8 Replies Latest reply on Oct 31, 2017 8:58 AM by Josh Brady

What other ways to freely rotate part other than using scroll wheel button?

Mark Shian Sep 11, 2017 5:08 AM

Hey Solidworks users,

A long time ago I think I used Solidworks 2006 and back then it was very easy to freely rotate a part, I think all I had to do was click on an empty space or the part itself if I'm not mistaken and I could freely rotate it.

Recently I think they've updated it and you can only rotate the part freely when you click on your mouse scroll button. I find this to be a bummer because I hate using the mouse scroll button everytime I want to rotate the part.

Is there any way I can change this under some setting? Or am I stuck with it?

Also, does anyone know which version of Solidworks did they begin to make this change?

Thanks so much!

Mark

Re: What other ways to freely rotate part other than using scroll wheel button?

Wojciech Paterski Sep 11, 2017 5:23 AM (in response to Mark Shian)

I think you're mixing up rotating environment with rotating part. The way it works on mine (and it always work like that) is left click and hold on part is moving it aroung, right click on part and holding is rotating it around 'click' point, and the scroll rotates whole environment (camera view inside your assembly).
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Re: What other ways to freely rotate part other than using scroll wheel button?

Doug Seibel Sep 11, 2017 7:48 AM (in response to Mark Shian)

Spacemouse

Or get a mouse with extra buttons and program one of them to be middle mouse click. (I did this with a mouse that had a button right beside my thumb, it worked very well.)
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Re: What other ways to freely rotate part other than using scroll wheel button?

Steve Calvert Sep 11, 2017 8:08 AM (in response to Mark Shian)

To my knowledge it hasn't changed at all. I've been using SW since 2006 and I can rotate my part the same way. I do use a 3dConnexion SpacePilot but I can also rotate as needed with my middle mouse button.

Steve C
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Re: What other ways to freely rotate part other than using scroll wheel button?

Josh Brady Sep 11, 2017 8:10 AM (in response to Mark Shian)

Nope. Never worked like that. It's always been middle mouse button (which is typically scroll wheel). There is a command you can activate (View->Modify->Rotate) and then get the behavior you're looking for. You could map a shortcut key to that.
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- Re: What other ways to freely rotate part other than using scroll wheel button?
  
  Mark Shian Oct 30, 2017 9:24 PM (in response to Josh Brady)
  
  Hey Josh,
  How do you map a shortcut key to rotate environment?
  Let's say I want to use the spacebar for it.
  
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  - Re: What other ways to freely rotate part other than using scroll wheel button?
    
    Josh Brady Oct 31, 2017 8:58 AM (in response to Mark Shian)
    
    2017 SOLIDWORKS Help - Customize Keyboard
    
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Re: What other ways to freely rotate part other than using scroll wheel button?

Al Griego Sep 11, 2017 8:23 AM (in response to Mark Shian)

I've always used a spaceball or other 3D controller.
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Re: What other ways to freely rotate part other than using scroll wheel button?

Mark Shian Oct 30, 2017 9:34 PM (in response to Mark Shian)

Yes sorry, what I meant to say was, how do I change function for rotate the environment while modelling a part in Solidworks 2017?

I know you can use the middle mouse button, is there a way to assign it so that its my right mouse button that rotates the environment instead of the scroll mouse button?

Thanks so much for your help.
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