1. In this chapter, you will learn the following:
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
In this chapter, you will learn the following:
Installing SOLIDWORKS
Getting Started with SOLIDWORKS
Invoking the New SOLIDWORKS Documents
Invoking the Part Modeling Environment
Invoking the Assembly Environment
Invoking the Drawing Environment
Identifying SOLIDWORKS Documents
Invoking a Shortcut Menu
Customizing the Context Toolbar
Customizing the CommandManager
Working with Mouse Gestures
Saving Documents
Opening Existing Documents

2. Installing SOLIDWORKS
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Installing SOLIDWORKS
Operating Systems: Windows 10 or Windows 7 SP bit
RAM: 8 GB or more (16 GB or more recommended)
Disk Space: 10 GB or more
Processor: 3.3 GHz or higher
Graphics Card: SOLIDWORKS certified graphics card drivers
For more information about the system requirement for SOLIDWORKS, visit SOLIDWORKS website at

3. Getting Started with SOLIDWORKS
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Getting Started with SOLIDWORKS
Once the SOLIDWORKS 2019 is installed on your system, start SOLIDWORKS 2019 by double-clicking on the SOLIDWORKS 2019 icon on the desktop of your system.

4. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
If you are starting SOLIDWORKS for the first time after installing the software, the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement window appears. Click on the Accept button in the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement window to accept the license agreement and start SOLIDWORKS 2019.

5. Invoking a New SOLIDWORKS Documents
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Invoking a New SOLIDWORKS Documents
The new SOLIDWORKS documents such as Part modeling environment, Assembly environment, and Drawing environment can be invoked by using the Part, Assembly, and Drawing buttons of the Welcome dialog box, respectively.
Invoking the Part Modeling Environment
To invoke the Part modeling environment, click on the Part button in the Welcome dialog box. The Part modeling environment gets invoked and the startup user interface of the Part modeling environment appears.

6. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS

7. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Alternatively, to invoke the Part modeling environment, click on the New tool in the Standard toolbar. The New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box appears.

8. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
If you are invoking the Part modeling environment for the first time after installing the software, the Units and Dimension Standard dialog box appears.

9. Standard Toolbar SOLIDWORKS Menus SOLIDWORKS Search
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Some of the components of the startup user interface are discussed next.
Standard Toolbar
SOLIDWORKS Menus
SOLIDWORKS Search

10. CommandManager Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Some of the CommandManagers of the Part modeling environment are discussed next.
Features CommandManager

11. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Sketch CommandManager

12. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Evaluate CommandManager
The tools in the Evaluate CommandManager are used for evaluating the model by measuring entities, calculating mass properties, checking the tangent or curvature continuity, performing draft analysis, calculating section properties, performing geometry analysis, and so on.

13. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Surfaces CommandManager
The Surfaces CommandManager is provided with different sets of tools that are used for creating surface models.

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15. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Sheet Metal CommandManager

16. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Weldments CommandManager

17. FeatureManager Design Tree
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
FeatureManager Design Tree
FeatureManager Design Tree appears on the left of the graphics area and keeps a record of all operations or features used for creating a model.

18. View (Heads-Up) Toolbar
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
View (Heads-Up) Toolbar
The View (Heads-Up) toolbar is available at the top center of the graphics area
Status Bar
The Status Bar is available at the bottom of the graphics area and provides information about the action to be taken based on the currently active tool.

19. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Task Pane

20. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS Resources
Some of the options of the SOLIDWORKS Resources Task Pane are discussed next.
Welcome to SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS Tools
Online Resources
Design Library
The Design Library Task Pane is used for accessing SOLIDWORKS design library, toolbox components, 3D Content Central, and SOLIDWORKS Content.
Appearances, Scenes, and Decals
The Appearances, Scenes, and Decals Task Pane is used for changing or modifying the appearance of the model and the graphics display area.

21. Invoking the Assembly Environment
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Invoking the Assembly Environment
To invoke the Assembly environment, click on the Assembly button in the Welcome dialog box. The Assembly environment is invoked with the display of the Open dialog box along with the Begin Assembly PropertyManager.

22. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Assembly CommandManager
The Assembly CommandManager is provided with different sets of tools that are used for inserting components in the assembly environment, applying mates between the inserted components, creating exploded views, pattern, and so on.

23. Invoking the Drawing Environment
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Invoking the Drawing Environment
To invoke the Drawing environment, click on the New tool in the Standard toolbar. The New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box appears. In this dialog box, click on the Drawing button and then click on the OK button. The Sheet Format/Size dialog box appears.

24. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Once you have defined the sheet size and format in the Sheet Format/Size dialog box, click on the OK button. The startup user interface of the Drawing environment appears with the display of the Model View PropertyManager on the left of the drawing sheet.

25. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
View Layout CommandManager
The View Layout CommandManager is provided with different sets of tools that are used for creating different drawing views such as orthogonal views, section views, and detail views.

26. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Annotation CommandManager
The Annotation CommandManager is provided with different sets of tools that are used for applying dimensions, note, surface/welding symbols, create BOM, and so on.

27. Identifying SOLIDWORKS Documents
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Identifying SOLIDWORKS Documents
The documents created in different environments (Part, Assembly, and Drawing) of SOLIDWORKS have different file extensions, see the table given below:

28. Invoking a Shortcut Menu
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Invoking a Shortcut Menu
A shortcut menu invokes when you right-click in the graphics area. It provides quick access to the most frequently used tools such as Zoom to Fit, Zoom In/Out, and Pan.

29. Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
A shortcut menu also contains the Context toolbar. Note that the availability of the tools in the Context toolbar and the shortcut menu depends on the entity selected to invoke the shortcut menu.

30. Customizing the Context Toolbar
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Customizing the Context Toolbar
In addition to the display of default tools in the Context toolbar of a shortcut menu, you can also customize it to add frequently used tools.

31. Customizing the CommandManager
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Customizing the CommandManager
In addition to the default set of tools in a CommandManager, you can customize to add more, as required.

32. Working with Mouse Gestures
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Working with Mouse Gestures
Mouse Gestures act as a shortcut to quickly access the frequently used tools. To display the Mouse Gestures, press and hold the right mouse button in the graphics area and then drag the cursor to a small distance.

33. Opening Existing Documents
Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Saving Documents
To save a document created in any of the environments of SOLIDWORKS, click on the Save tool in the Standard toolbar or click on File > Save in the SOLIDWORKS Menus. The Save As dialog box appears. Enter the name of the document in the File name field of the dialog box and then browse to the location where you want to save the document. Next, click on the Save button.
Opening Existing Documents
To open an existing SOLIDWORKS Document, click on the Open button in the Welcome dialog box. Alternatively, click on the Open tool in the Standard toolbar or click on File > Open in the SOLIDWORKS Menus.

34. Summary Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
In this chapter, you have learned about system requirements for installing SOLIDWORKS. You have also learned how to invoke different SOLIDWORKS environments, identifying SOLIDWORKS documents, various components of the startup user interface of SOLIDWORKS, invoking and customizing the shortcut menu, saving documents, and opening documents in SOLIDWORKS.

35. Questions Chapter 1: Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
The surface modeling environment and the Sheet Metal environment of SOLIDWORKS can be invoked within the ________ environment.
The file extension of the documents created in the Part modeling environment is ________, the Assembly environment is ________, and the Drawing environment is ________.
The Features CommandManager is provided with different sets of tools that are used for creating ________ .
In SOLIDWORKS, you can open IGES and STEP files. (True/False).
The FeatureManager Design Tree is used for keeping a record of all operations/features in an order. (True/False)