Dimension Palette and Rapid Dimension Manipulator hate
February 22nd, 2010
Some SolidWorks users feel like guinea pigs. SolidWorks implements all kinds of new and wonderful improvements that end up being a pain-in-the-neck for one person or another. Two new SolidWorks 2010 user interface additions have been received as such. These are the Dimension Palette and the Rapid Dimension Manipulator (or Dimension Pie, as I like to call it).
As many are aware, the Dimension Pie pops up while the user is adding a dimension on a drawing. This gives them the ability to semi-automatically place their dimension.
The Dimension Palette pops up each time a dimension is created. This gives the user the ability to quickly edit dimension content and style. The problem is that the graphical display of these new functions often pops-up at very annoying locations on screen. Multiple complaints about these functions are on the SolidWorks Forum.
The complaints
A common complaint with the Dimension Pie is that when it pops-up, it covers portions of the drawing view. Many linear dimensions require two clicks to complete. The Dimension Pie will often cover the location required for the second click, preventing the user from completing the action to add the dimension. It appears that the visual representation of the Dimension Pie was designed for simple or clean drawings. Individuals with crowded or complex drawings find this user interface improvement to be more of a hindrance. The workaround is to move the mouse away from the Dimension Pie until it completely disappears. This simple act can drastically slow down experienced users.
The complaint with the Dimension Palette is similar. A user often does not need to customize the content or style of dimensions on their drawing. The problem with Dimension Palette is that when it pops-up, it can cover over a portion of the drawing view where the user may wish to add their next dimension. It slows down users by preventing them from creating several dimensions in quick succession. It seems the Dimension Palette was designed under the assumption that users are applying Imported Dimensions (dimensions that are automatically pulled in from the model). Again, the workaround is a time wasting movement the mouse until the Dimension Palette disappears.
Solutions?
SolidWorks Corp was some solutions underway that allow users to turn off these functions. (I’ll have more information about these at a later date.) However, my personal opinion is that these functions also need to be smarter. The Dimension Palette should be made so that it does not cover drawing object lines. As for the Dimension Pie, perhaps it shouldn’t be a pie shape at all. Maybe it should be a narrow band that covers much less viewing area. This would thus drastically reduce the chances that it will cover potential counterpart object lines or points.
Banishment
Additionally, I would also like to see the addition of a banishment shortcut that will allow the user to immediately remove both the Dimension Palette and Dimension Pie when they are in the way.
Categories: Complaints, Drawing, Editorial, News | Tags: dimension palette, rapid dimension manipulator
Amen!
At first blush this all seemed like such a good idea. Then more often than not I was running into the problems listed here, it is just in the way. The pallet itself is a bit wonky as well, I can click into the text box to edit but when I move the cursor out of the way to see what I’m typing focus on the pallet is lost and it goes away. I even have one install where the pallet pops up out of the way, but can never be selected to edit. Which is worse?
I would really apreciate an off button for this enhancement.
There is a workaround/solution outlined on the SolidWorks Forums at: https://forum.solidworks.com/thread/28479
Steve, thanks for the link. I’ve been watching that thread too. I’ll be posting the same solution here soon as well. I’m just wanting to see what SolidWorks’ more formal implementation will be first, since playing around with the registry is scary to many people.
Indeed. Well that registry fix appeared in SW2010 SP2. It will be interesting to see what SP or Major version it appears as a Tools -> Option setting.
Hey everybody. I just want to say that I, and others at SolidWorks, are taking all of the complaints and feedback about the Dimension Palette and the Rapid Dimension Tool quite seriously. We are listening. We are responding, and will continue to respond, by making improvements in the software.
As Steve has already pointed out, we have released a temporary registry workaround in the SolidWorks Forums. This will completely disable the Dimension Palette.
Anyone who regularly reads the forums may have also noticed my call for people to meet with me (via phone and web conference) to give me hands-on feedback for our longer-term solution to the Dimension Palette (and the Rapid Dim tool as well). That offer stands – if you would like to talk to me directly, you will find how to contact me in the Dimension Palette thread in the SolidWorks Forums.
Alternatively, you can go to http://www.solidworks.com/usability, where you will find a link to a short survey to join our user research and feedback program. If you fill out the survey and put something like “attention: dimension palette” or “attention: rapid dim tool” in the survey’s Comments field, it will get my attention.
I also collected hands-on feedback from a number of attendees at SolidWorks World a couple of weeks ago. The changes we have made to the Dimension Palette will be in the next service pack. These changes eliminate the problem of it popping up in your way all the time. The Dimension Palette becomes much more of an “on demand” tool rather than “always there.”
Elizabeth, we have also addressed the problem of it disappearing that you described in your comment. I’m not aware of any other reports where the Dimension Palette cannot be selected to edit, however. If it is repeatable, please see that it is reported. Thanks.
Matt, I appreciate your comment that these functions “need to be smarter.” I believe you will see in the next SP that we’ve achieved that for the Dimension Palette. Now I am turning my attention to making the Rapid Dimension Tool smarter too. Your suggestion of a “banishment shortcut” is interesting. Thanks.
Tom Spine
Manager, User Experience Design
DS SolidWorks Corp.
Its nice to see a SolidWorks person reading and replying to these blogs and comments
Thanks for the feedback Tom.
I like the idea of a “banishment” shortcut on the keyboard very much. I see the benefits of using the dimension palette and the Dimension “Pie”, but they definitely get in the way at times. I think though that the shortcut should be persistent, so I don’t have to press it each time I select or create a dimension.
[...] The people (i.e., SolidWorks users) have spoken and SolidWorks Corp listened. The infamous Dimension Palette now functions differently. The controversy surrounding the Dimension Palette started almost immediately after SolidWorks 2010 SP0 was released. People started posting heated complaints in the SolidWorks forums. I addressed many of those complaints in a previous article. [...]