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Editing features is a nightmare!!!

Question asked by Hugo Despres on Apr 6, 2012
Latest reply on Apr 6, 2012 by Steve Ostrovsky

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Hi everyone,

We are experiencing a huge time consuming problem here with a weldments file. It has has 300 bodies and when editing one of the feature, we talk about minutes waiting for the next step. For example, if we edit one of the feature's sketch, we have to wait a couple of minutes (2 to 3) just to go into the sketch. Once we are there, if we change one of the dimensions, let say 25mm instead of 20mm, we again have to wait 2 to 3 minutes after hitting the accept button. Same amount of time to get out of the sketch. Waiting time gets worst if we repeat these steps with a feature higher in the feature tree. I got an INTEL XEON, 16G of RAM with a QUADRO 4000. The file is worked from my machine and not from a network.

Does somebody has an idea of what's going on? I cannot believe I'm the only one with that kind of problem.

Thanks

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Robert Crawford Apr 6, 2012 12:06 PM
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Sounds like the rebuild time is extensive. Have you used Tools -> Feature Statistics to see which features are impacting the rebuild?

If you are using SW2012, there is a tool called feature freeze which can help reduce rebuild times.
Which SW version are you using?
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- Hugo Despres @ Robert Crawford on Apr 6, 2012 1:43 PM
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  Hi,
  
  SW 2012. Where is that command called ''feature freeze''?
  
  The main thing I would like to know is: Is it a normal behavior? Does anybody out there who uses weldments as I do is experiencing that kind of pain?
  
  Thanks,
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  - Robert Crawford @ Hugo Despres on Apr 6, 2012 1:49 PM
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    Go to System Options -> General click Enable Freeze bar.
    
    You can right click on a feature and it will freeze that and previous features from being editted or rebuilt.
    
    You should also review the help section on freeze feature to get a better understanding of how to use it.
    
    It will also appear in the feature tree as a gold/yellow bar (like the blue rollback bar).
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    - Hugo Despres @ Robert Crawford on Apr 6, 2012 2:21 PM
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      Hi,
      
      I did froze all the features above a specific feature I know I've experience lack of speed with. I then when into this feaure's sketch and change one of the dimensions. After hitting the accept button, it took 2 minutes and 20 seconds to SolidWorks to complete the task. Which is totally insane.
      
      Personnaly, I consider the ''freeze'' feature a workaround. I would like Dassault to really address this problem.
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      - Steve Ostrovsky @ Hugo Despres on Apr 6, 2012 2:53 PM
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        I'm not sure that you need the Freeze Bar as there must something else going on. Below is a greenhouse frame I did as a mock up demo. It has 236 bodies, so it's not as big as your 300, but I'm able to change the 4' dimension to 3' and it updates in about 5 seconds.
        
        Your weldment may be a lot more complex in geometry than what I have here and that may be causing some slow downs. Have you noticed this just recently or did you make a software change that may have caused it. Get us a screen shot of your model with the Feature Statistics showing and that might help a little.
        
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      - Robert Crawford @ Hugo Despres on Apr 6, 2012 3:05 PM
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        Did you run Feature Statistics?
        
        Are there are few feature causes most of the problems?
        ie, is 90% of rebuild time from a few features?
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Alin Vargatu Apr 6, 2012 3:00 PM
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Can you post the part here?
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- Hugo Despres @ Alin Vargatu on Apr 6, 2012 3:18 PM
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  Here is the part with the features statistics panel. It's not a complexe part in my opinion.
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  - Steve Ostrovsky @ Hugo Despres on Apr 6, 2012 3:38 PM
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    Long shot, but I see you have Routing and Sustainability turned on plus what I think is a Recovered File waiting to be handled. Have you turned off all your Add-ins, shut down SolidWorks and restarted it?
    
    I agree, this model doesn't look like it should take several minutes to rebuild. I would try it on another machine if you have one. If it works over there, you know it's your computer. If you get same results, it's in the model itself. If it's the latter, I'd want to have a look at it to see if there's a feature causing the problems.
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Erik Bilello Apr 6, 2012 3:37 PM
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Maybe I'm not looking hard enough but I don't see what Xeon you have (how fast) and other system specs.
Is it just this file or do all comparably sized files you work with behave this slowly?
Do you have "Verification on rebuild" on by chance?
How about image quality? Higher than it needs to be?
Even if you can't post the file can you tell us how big it is, and give some details as to how it was made. Screen shot of feature tree?
It's pretty hard to make a good suggestion without looking at the actual file or having more info.
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- Hugo Despres @ Erik Bilello on Apr 6, 2012 4:03 PM
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  Hi guys,
  
  Thanks for all your help.
  
  I've been an application engineer for Solid Edge for 5 years so I've tried all the stuff like ''restart the computer' lower image quality, tried on another machine, etc. Verification on rebuild was OFF. The part is 6Mb big. It happens only with 2 of our our weldment parts and the other one is similar but this one wasn't made starting with the existing one. I recently hired a new guy that has worked on this file thus Maybe the part is not ''optimized'' in the way it was built. But nothing to justifiy a rebuild time over 2 minutes
  Here's my machine's specs:
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  - Steve Ostrovsky @ Hugo Despres on Apr 6, 2012 4:44 PM
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    At this point I would want to see the part file to examine it. You've obviously done all of the usual troubleshooting tests so I can't see what else can be done via forum thread exchanges. The model needs to be looked at by your VAR or someone else. I don't know if you want to post it here. If not, I'll be happy to look at it via email. Check my profile if you want to go that route.
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Editing features is a nightmare!!!

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