Extended display with two solidworks screens

Hello

Having a station with two screens I want to use them under Solidworks.

There is the extended display option that allows you to display solidworks on both screens but it is really not the best in terms of ergonomics.

Let me explain: I would like to have two solidworks windows open (one per screen) with all the solidworks features available on each screen (as if I had two open Sw licenses)

The extended display mode allows you to have for example an open room on screen 1 and assembly on screen 2 but the SW functions are only available on one of the two screens so not very practical. and PDM functions are available on the other display. therefore even less practical

See the screen shot which shows a view of my two screens.

If anyone has an idea....

 

Thank you.


capture_bi_ecran.jpg
1 Like

Then, it is possible to open 2 SW sessions simultaneously BUT:
- the second session does not benefit from automatic saving;
- If you open an assembly in one session and modify parts of this assembly in the other, it will quickly be a disaster. At the very least, subject to great rigor during use, you open, in read-only mode, the assembly in the second session and work in the main session.

Namely that I have never tested all this with EPDM...

In a pragmatic way, I don't see much of a solution other than to open an improvement ticket on SW's site and pray that it happens quickly. It would indeed be interesting to have the panels linked to the active window.

I just tested: it's possible to detach the task panel to make it float but you can't anchor it to the left, for example, and it hides the feature manager, so you have to walk it around as needed.

4 Likes

Thank you for this first approach.

I would not like to open two sessions but rather "split" it into two because with two sessions it may sooner or later create problems.

For the floating panel: indeed but as you say you have to walk it around

For a long time I was used to working under microstation 95 with 2 screens (which microstation managed better than any other design software at the time), I had to get rid of this habit under solidworks which manages it rather badly in my opinion.

The 2nd screen is therefore there for another 2D software, excel, Word, Internet or other solidworks to open another assembly.

But in no case do I work a session on the 2 screens because it's really not great...

2 Likes

 The fact that the second screen is not properly managed is unfortunate.....

They advocate saving time, with two screens the gain is there.

Do you have something other than "extend the display" as an option?

Hello flaheurte,

At my level you can only open SolidWorks in extended on 2 screens it works well, so to have open windows in the extended opening, you open your 2 parts windows or MEP or Asm, you cascade them and then you adjust the window in each screen so that it is visible as you wish, and you'll see that every time you click the desired window, the display of your toolbars follows depending on whether it's an MEP or part or ASM.

Here I am, do it like this, it's not the best solution to your problem but I don't know a better one...

I can't take screenshots for you, my pc is being processed tomorrow I'll make you one, try it and let me know thank you @+.

AR

2 Likes

Hello again,

Here are my screenshots on 2 screens and it works very well, take a look and tell me if it's okay with you.

To be continued.

@+.

AR


2020-11-17_161549.jpg

Here's another one

... To be continued


2020-11-17_161526.jpg

And the last one

Keep me informed if it suits you or not.

Thank you @+.

AR


2020-11-17_161453.jpg

Hello

Thank you for this information.

In principle, yes, it does work.

But I don't find the display super practical.

Let me explain:

Let's say left screen the part and right screen the assembly

When I work on the part so on the left I have the SW shaft at hand as well as the sketch functions etc  but not the pdm functions (on the right screen)

When I work on the assembly I only have the pdm functions at hand) the rest is on the left screen

So I'm always forced to go back and forth between screen 1 and 2 to get the functions I need.

 

Ideally I would have liked if I work on screen 1 the bars to be on screen 1 and vice versa.

This is hardly possible since the toolbars/ribbon are linked to the software window and not to the document panels.

2 Likes

Hello

Yes That's the problem indeed.

It would have been much more convenient in my opinion. I was wondering if anyone had found that kind of option.

I'm going to make a request directly to SW you never know.

In any case, thank you all for your help.

1 Like

Hello flaheurte,

just to tell you that you have to close your question, if your problem is solved... To be continued @+.

AR.

Clearly agree with @flaheurte! It's impossible to work on 2 screens with SW. Well, in theory, yes, but in practice, never in life.

It's a shame, knowing that other software does it very well!

1 Like

Hello

I confirm 2 screens and solidworks it makes... 3....

However, there is still a way to reduce the inconvenience of tools on a single screen, by creating copies of the toolbars (or characters), the copies can then be anchored or floating on the other screen.

1 Like

In spite of the drought and the earth as hard as a pebble @a.chenot has managed to dig up.

Kind regards

1 Like

And at the same time it allows you to realize that since time no effort has been made to make solidworks truly multi-screen!! ...

3 Likes

You're right @Sylk  especially since it's even worse than that because the windows are not independent of each other.

For example, opens a sketch of a part in a window and opens a sketch of another part in another window.

Also the "Measure" window that prevents you from working until it is closed. ETC... ETC...

Whereas the philosophy of Windows is precisely multi-windowing.

In short, we waste a lot of time with this.

2 Likes

So of course it is possible to open several instances of Solidworks, it can be useful and practical but it has its limits and can be a source of bugs under certain conditions.


swx2.png

Hello

The problem with the menus is a false problem in the sense that SW allows you to have menus with the mouse, like the custom shortcut bar (which I bring up with an "S" shortcut) or the other menu (which I don't use) "mouse movements". in any case it displays a type of functions according to the type of file (as, part or MEP) and nothing prevents you from modifying these menus according to your habits.

 

Kind regards


menus.png