hello
i noticed there are several dialogs ( such as constraints ) that the user can exit only by hitting escape key .
To avoid being forced to hit esc each time , id like to create a shortcut for escape (cancel) on the right side of the keyboard ( i am left handed )
is there a way to do that ?
.
i like hitting one key to launch command. actually i use that a lot, its a good feature . but the esc keys position on the keyboard is just very inconvenient in my opinion, even for a right handed .
Marc as ESC key is a window function, I guess you need something out of SolidWorks to set it (if possible). Check if AutoKey works for you (though I haven't tested it yet)
its just too bad that the interface has user stuck in some dialogs like insert part, or constraints . im looking for any way to close these dialogs without moving the pointer all the way to the red button, or moving my arm to hit esc ( yes i use the mouse on the left ) .
You could get a 3d mouse and program a key to escape, or in the case of the spacepilot pro, it already has an escape key.
Marc - Not really a useful suggestion to your immediate needs, but Greg's suggestion is a good one. Expensive if you don't own a 3D mouse yet, but Esc was the first key I mapped on my Spaceball 7 years ago and it's the one I still use most.
My suggestion would be to write a macro that emulates 'Esc' somehow (may have to get some help from those API experts...) and then you could assign that to a mouse-gesture, key, etc.
Update: Just tested this and I can't seem to run a macro during, say, an Feature/Extrude operation. Key assigned to a macro doesn't work and the Macro toolbar is greyed out. Anyone help?
i too thought creating a macro and assign it to a keystroke would be the best option . only i know too little about macro language in solidworks .
any suggestion appreciated
How about a virtual/ on-screen keyboard
Get a left handed (opposite handed) keyboard.
Marc, if you have not used mouse gestures yet, as of 2012, we allow for the Escape key to be assigned. We have shown this to a few customers and they think is is great. With the flick of a mouse, you can cancel a property manager. If not, we still show the escape key in keyboard customization, so you can assign a key for it also.
Thomas,
I have one of my mouse gestures set to Escape in all functions and it works very well. I have the green OK check mark set as one of them also and it's sometimes grayed out, but Escape always works.
Just pick a key and assign the Escape function to it:
I use a SpacePilot Pro which has an escape button nicely within reach, clustered with CTRL, ALT and Shift. Been using it for a few months now, worth it's weight in gold. I like how escape rolls you back when dimensioning rather than killing the dimension tool altogether in 2012.
Totally useless bit of information, but I thought I'd share it anyway.
Thinking about this a little more, I'm also left handed, and recall how much of a pain it is to let go of the mouse to hit esc. What kind of keyboard do you have? If you have additional function keys along the top these are usually re-programmable if you have the keyboard drivers installed. Had a keyboard with a shutdown button on it once, really inconvenient when accidentally hit, remapped to to launch iTunes, probably should have remapped to to CTRL-S.
Bjorn, have you read my post? You can assign the Escape function to any key you want inside SolidWorks.
Alin, I always find your knowledge very useful. to tell you the truth I've not trained my habits to use mouse gestures yet. I do like to implement keystrokes and other shortcuts to regularly used tools/commands. In the instance of the Esc key, I work across SW, photoshop, illustrator, indesign and powerpoint on a daily basis and use the escape key consistently across all of them. I find remapping keys through the keyboard driver helps to keep things consistent across all the software I use.
Now that I use the SpacePilot the mouse is on my right hand anyway.
You have a good point, Bjorn.
Bjorn Hulman wrote:
Thinking about this a little more, I'm also left handed, and recall how much of a pain it is to let go of the mouse to hit esc.
So why not use Mouse Gestures? Then you don't need to let go of the mouse.
Thats a good point. I've tried using them on occasion, but generally slip out of the practice the following day without knowing. I really need to get in the habit of using them consistently.
Esc key is very often used and there are many lefthanded
so foot-lever (extra Esc pedal) like in old sewing machine
shall be introduced.
All this mouse gestures trainings lead to wrist sore.
A shorter way of pressing one key?
You mean your mouse is in your left hand and that means your right hand has to travel the length of th KB to hit escape?
How about turn the KB upside-down?
Giggling like a girl here lol