User Interface Overview

Since both 2D CAD systems and SOLIDWORKS are applications in the Microsoft® Windows environment, tool buttons, toolbars, and the general appearance of the windows look similar. However, many aspects of the environment differ. The following table compares various aspects of the user interface for 2D CAD systems and SOLIDWORKS.

  2D CAD Systems SOLIDWORKS
Access to Tools command line prompt, keyboard shortcuts, toolbars, menus, and shortcut menus CommandManager, Heads-up View toolbar, context toolbars, toolbars, menus, keyboard shortcuts, and shortcut menus. Search tool that searches the Knowledge Base and Files and Models
Screen Layout CommandManager, Heads-up View toolbar, context toolbars, toolbars, menus, keyboard shortcuts, and shortcut menus. Search tool that searches the Knowledge Base, Community Forum, or Files and Models toolbars across top, toolbars and panel with tabs on left
Background Color black background with white lines Blue gradient background with colored lines (colors indicating status) and colored solid models
Task Pane 2D CAD design centers manage files and layouts; 2D CAD companies offer access to web resources Task Pane tabs for SOLIDWORKS Resources, Design Library, File Explorer, Search, View Palette, Appearances, Scenes, and Decals, and Custom Properties centralize links to online and web resources, reusable design elements, and file management
Menus can be customized by programming context-sensitive and can be customized in dialog box
Shortcut Menus for copy/paste, reinstate last command, and so on context-sensitive
Toolbars can be modified through menu programming context-sensitive and can be customized in dialog box
Undo and Redo "U","OOPS", "REDO" Undo and Redo tools and lists
Repeat Last Command Press Enter or the spacebar, also use "Multiple" in some commands Press Enter, also access list of last ten most recent commands
Coordinate Systems "User Coordinate System (UCS)" system of origins including part origin, assembly origin, and sketch origins
Planes change "UCS" to create different orientations Front, Top, and Right default planes, others added by user
Orientation toolbar with standard views plus various isometric orientations toolbar with standard views plus various isometric, normal, and custom orientations
Management Panel "Properties palette" left panel contains FeatureManager® design tree, PropertyManagers, ConfigurationManager, DimXpertManager, and third party managers, accessed by clicking tabs or splitting the panel
Selection Methods click an object or drag a window click an object, drag a box, press Ctrl while selecting multiple objects, or click on the FeatureManager design tree
Selection Feedback feedback in command line pointer changes shape to indicate type of object being sketched or approached, and on the status bar
Display Functions zoom and pan zoom and pan plus wireframe, hidden lines visible, hidden lines removed, shaded, edges in shaded mode, shadow in shaded mode, perspective, and model section view
Grid and Snap toolbar with snap tools; display and snap grids, can set angle of grid; snap and grids help drawing accuracy snap to geometry on the fly; display and snap grids, can align grid to model edge; accuracy achieved with dimensions and relations
Dragging drag objects using "grips" select sketch entities and drag, also stretch sketch entities by dragging
Options dialog box with tabs for:
  • files
  • display
  • open and save
  • plotting
  • system
  • user preferences
  • drafting
  • selection
  • profiles
dialog box with tabs for:
  • system options that apply to all documents
  • document properties that apply to currently active document
Help
  • Help tool or menu or command
  • press F1 during command
  • tooltips
  • command line feedback
  • Help tool or menu
  • Help buttons or press F1 in dialog boxes
  • Interactive What's New
  • tooltips
  • status bar information
  • glossary
  • help facilities for third-party products