Convert Entities workflow change in SW 2010

Convert Entities tool in SolidWorks  is commonly used to pull modelled edges into sketches.  Previous to SolidWorks 2010, the user had to select each edge or face and then execute the Convert Entities tool.  If the user only had a few edges, this worked fine.  However, if the user had a lot of edges or a chain of edges, this method was cumbersome.  Even still, many SolidWorks users are familar with the old way.  In many cases, the old way is actually best.

So, what changed? 

Convert Entities now has a PropertyManager.  The user is no longer required to preselect the correct entity types before starting the tool.  They can now start the tool, and then make their selections.  In addition to selecting faces and edges, the user now has the option to select a chain, which allows them to convert contiguous sketch entites more quickly.

What’s wrong with the new method?

There are several message threads on the SolidWorks Forums where users are complaining about the changes to the Convert Entities workflow.  A particular point of contention comes from those users who have a shortcut keystroke convertentitiesassigned to Convert Entities.  In such cases, the user only has to select their entities and then type one keystroke to convert them to the sketch.  This is very easy and fast.  The new dialog box in the PropertyManager drastically slows this process by requiring additional input from the user to dismiss the Convert Entities tool.

Is there a solution?

For us experienced users, there is a solution.  The Convert Entities PropertyManager has a pushpin.  With the Convert Entities PropertyManager open, simply click on the pushpin and then OK.  This will allow Convert Entities to be in “expert mode”.  In other words, the tool will work the same as it did in SolidWorks 2009 and previous.   This task has to be repeated each time the user starts a new SolidWorks session.

To bring back the PropertyManager for Convert Entities within the same session, simply activate the tool without any pre-selected entities.  The pushpin can be reactivated.

Long term solution?

The new workflow for Convert Entities is great, but it needs to be just a little smarter.  There should be a system option in SolidWorks that allows the user to pull the pushpin on the PropertyManager by default, instead of requiring the user to do it once for each session.  If you have an opinion about this, I welcome your comments here and on the SolidWorks Forum.

Author: fcsuper

As a drafter, mechanical designer and CAD engineer, I've been in the mechanical design field since 1991. For the first 8 years of my career, I was an AutoCAD professional. I utilized AutoLISP and many other AutoCAD customization features to streamline drafting activities for 6+ drafters and designers. I authored several custom functions, one of which was published in the March 1997 issue of Cadalyst Magazine. Since 1998, I've been used SolidWorks non-stop. I've worked to utilize the SolidWorks' user environment to simplify drafting and design activities for 20+ engineers. I've created this website to provide current information about SolidWorks from a variety of contributors. More recently, I am now employed by Dassault Systemes as SOLIDWORKS Sr. Product Definition Manager to improve drawing, annotation and MBD related areas.

14 thoughts on “Convert Entities workflow change in SW 2010”

  1. “don’t as me again” for the pushpin in convert entities would be outstanding!

  3. Pingback: fcsuper

  6. Please kindly help me out. I find it difficult to extrude lid cover in floxpress tutorial. The extrude boss is always disabled after convert entities. I am probably not getting something right. Thanks

  8. I don’t really understand the persistent need for that tool, I don’t even know a case where it is obligatory to use otherwise no way of doing assembly for example or whatever action we might need. Please tell me a simple example showing the necessity of using that tool. than u

  9. While in a sketch or drawing, highlight a model edge. Select the tool and that edge will be copied to become a sketch entity.

  10. thanks a lot fcsuper your comment helped me; now my next question: if i constructed a donut or a wheel using sweep, how to make this part rotates about it’s axis on the graphic area just a fun; my little son when he saw the swept donut asked me to make it rotate

  11. would any one tell me how to rotate a crankshaft about its axis in assembly, i need to fix the cylinder head and make the other parts rotate as expected from a crank mechanism. Now when i try to rotate the crankshaft it rotates around something else. thanks in advance

  13. thanks for ur reply, i tried the site u posted , they said:Sorry, “forums.solidworks.com” does not exist or could not be found

    but i’ll keep trying, anyhow thank u

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