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Accessing and Customizing Application Preferences

Application preferences let you customize application preferences for Composer, as well as manage user configuration profiles.

Notes:
  • Application preferences and default document properties are shared by all versions of Composer applications (SOLIDWORKS Composer, SOLIDWORKS Composer Sync, SOLIDWORKS Composer Player) installed on a given computer. The registry settings created when you change application preferences or default document properties are not removed when you uninstall a Composer application.
  • Administrators can restrict which document properties and application preferences team members can modify. See Disabling Document Property and Application Preference Modifications.

This task shows you how to:

Customize Application Preferences

You can configure application preferences .

  1. Select File > Preferences... .
    The Application Preferences dialog box appears.
  2. Select the appropriate category in the left-hand box.

    Options in this category... Allow you to...
    General Set user interface properties, such as the display language, menu style, and auto-save behavior.
    Input Customize how Composer loads models.
    Viewport Define viewport preferences, such as high-quality rendering effects.
    Camera Set camera preferences.
    Selection Set preferences for actor highlighting and selection behavior.
    Navigation Configure mouse button and wheel behavior.
    Hardware Support Modify graphic card settings.
    Application Paths View or set the paths of internal and external tools used by Composer.
    Data Paths Set data paths.
    Note: Data paths are sorted lists of paths used to locate resources such as files, profiles, and links. Composer uses data paths to resolve external references when the relative path of a resource cannot be found.
    Advanced Settings Control advanced features and resolve issues.

    The options for the corresponding preferences appear.
  3. Set these options according to your needs.
  4. Click OK to save the preferences and exit the Application Preferences dialog box.

Use Predefined Configuration Profiles

You can manage user configuration profiles.

Note: High quality, High speed, and Safe profiles affect only preferences critical for rendering quality, performance, and reliability. Because the Profile field dynamically computes and displays the profile that best matches your settings, it is possible to select one profile and have a different profile selected the next time you visit the Application Preferences dialog box. However, your preference settings are correct.

  1. Select File > Preferences....
    The Application Preferences dialog box appears.
  2. Select the appropriate profile in the Profile box:
    OptionDescription
    Standard

    Uses settings that are not optimized for a specific work condition.

    Note: This profile disables advanced OpenGL functions by selecting Standard on the Hardware Support page. Not all rendering effects will be available.
    High quality

    Optimizes settings for best rendering quality. All advanced OpenGL functions are enabled.

    High speed

    Optimizes settings for faster performance. For example, Selection > Highlighting is disabled. All advanced OpenGL functions are enabled.

    Safe

    Optimizes settings for reliable graphical behavior. Try this option when highlighting is poor or performance degrades when you rotate actors.

    Note: This profile disables 3D OpenGL hardware acceleration on the Hardware Support page. Not all rendering effects will be available.
    Customized

    Indicates your settings do not match a predefined profile.

    For example, when the profile is Safe and you enable Show hidden edges, the profile automatically changes to Customized. However, enabling Show paper does not change the profile because that setting is not defined by the Safe profile.

Share Application Preferences

Application preferences can be saved as .set files. You can use .set files to transfer application preferences between users.

  1. Select File > Preferences....
    The Application Preferences dialog box appears.
  2. Perform one of the following operations:
    • To save the current settings to a new .set file, click Save, and specify where you want to save the file.
    • To load a profile which has been previously saved as a .set file, click Load, and browse to select the file.



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