Has there been any resolution to the slow icon update when opening files in solidworks on WinXP? I have a large folder (1500 .sldprt's)and it takes 20 seconds to get to the last file. I cannot scroll until it updates the icon. In the folder w/ .slddrw files, I can scroll happily along before it figures out what the file icon should be.
Thanks in advance
The resolution is to turn off the switch that causes that. For whatever reason SW insists on making that a default setting even though it has always had atrocious performance and isn't even very useful, since the icons are far too small to actually see. You can turn it off at Tools>
Options>System Options>Show thumbnail graphics in Windows Explorer.
What you should do instead of using that switch is to use the "Thumbnail" view setting in Windows Explorer (View>Thumbnails). This is actually big enough to be visible and doesn't take as long as the SW setting.
Dezignstuff
" snipped-for-privacy@mt.com" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
I should be more specific. The problem I have is not "thumbnails" but the ICON that shows up for a .sldprt file (iso view of a tetris block). There was a post on this way back on 24 Apr 2004. The determination seemed to be that it was WinXP related. The specific problem is that when the "open file" dialog window is up and I open my parts folder, the generic icon that windows assigns to unknown files is shown for every part. Then the system chugs through the files and changes the icon to the SW part icon. While it is trying to determine what icon to assign each file, I cannot scroll through the list of parts. I have to wait for it to display the .sldprt icon for every file in the window before it will allow me to scroll.
My folder w/ 1500 parts takes 20 seconds just to get to scroll to the last part in the folder!
Are these files located on a Network Drive? Best Regards, Devon T. Sowell
The files were on a network drive, but I have copied them to my local machine and the results are the same...slow.
A couple of tricks
1.) If you just want to go to the end of the list click in the view of all the files(unfortunately I can't think of a more inteligent description right now I haven't finished my morning coffee yet) Hit the End button. This will greatly increase your speed moving to the end.2.) Because of this inherintly slow loading of icon images (we typically will have 1000+ parts in a folder) I created a macro that would generate a preview of a part by typing in the part number. This is tailored to our directory structure. Something similar could be tailored for your company (I would do this for a fee) or if you have an API guru at your place they could probably handle it. I did a similar program for saving files that puts them in the correct location based on a user supplied part number.
Regards
Corey contact me directly @
corey scheich skip this line at hotmail dot com
I suppose I forgot to mention with the macro I created it allows you to select a configuration, view only, read only, lightweight and Open the file. Again it must be the coffee thing.
Whatever else it may be, the problem's not XP specific. I see the same issue on my Win2k machine.. (1354 files in a local directory).
One tip I can offer is that scrolling with the arrow keys is problematic, but dragging the scrollbar on the right side of the window does not seem to be affected. Using the scrollbar, I can drag to anyplace I like in the list and get to work while the icons are still grinding away.
I USED to have the ability to "get to work while the icons are still grinding away." but now it will not let me pull the scroll bar or click in the slide area next to the scroll bar or click on the arrows for the scrollbar, until it gets the icons up for .SLDPRT file folders. Actually I can jump ahead if I click and drag the bar while it is thinking, the command is queued and as soon as it fills in the icons for the files showing, it will jump farther thru the files and then sit there determining icons again.
I have a folder w/ only .slddrw files and THIS one lets me scroll away while it is filling in the icons behind me. I can scroll back and see it changing each individual icon to a .slddrw. .SLDPRT folders do not change each icon in such a way as to see them change individually. The controls lock up for a second or two, and then POOF! all the visible files change icons at once.
I appreciate all the input. Maybe I could find a way to just turn off the icons.......or start making subdirectories and be happy that I can relink parts to me assemblies.
I USED to have the ability to "get to work while the icons are still grinding away." but now it will not let me pull the scroll bar or click in the slide area next to the scroll bar or click on the arrows for the scrollbar, until it gets the icons up for .SLDPRT file folders. Actually I can jump ahead if I click and drag the bar while it is thinking, the command is queued and as soon as it fills in the icons for the files showing, it will jump farther thru the files and then sit there determining icons again.
I have a folder w/ only .slddrw files and THIS one lets me scroll away while it is filling in the icons behind me. I can scroll back and see it changing each individual icon to a .slddrw. .SLDPRT folders do not change each icon in such a way as to see them change individually. The controls lock up for a second or two, and then POOF! all the visible files change icons at once.
I appreciate all the input. Maybe I could find a way to just turn off the icons.......or start making subdirectories and be happy that I can relink parts to me assemblies.
I USED to have the ability to "get to work while the icons are still grinding away." but now it will not let me pull the scroll bar or click in the slide area next to the scroll bar or click on the arrows for the scrollbar, until it gets the icons up for .SLDPRT file folders. Actually I can jump ahead if I click and drag the bar while it is thinking, the command is queued and as soon as it fills in the icons for the files showing, it will jump farther thru the files and then sit there determining icons again.
I have a folder w/ only .slddrw files and THIS one lets me scroll away while it is filling in the icons behind me. I can scroll back and see it changing each individual icon to a .slddrw. .SLDPRT folders do not change each icon in such a way as to see them change individually. The controls lock up for a second or two, and then POOF! all the visible files change icons at once.
I appreciate all the input. Maybe I could find a way to just turn off the icons.......or start making subdirectories and be happy that I can relink parts to me assemblies.
Robert,
From reading all this it seems like you might have file indexing turned off.
From Windows explorer, right click on your data drive icon and bring up the properties dialog. Down at the bottom is a check box "Allow indexing,,,etc". Is it checked ??
I use Win2K SP4, and mine is instantaneous with an 800 file folder
Regards
Mark
Yes "allow indexing" is checked. Might do a trial run w/ a fresh Xp install and a Win2k install....or just create subdirectories.
Thanks again.
Robert,
I have this same problem that you are talking about. The problem only exists on large directories of SolidWorks files using Windows XP. I tried moving the directory of 4000+ files locally and the same problem exists. It is not happening on all computers. I have another user that can access the same files in Windows explorer through Windows 2000. Also we have a large directory of AutoCAD DXF files that the scrolling is normal. I have not had a breakthrough on this yet. Have you had any luck on your end? How did the fresh install go?
Regards, srowan
snipped-for-privacy@mt.com wrote:
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