and functions in this OS are awesome.  I think that you will see more than a few blogs from Todd talking about new features and functions of 7.  (We have yet to upgrade Todd’s machine to 7, so I think that he is using the blog to try and create a justification.)

From God mode, to XP mode, (have I mentioned that I like XP?) there are some many new features and functions.  The upgrade is simple, and if you haven’t yet, you have to try it.  I think that you will agree that it is the way that everything is going to go.  If you need to take that XP install disk, say a few words, maybe a moment of silence.  In the end you are going to need to ease it on down into the bottom drawer of your desk.  No, not next to the Cheetos, the other bottom drawer, the one that houses the old Windows 2000 disk and the NT disk. The ME disk that is still in the wrapper, and the Vista disk that was used for one install, followed shortly by the XP disk again.  But it is just time to let XP go. 

Blank RX

With everyone moving to 64 bit operating systems, we are starting to see a different range of issues.  One of these is with the SolidWorks RX tool.  We often refer to this to check the system when customers call in with problems.  On some 64 bit systems, the RX tool will only show icons with a few lines.  When you drag your cursor across the window, you will notice that the cursor changes when you get to a link or option. It appears like all the functions still work, you just will not be able to see all of what you are selecting.

One would think that this would be a result of an incorrect graphics driver.  I double checked mine and was indeed using the recommended driver.  It actually has nothing to do with the graphics card.  It is the Adobe add-on for 64 bit systems called "Acrobat 3D 64-bit Add-On" that causes the problem.   If this x64 Adobe add-in is removed through add / remove programs, the RX tool appears and runs as it should.  Adobe should still run correctly with the add-in removed.  On my machine, I did get an error when I started Adobe stating something to the effect that Adobe is missing some critical components and a repair needs to be run.  However, I have not had any issues with Adobe or the toolkit that allows you to open 3D models.  Everything seems to be running just fine.  I should also point out that Adobe Acrobat 8.x, which is what I am using, was never developed for x64 systems.  Here is the link to the Adobe Tech notes... http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/333/333360.html 

SolidWorks has verified this issue and reported it in SPR 543888.

Adding a Macro to your Menus

So, you have a really cool macro that automates everything... Here is how you can add it to your SolidWorks menu structure.

 

 

Below is an example of creating a menu item macro in the Tools top menu.

 

...To create a macro menu item in the "Tools" top menu, please follow the steps below:

·         Create a folder called Macros in your SolidWorks installation directory (the same as the SLDWorks.exe).

o   Nothing below works without this folder!

·         Copy the macros you want to use into this directory you just created.

·         Open SolidWorks.

·         Select Tools -> Customize

·         Select the Menus Tab.

·         You will now see a “Macros” entry in the Categories section (It was not there before).

·         Select Macros from the Categories.

·         Select a macro command from the “Commands:” listbox.

·         Select &Tools from the “Change what menu:” dropdown.

·         Select Auto, or Top/Bottom (whichever you prefer) from the “Position on Menu:” dropdown.

·         Change the “Name for Command:” to whatever you like.

·         Click the Add button.

·         Click the OK button to clear the dialog.

 

Below, you can see that I created a "Custom Props" menu in the "Tools" top menu.

 Computer Aided Technology, INC

CHANGE THE OIL IN SOLIDWORKS AT 3,000 MINS.!

Yes! It’s been 3,000 Minutes!

(About a week. 60min/hour X 9hrs/day X 5days/week = 2,700 minutes.)

Have you changed the Oil in SolidWorks like you would in your automobile? Probably not, but you’d be unlikely to go too much further in your car (unless you use the synthetic’s maybe) so it’s time to "Change the Oil in SolidWorks”.

How do you do this?

Well SolidWorksRx of Course!

(See Start/Windows Icon, All Programs, SolidWorks, SolidWorks Tools, SolidWorksRx)

 Just like in a car, you should shut the engine off to change the oil, shut SolidWorks down before running SolidWorksRx.

This is what SolidWorksRx looks like:

 

Turn the following on and set the paths appropriately:

You run this right now / on demand!

 Or you could set it and forget it.

(Do this at least weekly for daily users of SolidWorks.)

Ahhh, the good feeling of necessary maintenance taken care of!

 

Jim Krivoshein

Render Contest.com a fun competition

 This last month I finally got make a submission to the PhotoWorks/PhotoView 360 Rendering contest at www.rendercontest.com.  This contest used to be hosted by Rob Rodriguez at http://robrodriguez.com. It is now hosted by Chris Thorn, a SolidWorks user for several years.  He like your feedback on contest.

 

With that, more about the contest.  Each month a SolidWorks model is selected to be rendered in either tool you would like in the SolidWorks suite of tools, PhotoWorks or PhotoView 360.  You have 30 days to render and submit your models.  At the close of the contest there is five days of voting open to the public.  The winner is then announced and the winner's entry is placed into the Winner's Gallery.

I've done my share of rendering over the years in SolidWorks, 3d Studio, Maya, POV-Ray and many others.  With that I've acquired a pretty good knowledge of the technology and techniques used in rendering.  So, today I'm starting a new category here at blog.cati.com, PhotoView 360. 360 will be our vessel of choice over the next few months, but the topics will lean more towards rendering in general.

We are going to cover topics such as preparing your model, materials, environments (HDRI and Non), outputs, and post production. I hope you enjoy it.

At the beginning, middle, and end of this I hope you take the time to download and try these techniques on the models at www.rendercontest.com. Upload your images, get feedback, and be creative.

I'll close with what James Cameron (YES the AVATAR guy) said at SolidWorks World this years. Follow these and submit your renders.

Hope is not a strategy

Luck is not a factor

Fear is not an option

By the way I WON!!!!!