9 Replies Latest reply on Jun 30, 2010 10:02 AM by Wayne Tiffany

    Drop Down File Menu Too Big

    larry mchugh
    larry mchugh Jun 30, 2010 8:23 AM

      When I select the File Drop Down Menu the menu covers the entire screen instead of just a portion of the screen with the tool tip box that has the file preview.

       

      How do I reduce the size of this screen?

       

      Solidworks 2010 Premium SP3.1

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      • Categories: SolidWorks, User Interface
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        • Re: Drop Down File Menu Too Big
          Deepak Gupta
          Deepak Gupta Jun 30, 2010 8:30 AM (in response to larry mchugh)

          Use 2 monitors

          • Re: Drop Down File Menu Too Big
            John Lindemann
            John Lindemann Jun 30, 2010 8:33 AM (in response to larry mchugh)

            Right click any of your tool bars and go to "Customize" then click the "Menus" tab at the top of the page.  Now select the "File" Category and remove any command you don't need.

             

            Hope this helps.  Two monitors is nice but if you don't have two then maybe you could try a different screen resolution.

            • Re: Drop Down File Menu Too Big
              Jim Wilkinson
              Jim Wilkinson Employee Jun 30, 2010 9:13 AM (in response to larry mchugh)

              Hi Larry,

               

              The width is dictated by the widest entry, which most often, is one of the filenames in the recently used list. Do you use particularly long paths or filenames? We may need to change the approach we use for long filenames/paths (perhaps truncating the middle out after a certain width in the menu and only showing the full path/name in the tooltip).

               

              Perhaps you can post a screenshot of what you are seeing? I'd like to see the exact problem so I know what is going on. We've had issues in the past with long paths/filenames in the balloons, so I want to see your exact paths/filenames to make sure we account appropriately for spaces or special characters which may give different behavior.

               

              Thanks,

              Jim

                • Re: Drop Down File Menu Too Big
                  larry mchugh
                  larry mchugh Jun 30, 2010 9:25 AM (in response to Jim Wilkinson)

                  Jim,

                   

                  Attached is a screen capture of the wide menu.  You are probably right and yes we do use long file names because we are on a network and have several levels of sub-directories for projects, customers, etc.

                   

                  I'll see if I can empty the recently used file list and see if the problem goes away.

                   

                  If that is the problem, you may want to shorten the file name so the tool tip fits and displaying the full name when you roll over it with the mouse.

                   

                  I'll let you know.

                   

                  Thanks

                  • Re: Drop Down File Menu Too Big
                    larry mchugh
                    larry mchugh Jun 30, 2010 9:33 AM (in response to Jim Wilkinson)

                    Jim,

                     

                    That was indeed the problem.  All is well.  Thanks

                    • Re: Drop Down File Menu Too Big
                      larry mchugh
                      larry mchugh Jun 30, 2010 9:39 AM (in response to Jim Wilkinson)

                      Jim,

                       

                      Attached is a screen shot of the new narrow menu.  Notice the first file name in the list (SK8581-1X.SLDPRT)?

                       

                      Well that's not the full path name.  The full path is:

                       

                      M:\PM Proposal Eng\2010 Proposals\10F-003-1PM Federal Mogul - Ford Control Arms\Info From Customer\SK8581-1X.SLDPRT

                       

                      So....For some reason it truncated the path name for that file, however the files below that on have the full path name (I deliberately kept the path name short in order to do this test).

                        • Re: Drop Down File Menu Too Big
                          Steve Ostrovsky
                          Steve Ostrovsky Jun 30, 2010 9:59 AM (in response to larry mchugh)

                          What screen resolution are you running? I noticed your SolidWorks Search field is almost on top of the Options button. I know I run a high resolution, but even at 1680 x 1050 I still have gobs of room between the Options button and the SolidWorks search.

                           

                          I'm not saying the latest file list is ok to cover your screen, but I've seen a few other areas where a low resolution causes some problems with the UI.

                          • Re: Drop Down File Menu Too Big
                            Wayne Tiffany
                            Wayne Tiffany Jun 30, 2010 10:02 AM (in response to larry mchugh)

                            Larry,

                             

                            Not to detract from something that may be worth investigating, but might I suggest that instead of going to the File menu to grab a recent file, hit your R hotkey.  This should bring up a much better interface than the menu in that you have all the file "tooltips" displayed at the same time.  You can then just click on the one you want.  Much faster.  Now, if you are going to the File menu for another reason, then I missed reading into that with your posts.

                             

                              WT