Tag Archives: General

Windows HotKeys

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Joseph Richter

Here are some handy Windows Keyboard short cuts that can save you time in your daily design work, and help you navigate your Windows system.  Some of these shortcuts work in SolidWorks as well. 


WIN + “+” = Magnifying Glass zoom in*
WIN + “-” = Magnifying Glass zoom out*
WIN + E = Windows Explorer
WIN + D = Show Desktop
WIN + L = Lock Windows
Win + Tab = Cycle through the open application using Aero Flip*
WIN + P = Projector and video output settings*
WIN + X = Mobility Center – Several convenient controls such as projector, WiFi, etc.
WIN + Up Arrow or WIN + Down Arrow = Toggle between window states, Maximized, Restore and Minimized
WIN + Shift + Left or Right Arrow = Move window to another monitor
WIN + 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 = Launch the corresponding application on the Task Bar
WIN + T = Task Bar navigation via arrow keys


Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + X = Cut
Ctrl + V = Paste
Ctrl + Drag = Copy
Ctrl + Tab = Cycle through the open documents within an application
Ctrl + Roll mouse wheel away from you = Zoom in on Web Page or Office Document*
Ctrl + Roll mouse wheel toward you = Zoom out of Web Page or Office Document*
Ctrl + Click on Application Icon = Cycle through the open documents within the application
Ctrl + Shift + Click on Application Icon = Run application as Administrator
Ctrl + Alt + Delete = Windows options including: Lock computer and Start Task Manager
Ctrl + Shift + Escape = Windows Task Manager


Shift + Drag = Move
Shift + Click on Application Icon = Run a new instance of an application
Shift + Roll mouse wheel away from you = Go back to last Web Page
Shift + Roll mouse wheel toward you = Go forward to next Web Page


Alt + Tab = Cycle through the open applications
Alt + F4 = Terminate the active application

*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for presentations.

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DDi CADcast: SolidWorks Utilities Part 2

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Quinton Rocke

Join us for part two of a two part series where we discuss the tools available in SolidWorks Utilities.


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DDi CADcast: SolidWorks Utilities Part 1

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Quinton Rocke

Join us for part one of a two part series where we discuss the tools available in SolidWorks Utilities.

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SolidWorks Background Downloader

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Cody Armstrong

Starting with SolidWorks 2011, SolidWorks introduced a utility called the SolidWorks Background Downloader. This allows the user to download a service pack automatically in the “background” without being prompted or having to “Check for Updates”.  This also means that the user can download a service pack of SolidWorks while using SolidWorks.  Installing the SolidWorks Background Downloader is an option during the install that is on by default.

It runs in the Windows Notification Area and will alert the user with the status of a download.

Once the download is complete the user will get prompted to install the update.  They have to the option to install, delay the installation, or delete the downloaded files. For companies with limited bandwidth who don’t want this, there are ways to disable it.  The first would be to uncheck the option for “Use the background downloader for future service packs” during the installation of SolidWorks.  If you right click the Background Downloader icon  in the Windows Notification Area you will see option for this utility including the option to “Disable Background Downloader”.

NOTE: Once the Background Downloader is disabled the user will have to go to “Check for Updates” to check for new service packs of SolidWorks.

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Full Screen Mode

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Quinton Rocke

The right tool for the job is something we learn at a young age. (Sometimes the hard way!).  Typically you would use applications like 3DVIA Composer or eDrawings to communicate your designs but occasionally there is an impromptu design meeting or some other situation where you need to use SolidWorks to communicate your design.  When those situations arise there are a few options that you should be familiar with.

SolidWorks has a Full Screen Mode that users can invoke by pressing the F11 key or from the View pull-down menu.  Full Screen Mode hides menus, the status bar, and the FeatureManager design tree to show more of the graphics area. It keeps track of the visibility of these areas separately from normal mode.  In addition you can just hide the FeatureManager design tree and/or the toolbars using the F9 and F10 keys.  Or you can use any combination of the options as needed.

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