Normal to Command

In Solidworks there is a command in modelling mode that when you select a face you can make it "normal to" which orientates the selected face to become square and full to the screen. I note that there is an icon in the ProE sketching mode that does a similar thing but it does not appear in the modelling mode.

I am missing this useful tool, is there any way of adding it in any way?

(I understand that there are the options for selecting the datum faces but often I have datums turned off in a busy model and cannot instantly recognise which face is which).

Grateful for any help :-)

cheers

david

Under 'Help>Help Center' you'll find a section on Tutorials. The "Getting Started with Pro/ENGINEER" tutorial has some basic information on named views, view modes, spin/pan/zoom and other interface issues. Probably worth checking out.

But, if you find a view you'd like to save, click the 'Reorient View' button (arrows pointing at block or select 'View>Orientation>Reorient'), click on Saved Views, type a name, hit Return and any time you want to recall that view, go to your saved views list and select the name. While you're there, you'll notice some preset named views that you can set from here or use the Saved Views list icon. There's no limit to the number of named, saved views you can have. Also, 'View>View Manager' offers another way to create oriented or combo views (the All tab). Anyway, there's a wealth of functionality to explore and master.

David Janes

You can use the same reorient icon that David mentioned to do what you're asking, although the Solidworks implementation is much more seemless. In ProE the steps are as follows:

1) Activate the Reorient dialog (via toolbar, menu, or mapkey) 2) Click the surface you want to be normal to 3) Click a reference surface, plane, or edge that will designate the top of the view

In SW all you have to do is select the surface and activate the normal to command, so ProE has one extra step.

You can use the same reorient icon that David mentioned to do what you're asking, although the Solidworks implementation is much more seemless. In ProE the steps are as follows:

1) Activate the Reorient dialog (via toolbar, menu, or mapkey) 2) Click the surface you want to be normal to 3) Click a reference surface, plane, or edge that will designate the top of the view

In SW all you have to do is select the surface and activate the normal to command, so ProE has one extra step.

Agreed, but in all of this remember: Pro/e made it possible, SW made it simple, now P/E is making it simple and powerful.

David Janes

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@e65g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...

simple, now P/E is making it simple and powerful.

Thanks guys, Takedown's method looks good so will try in the am :-)

Shame that there appears to be such an attitude within this group to Solidworks - and other packages. All I want is the best tool to enable me to do my job in the easiest way and with the best results possible. I used ProE back in the Unix days and the disasterous multi-nested menus era. When I moved to a new company in 1996 as the cad manager I evaluated all current packages and SWX was by far the best - for my purposes - at that time. Now, returning to ProE, I really expected the package to have exceeded the usabilty of SWX but apart from the Menu Tree (which it appears is now used by most other packages) there is still a lack of directness to achieve most instructions. I presume that "everything" that I want is in there somewhere but the frustration of a package that is lacking logical usabilty is painful. I read that Wildfire 3 is another step closer but this company doesn't appear to like updating easily. I presume that none of us work for the software bods, so no allegiance there. Wouldn't it be great if we used these tools and could interface seamlessly with each other? One day the manufacturers will end up producing the same product and all our jobs will be easier. I don't mind what package I use - I just want it to do what I want. (hence the post in the first place.....)

Please don't start a major post in response - it's just my view.

Once again - thanks for the help.

Cheers

david