Help

Help in SolidWorks is context-sensitive and in HTML format. Help is accessed in many ways, including:

• Help buttons in all dialog boxes and PropertyManagers (or press F1)

• Help tool on the Standard toolbar for SolidWorks Help

• Flyout menu of Help options

• Help menu for SolidWorks or other Help (such as API, third-party software, and so on). Documentation is also available on the Web. Select or clear Help, Use SolidWorks Web Help to switch between the local and Web-based versions of the help.

Glossary. The SolidWorks Help contains a glossary of terms. Click Glossary at the bottom of the table of contents.

In addition to the Help facility, SolidWorks provides help in the following ways:

• What's New (on the Help menu) - new functionality added since the last major SolidWorks release

• Interactive What's New (click in new menus and new or changed PropertyManagers) - links to topics in the What's New book.

• Quick Tips (click on the status bar) - pop-up messages that give hints and options based on the current SolidWorks mode.

• Tooltips - information about tools on toolbars and in PropertyManagers and dialog boxes.

• Status bar information (at the bottom of the SolidWorks window) - pointer coordinates, sketch status, and brief descriptions of selected commands.

• Tip of the Day (at the bottom of the SolidWorks Resources tab in the Task Pane) - a new tip appears each time you start SolidWorks.

• SolidWorks Tutorials (on the Help menu and on the SolidWorks Resources tab in the Task Pane) - step-by-step lessons on features, parts, assemblies, drawings, and third-party applications.

• SolidWorks Resources tab in the Task Pane includes commands, links, and information. The General Information link provides access to Documentation Central.

Documentation Central is the reference library for beginning and advanced users. Documentation Central features tutorials and simulations, an interactive environment for collaborative development, access to published manuals and updates, and late-breaking and experimental documentation.

Additional ideas and help are available on the SolidWorks web site at www.solidworks.com . The SolidWorks eNewsletter, press releases, and information on seminars, trade shows, and user groups are available at www.solidworks.com/pages/news/newsandevents/html .