Are the SolidWorks options settings(Tools--> Options)stored in some type of file which I could distribute to all my users so that the settings are the same for everybody? If so, where is the file located?
Thanks
Yes! Use the copy options wizard.
Merry :-)
The hot keys are stored at C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\user, providing you installed there. The file, in my case, is "wmtk.cus" which is my "network name".cus. This file can be copied to another machine and works fine.
The "options" are available not as a file, but as a registry function. Use the SolidWorks Copy Options wizard to generate a reg file from the master installation. Then on each subsequent installation, set all the options by running the registry file. The toolbars, however, are not included in this file, so you have to create a separate reg file for those. Then when you run it an start SW, you will find that because of screen resolution issues, the toolbars aren't placed any particular place, but at least they should be displayed. Let me know if you need help with this.
WT
They are all in the registry. The copy options wizard exports a section of the registry that pertains to the specific settings. Open it up (edit) to see what key(s) and you can then go to that section of the registry to see what else is in there. Be careful.
I have a question. How do software companies in general decide what settings should go into a config file and what should go into the registry? Is there some criteria? Is there some advantage to using the registry?
Joe
Copy Options is great for setting people up with the initial settings. However, it doesn't take long for users to modify some non critical settings to suit themselves. These non critical setting should be allowed, as they are not affecting anyone else. In my case, as the CAD administrator, I wrote a VB6 program to extract the critical settings form the users computer, such as "file locations", compare them to the master set and if required reset them to the required default locations. The only reason to check first, is to find out if the user has been "tinkering".
All the settings in Tools/Options can be checked and set this way.
Just one note about file locations. Unless SWX2004 changes this, SWX does not seem to like using the 'Universal Naming Convention' ( UNC ) for file locations, you will need to ensure everyone is using the same mapped drive and use that. s:\solidworks\templates\ not \\server\solidworks\templates
-- Tony O'Hara Melbourne, Australia.
Not really. The Registry is likely abused as often as it is used correctly. The basic rule is to not put anything really complex in there.
Well, since Windows provides a simple interface for programmers to store/retrieve items from the Registry, it can make things seem simpler. However, the Registry also represents a single point of failure. One badly written program can stomp all over the Registry and cause all sorts of problems.
As an end user, the Registry is no advantage whatsoever.
Jim S.
If you are into programming, VB etc, to access data about a program, one of the benefits of using the registry, is that config data can be accessed without having to search for a config/ini file.
Searching cam become difficult if people do not accept the default entries for folders etc. In the Registry, the data is usually under the program name.
I agree with Jim S, it can be a dangerous place to play.
-- Tony O'Hara Melbourne, Australia.
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