How can I add CTRL+Q as a toolbar button?
Thank you for any help.
How can I add CTRL+Q as a toolbar button?
Thank you for any help.
Deepak,
Thanks for your answer.
Why? I come from 20 years of Cadkey/KeyCreator and have a highly customized keyboard. IMHO, the best keyboard short cut is a single click.
Not a 2 button click. I do realize that I can assign a single letter as well as CTRL+Q.
However, today I moved some geometry in an a top down assembly which was related to some other geometry and after moving the geometry I went up to the top toolbar that has a rebuild icon on it and selecting it in total frustration that some of my geometry didn't move, called support to discover that that button (CTRL+B) is oh so very different than CTRL+Q.
I want to permanently replace the CTRL+B icon with the CTRL+Q command.
To my great surprise, there is no icon for that command.
I guess I just don't get why EVERY command doesn't have an icon assigned to it, or at the very least an easy way to assign an icon without needing to learn the macro programming dialect.
Thanks for your time.
Hi Rick,
Ctrl-Q (or "forced rebuild") is the only command in the system we purposely make harder to access. The very reason we do it is because we DON'T want users to replace the rebuild icon with this command. Ctrl-Q is needed in probably less than 99.9% of the times you need rebuild. If you use Ctrl-Q all the time you will be extremely disappointed with the performance of the software and wasting time for absolutely no reason. For instance, if in a part with 100 features, you change the dimension of some feature low down in the tree (or even the last one), and you hit rebuild, it only rebuilds the feature and any dependent children. If you hit Ctrl-Q, it rebuilds the entire tree from the very top; every single feature and sketch. Again, in 99.9% of the cases, that is not necessary and extremely time consuming.
The only cases where a Ctrl-Q should really be needed is if you have circular references or you are running into a bug. If it is a case of circular references, you should really look at your model and determine if you intentionally want it or not and if at all possible, try to eliminate it. Some people do them purposely, knowing that it will take multiple rebuilds or a Ctrl-Q to get the final model built. In the case of a bug, you should make sure to get the models submitted through your VAR so they can be analyzed and the bug can be fixed.
Of course, you can add a button for Ctrl-Q if you really like, but I would not suggest replacing rebuild with it and I would suggest using it judiciously, only when something isn't rebuilding as you expect.
I hope this helps,
Jim
Hi Jim,
Thanks for taking the time to answer.
I don't agree with the philosophy of making a command (any command) harder to access. You aren't giving your customers enough credit to be able to choose how to implement an available command for themselves.
In my case, I have 5 simple rectangles with some holes in an assembly. I tried to smartly relate one part to another as I built it top down. I needed to make a change in location of a set of holes. I find the seed/parent hole and move it. I hit regen (CTRL+B) on the standard toolbar and the hole doesn't move in one of my parts. I spent an hour and needed to call support to figure out that all I needed was a top level assembly regen.
I can deal with that. It's a learning curve and this was a lesson and I'm new to SolidWorks.
So, I want to replace the regen button on the standard tool bar with the CTRL+Q regen. Seems like a good idea to me. Even after reading your reply, I still think it is a good idea. I can't figure out how to add a button that does CTRL+Q.
Another hour with support. Then this forum. I still can't figure out how to accomplish this menu customization.
Bottom line, I don't agree with making any command harder to access. Let me decide. It's not like you buried it in a 5 layer deep fly out menu in order to make it painful to execute the command. You have it as a keyboard shortcut. I just want another different way to issue this specific command.
Jim, can you tell me how to add a button on my standard toolbar that performs the CTRL+Q regen?
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Rick,
I still don't think you understand the implication. So, you would be happy replacing the rebuild button with this one and as a result, on your complex parts, instead of taking 3 seconds to rebuild after making a change and hitting rebuild, they will always take 5 minutes (as an example if you have a complex part that takes 5 minutes to rebuild all features)? Many users don't understand this implication and this is why we don't have a button for it. It is only meant to be used if something is not working as expected, not in general usage.
For your example assembly for which you have been told that have it needs a "top level rebuild", the cause is very likely a circular reference which can cause other issues and should be corrected so using force regen is just masking or working around the issue. Again, this is another reason why we don't have a button for it. It is much better to correct the issue rather than working around it with force regen or you are likely going to have more problems as you continue with your model.
You can add a button for force regen as Deepak indicates by using a macro. He gave a link to a macro and there are likely others if you search the forum or can possibly get one by posting in the API section of the forum. Here is a link to the help topic on adding a button for a macro to the interface:
http://help.solidworks.com/2013/English/SolidWorks/sldworks/t_assigning_macro_toolbar_button.htm
Thanks,
Jim
Excuse my revival of an old thread and my vocabulary Jim, but the CTRL+B button is the most useless button I've ever seen in my life and telling someone that they shouldn't do CTRL+Q unless obligated is unacceptable.
I have a class as a super-user in SolidWorks, I understand the logic of the program and most of the stuff and I also read your explanations. There are so many cases where the CTRL+B button doesn't rebuild what it is supposed to that, as Rick Becker stated, it is completely stupid to make something ''harder'' to use, just because you don't trust your client will use it correctly. Either fix the CTRL+B button and remove the CTRL+Q button or make your CTRL+Q button be accessible.
It is so frustrating to be working on parts/assemblies and that a CTRL+B doesn't do it's job. Then, you end up doing a CTRL+Q and waiting on your assembly for a minute everytime. Imagine when you get to a large assembly and need to rebuild just about every change you make because your damn software doesn't do it correctly, it's a real pain...
Sorry if I sound a bit blunt, but your explanation is an inappropriate answer when you concider that we pay a yearly fee for a working program.
Regards
Alex,
Wow! This may have been my first post on this forum. Thanks for the refresher.
Three and a half years later and I even more strongly Disagree with Jim Wilkinson.
Having Ctrl-Q inaccessible, for the expressed purpose of Adding a button on a toolbar, is gross coding malpractice!
Where are the coding police?
Jim, I sincerely hope you have grown even more wise than you were back then and can agree that this command should be as freely accessible as any other command.
I did get a macro that does Ctrl-Q. I have assigned it to my quick access Menu Bar next to the Ctrl-B button. I have had it there for around 3.5 years through 4 major versions and all the service packs along the way. I have not thought about it specifically in years, until now. It does what it is suppose to do. I use it when and as I need it, same as you do using the keyboard Ctrl-Q.
All user should have this option without jumping through hoops!
Here is the back story that may not be clear from the thread. I tried to mimic my KeyCreator keyboard. Using KeyCreator I am able to and did assigned a single keystroke to each and every key on the keyboard. To be fair, some keys are unassignable (like Enter the Windows key, Num Lock, Etc.), but the number 8 (main keyboard layout) is definitely assignable. Apparently, Baystate/CadKey/KeyCreator was able to overcome the Microsoft lockout problem. In my not so humble opinion, this is also gross coding malpractice!
Back to my story. In my haste to get my keys assigned in SW, I use Ctrl-Q for some other function. I got the warning message that I will be unassigning the Forced Rebuild shortcut, but I didn't understand the impact of that. Until I needed a Ctrl-Q and it was nowhere to be found. Mt VAR could not find it anywhere either. Thus, I turned to the forum here.
Tell me this Jim, why is it even possible to reassign Ctrl-Q to something else it the command is not accessible in any other way?
I have attached the macro so everyone can assign it to a menu button.
RIck.. I had to LOL on this... because, I've actively used this program since 1998... and I have used CTRL-Q on every design I have ever created!
Why... because SW modeler is INCONSISTENT.
Hi All,
I think that those interested in this thread will be happy with what is in the SOLIDWORKS 2018 Beta What's New document, specifically in the SOLIDWORKS Fundamentals section. I can't discuss any further since Beta is under NDA but if you have any feedback, etc. please post to the beta forum.
Regarding this quote below which I must have missed the question to me when it came in:
Rick Becker wrote:
In my haste to get my keys assigned in SW, I use Ctrl-Q for some other function. I got the warning message that I will be unassigning the Forced Rebuild shortcut, but I didn't understand the impact of that. Until I needed a Ctrl-Q and it was nowhere to be found. Mt VAR could not find it anywhere either. Thus, I turned to the forum here.
Tell me this Jim, why is it even possible to reassign Ctrl-Q to something else it the command is not accessible in any other way?
In answer to this, if you reassign Ctrl-Q to some other command, the various Force regeneration commands are still available in the Customize, Keyboard dialog to have a different key assigned. Just search for "force" to find them.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim,
You are such a tease.
I am extremely pleased to use my imagination to read between your lines and put this issue firmly to bed.(since I am not a Beta user)
Jim Wilkinson wrote:
In answer to this, if you reassign Ctrl-Q to some other command, the various Force regeneration commands are still available in the Customize, Keyboard dialog to have a different key assigned. Just search for "force" to find them.
Thanks,
Jim
I can state categorically that there was no way to access Ctrl-Q thru the customization menu (or any other "easy" way) in SW2012 (13?). I have the emails from my VAR and SW to back that up. I did notice that in later versions it is available and I missed when it was added (because I already had and used a "workaround").
I am as giddy as a school girl with anticipation.
Thanks Jim.
Ah yes, customization for the key for the force regen commands was not around back then. I didn't realize that you were referring to the past instead of the present.
Thanks for the clarification,
Jim
Jim, My Original Post date was Sep 25, 2013 2:27 PM
Jim,
One more question.
How can I assign the 8 key to a keyboard shortcut?
I am referring to the key above the U/I keys, not the keypad. I can assign the keypad 8 but not the 8 key.
Thanks again for any help.
You need to use shift/ctrl/alt along with that key.
Hi Rick,
Unfortunately, you cannot. You never have been able to. I believe this is something that is blocked by the Microsoft keyboard customization that we use. Looking at Word, it looks like they even further block customization of any key without a modifier (like Ctrl or Alt). I am not sure if the blocking of the numbers (actually, it is the whole top row of the keyboard) relates to those entries being used for numeric input and potential conflicts there or why it is blocked. If I find out anything further in talking with the developers, I'll post back.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim, Deepak,
Kubotek KeyCreator allows every key to be assigned (I know, I have them all assigned). I am dumbfounded that these keys cannot be used. Please tell me the SolidWorks logic behind this because it doesn't appear to be a Microsoft requirement.
Jim,
I do understand the impact. if/when it takes 5 minutes to regen I will learn not to click that button. My ultimate plan was not to replace the CTRL+B regen icon, but to add a second CTRL+Q icon next to it.
Furthermore...
Since SolidWorks has given the command a keyboard shortcut, and I can issue that command at any time, how is it different than having a toolbar icon to depress? Either way there is user interaction required. This is why I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that SolidWorks doesn't have an icon for this command.
I am new to SolidWorks. The learning curve is steep coming from a free form modeler. It's a shame that I need to take so much time and effort to accomplish what seems like such a simple thing, add a command button to a toolbar. I guess if I really want this button I will need to learn macros long before I want to learn about macros.
I do want to thank you both for taking the time to help me. Your quick concise answers are greatly appreciated.
Hi Rick,
On the subject of the use of numeric keys for keyboard shortcuts, the best I can say is we can consider it for an enhancement and I am talking to the developers about it to try to figure out why it is blocked. It may have a very valid reason due to conflicts with other UI controls. For instance if you are typing into a numeric control, you wouldn't want the numbers being "captured" for the keyboard shortcut at that time. As you've mentioned, it can be done with the numeric keyboard, but the information that the operating system is sending for those keys is different than the information for the numbers at the top of the keyboard. Just like Microsoft Word blocks you from using regular alpha-numeric keys for shortcuts or even shift-keys, which makes sense since then you couldn't actually type those letters in a document, we need to be very cautious in changing this behavior and not regressing something in the software.
I highly recommend that if you would like this enhancement, you submit it as one in the customer portal. The request may already exist and if so, you can add your "vote" for it, and if not, you can add it so others can vote for it too if it is important to other users.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim,
Since you bring it up, can you have a look at my post here Re: correct way(s) to "Vote" for SPR - SW confirm? I can't seem to get someone to confirm... so I'm asking a bit more directly this time
Rick,
Please excuse my hijack
Paul
Hi Paul,
I saw your bump early today and forwarded to someone at SolidWorks who knows the exact answer, so they should be posting soon with the answer.
Thanks,
Jim
I'll have to agree with Rick on this one. I have been using Solidworks since 1999 and working with parts small and large design trees and with small and large assemblies and for me the rebuild icon is useless in the fact that it doesn't rebuild the entire object, the wait time for the rebuild is nothing compared to the time to fix something else later on. Just my 2 cents worth.
Good to know Jim!
I'm sorry you had to use Keycreator and CADkey.
Scott, I'm not sure of your connection to Cadkey/KeyCreator, but to this day (and almost every day) I could not perform my duties as well as I do them without KeyCreator. SolidWorks sucks at 2D and the DXF output is horrendous.
I'll be sorry if I ever lose access to KeyCreator.
Bottom line is this...
I have many hammers in my toolbox. I use the best hammer for any given task.
(Last I used KC was 2012?) From the perspective of design intent looking back through an inexperienced designers work was such a major pain.
Scott, we must be talking about 2 different software's.
In KC's non history based model how can you get lost. What you see is what you got. Easy Peasy.
I get MAJOR lost and frustrated with other designers SW models. The roll back bar is only a little help. Part Viewer is just a fancy roll back bar. I am baffled at times trying to figure out why someone designs a car only to remove everything but the steering wheel in order to design a steering wheel.
Deepak, your link no longer works.
If memory serves me, and it may not, the macro you posted did not work for me back then. I got the macro that I posted below from some other source that I can't remember where.
Thank you as always Deepak. Your are always willing to help, and that is greatly appreciated.
Rick that site has been taken down. That super-build macro always worked for me. I've upload the one and it was made by Paul Kellner
Thanks for posting this macro. It does work and the Time box at the end is an interesting annoyance.
Deepak, I did a search of my email and found the salient email from 2014 concerning my desire to have a Ctrl-Q toolbar button.
I knew the macro I got from you was not performing correctly because the time it would take to rebuild was too short.
My suspicion was confirmed by my VAR and they fixed the macro.
The fixed macro is the one I posted yesterday in this thread and it has performed perfectly through many versions for three years.
Here is the email that explains what was wrong...
We had Guy take a look at the macro and I believe we found the issue.
The reason the macro was processing so fast was due to it invoking rebuild. (that means that it was only rebuilding the active objects and not the entire tree)
By changing the code to: boolstatus = Part.ForceRebuild3 (False), this will force SolidWorks to rebuild the entire feature tree.
I have attached the updated macro to this e-mail, if you still would like to have a button for it.
I have also tested this macro against using Ctrl+Q on a model that will only show errors if the entire tree is rebuilt.
Running the macro resulted in the same errors in the feature tree, indicating that the entire tree was rebuilt the same as with using Ctrl+Q.
However, the bottom status bar will only show that the macro is running, not the rebuild progress (as is shown when using Ctrl+Q).
Also, running the macro will not allow any rebuild warnings from popping up. (this may be a plus, depending on if you want to be prompted during rebuild or not)
I will close your case now, but I wanted to share this extra information with you, as you had expressed interest in having a forced rebuild button.
So that closes the loop for this issue with the macro.
Still dangling is Dassault thinking users can't possible be trusted to understand the consequences of actually using Ctrl-Q and somehow thinking that having the command be accessible ONLY through a 2-key keyboard shortcut somehow throttles back a user from issuing the command. SMH.
Rick Becker No, I don't think that is a mystery at all. You just have to look at "history". Pun intended.
As I recall, and I'm sure others are going to rebut- but that is good, the hiding of the complete rebuild came along about the time Solid Edge released synchronous technology and was demonstrating how they could make changes to SW models faster than SW could natively. That's when the partial update process started to kick in. Instead up running a complete rebuild (you know to validate that your geometry is valid) you now have the ability to update from the modified feature point in "history". The bad thing about that is that the partial rebuild can still cause issues with previous feature faces and cause invalid solids. See this was a product "enhancement".
I know we have another thread on this. I also know of a company that runs a ton of sheetmetal parts daily from template files. When you configure your assembly and the models get generated everything appears fine. If you were to do a ctrl+q the model fails. ouch.
I don't believe I have invoked this yet (in this thread) and this seems like an apropos time...
ONE and TWO, ONE and TWO, ONE and TWO...
https://forum.solidworks.com/message/714546
Rick,
In regards to your original question, I too use Force Rebuild often enough that I wanted a button to do so. I ended up assigning it to a mouse gesture. If you are unfamiliar with them, they are simply 4 or 8 mouse movements that when combined with a RMB will execute a command you assign to it. This may make it more accessible to you.
The reason I use it a lot is I have found that when editing parameters in an assembly environment, I have found the normal rebuild command often does not update mates in real time. So, I found I had to do a normal sometimes 2 or 3 times before getting the geometry where it should be. Force rebuild more times than not will do this the first time, so long as you can live with the longer rebuild time.
Matt
Hello Matt,
Why not just re-assign it to one button click instead of ctrl+Q....
Alen
I assigned it as a mouse gesture because I found it easier. I have my most used commands (this being one of them) as mouse gestures because I never have to take my eyes off the screen for them. It is a simple flick of the wrist while holding the RMB. With the keyboard shortcuts I find myself having to look away from the screen to be sure I am hitting the right key.
That being said I went through school and CAD training in a time when 3D parametric modeling was the norm. So I am way more comfortable in SW than I am in AutoCAD or any other system. In fact I am so used to working with mouse gestures that I catch myself trying to do them sometimes while working in AutoCAD.
I ended up switching over to DraftSight because it has the dial too..
I would also except that in my job I also am responsible for updating the electrical schematics for all of our in-house machines. I have built a library of symbols that are dynamic blocks and since draftsight does not yet support dynamic blocks I'm stuck with AutoCAD for now.
I am always using CTRL+Q as it seems to fix little quirky issues that a normal rebuild cannot fix. I am using a Office R.A.T. mouse and have the ability to program 10 buttons specifically to SW. One of the buttons is programmed for CTRL+Q and another is to save. Every time I go to save anything it's the CTRL+Q button then the save button. I am not worried about the 1 or 2 seconds that the forced rebuild takes if it saves me from opening up a part or assembly and seeing that it has errors in it when it didn't have any when I saved it.
Dave, try building a large assembly with thousands of parts that takes several minutes to Ctrl+Q rebuild. You will come to realize a desire to have SW just be better and not need a complete rebuild every time you want to save.
Haha! So true! On the part level it is very useful as well as smaller assemblies (<50 components). I was attempting to stress more of having it on a mouse button making it very easy to use.
I never even knew what Ctrl-Q did till I read through this post. Needless to say I have never actually needed it, I guess I am very lucky and very good!
If there is ever a time when you are asking yourself "why didn't that work?" hit CTRL+Q and see if that fixes the problem. It is the first thing I try when something is going sideways.
Perhaps this will be a good request in the ideas section for 2018?
*hint *hint
Just a little SOLIDWORKS trivia here, but as many of you know, keyboard shortcuts are often specific to environment (e.g., Part versus Assembly). That is, a given keyboard shortcut can have different assignments (be assigned to different commands) depending on what type of document is open. And this is absolutely the case with Ctrl+Q...
When you are in a Part, Ctrl+Q is the shortcut for "Force Regen". But when you are in an Assembly, Ctrl+Q is the shortcut for "Force regen the top level assembly". Two different commands.
On the other hand, Ctrl+Shift+Q is, by default, "Force Rebuild All Configurations" in both the Part and Assembly environments.
You can see this by opening the Customize dialog when you are in a Part. Go to the Keyboard tab and search for "force". You'll see this:
Then open an assembly and do the same. You'll see this:
--Tom
Awesome Tom! Thanks for the update.
Good Morning Tom Spine - I think we are seeing a variation of the context sensitivity with this issue -
Is it possible to change Keyboard Shortcuts in Flyout Menus?
Doesn't really bother me, if I am already right-clicking to get the flyout menu, I am going to click on the appropriate command, but I can see how the keystroke saves a bit of time getting to the specific command.
Really interesting seeing how different people use the software - something that is EXTREMELY important to me, might not even be a blip on someone else's radar . . .
todd
That is true Tom, but only for 2017 and up. SolidWorks 2016 SP5.0 does not have a CTRL+Shift +Q rebuild.
Regards,
Seems like this has been beaten like a dead horse but I am for adding this or changing rebuild if it does not do it's intended function. ( 2017+)
Right now I am having to open each part in a assembly and hit control+Q to do a " dirty rebuild"? in order to stop my textures from disappearing when I close a model then open the model. This can not be the intended function can it?
We really should address these problems instead of kicking the can down the road to the " just install this service pack or 2019(latest and greatest, cough cough)"
Guess what? The way to fix the ''dirty template gotcha syndrome'' bug that my VAR suggested was to run one of their program that would open every file, do a CTRL+Q, save it and then close it.
It is what we will do when we move to 2018 tough..
I heard that you are in trouble with ctrl + q shortcut.
I believe my firm, Dewdrop, Cheatem & Hold'mUp, ltd, inc., can help you. Either me, or one of my Top Rated Associates, will be pleased to come to your site and retrieve your file.
As you know, the data in our files are priceless. A price cannot be put on successfully modeling a file of this importance. We have the most advanced tools and methods possible to help you.
Just send me First Class Airfare to your destination. Arrange for ground transportation along with accommodations at the closest 4-Star hotel. A small daily stipend will be required for food and necessary accoutrements. Tipping is not required, but is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see you soon.
ooooo competition Rick Becker
ömür tokman wrote:
I heard that you are in trouble with ctrl + q shortcut.
I believe my firm, Dewdrop, Cheatem & Hold'mUp, ltd, inc., can help you. Either me, or one of my Top Rated Associates, will be pleased to come to your site and retrieve your file.
As you know, the data in our files are priceless. A price cannot be put on successfully modeling a file of this importance. We have the most advanced tools and methods possible to help you.
Just send me First Class Airfare to your destination. Arrange for ground transportation along with accommodations at the closest 4-Star hotel. A small daily stipend will be required for food and necessary accoutrements. Tipping is not required, but is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see you soon.
Plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery!
"Plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery!"
google translate can not translate this post.
I do not understand good or bad.
I wanted to make a joke.
I apologize if I pissed off.
Rick
Not a problem Omur. I liked your joke. All is good.
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Welcome to SOLIDWORKS forums Rick.
Why you need a toolbar button? Can't you use the keyboard shortcut?
There is no icon for force rebuild but in case you still need a button, then you can make a force rebuild macro and assign a button to that macro.
Here is a SuperRebuild macro, download from this post: https://forum.solidworks.com/message/712119#comment-712119
You might also find this post helpful for your future reference.