SWX to WF$

[Seagt]

Hello guys-

I've been a SolidWorks user for many, many years. ('94) I mainly do
packaging designs. Sheet metal assy's etc.

Anyway, I have an opportunity at a new company and they use WF4.

Any power swx users switch to pro and have issues? I've seen Pro, and
besides the backwards way of thinking, and clunky menus it seems pretty
cool!

Should I have that hard of a time transitioning? I'd love to show up and be
productive.. I don't see that happening however.


Thanks for the input!

 

[KrisR]

I just transitioned as of Feb. 20th and really miss SW. Pro E 5 is missing a lot of the "common sense" things that I've seen in three other packages I've used: Catia, SW, and Inventor.


Being able to sketch automatically when choosing a function instead of having to tell Pro to sketch, being able to fillet and chanfer in assemblies is NOT an option in Pro 5, and the CONSTANT click click click to do simple things is really annoying. I do not like Pro E and it's un-user-friendly interface at all.


Pro used to be (I think) a Unix only program, and it really shows when using it on Windows. Options are not GUI based as in Windows - they are command based - you have to know the command (typed out long hand) or search for it in the command manager.


Pro E will not remember your window size options, either. You either get it maximized or the Pro E default size. SInce it wasUnix based, it does notremember a custom window size if you set it.Everything you have open in Pro takes an additional "window". They do notopen up in the same window. They are all under the same process, though, in WIndows.


All in all I'd give anything to go to another modeling program. I do not like Pro whatsoever.

 

[KrisR]

Also, there is no auto save option available in Pro. And you CANNOT save a model while in a sketch - you can only save the sketch. If you wish to save the entire model you have to exit out of the sketch.


The Pro forums can be really slow to respond, as well. I'm used to SW and Inventor forums where you could expect a reply in about an hour if you posted on the forums. Here, it make take days. You're better off contacting PTC if you need assitance.


I have had a very hard time understanding tech support at PTC when I have had to contact them. They are based out of the USA and the accents of the support staff are very thick. I usually tell support not tocall me, but to reply via email. It's quite frustrating when you cannot understand the support staff.


One thing that takes a REALLY long time to get used to is long right clkcing in Pro. There is no short right click. You have to click and hold.
Edited by: KrisR

 

[dgs]

I use both, but have a lot more experience with Pro/E.
WF4 is a somewhat older version, there have been two
versions since, WF5 and the new Creo 1.0, and Creo. 2.0
is due out this month.

I've seen SW users get into Pro/E and, over time, come to
love and prefer it, while others hate it. A lot depends
on the kind of geometry you're dealing with. We tend to
deal with a lot of advanced surfacing here and our SW
users who end up using Pro/E come to appreciate the depth
of its capabilities and the control it gives the user
over the geometry.

SW seems to be built around an assumed work flow and has
paid quite a bit of attention to detail in how the
functions work. Pro/E,on then other hand, seems to be
built with flexibility in mind, allowing the user to use
whatever workflow suit them or the situation. This means
that it takes more input from the user to get things done
as the software isn't anticipating their next move based
on a presumed workflow. The up side is more flexibility
to do things the way that works best for you. When I use
SW, I feel like the software is fighting me at times,
trying to make me work its way rather than letting me
work mine. They also haven't paid as much attention to
the details of the UI, working to make things smoother
and easier. Newer releases, Creo 1.0 and up in
particular, are much better.

In terms of the user community, the folks here at
MCADCentral are great, but this is not the largest, most
experienced Pro/E user community. Go to ptcuser.org and
register there. The forums there are better used as an
email list, but there are hundreds of members there and
many with 10, 15 or 20 years of experience win Pro/E
(I've been on Pro/E since 1996, release 16) I ask a
question there and get a response in minutes to hours.