We are regularly asked how to improve the performance of Solid Edge. The vast majority of performance issues can be improved by doing one of the following:

• Improve the performance of your computer
• Check your Solid Edge data for errors
• Take the Advanced Assembly course

Let’s look at these different topics in some detail.

Improve the performance of your computer

A slow computer equates to slow program performance. Below are some tips that have proven successful with our customer base. Before doing these on your computer, please check with your IT department or get your manager’s approval.

1.Clean out your windows temp folder.

To do this, you want to delete all the files in the C:\Users\[username]\AppData\ Local\Temp folder. Where [username] is the name that you use to log in to windows. You will need administrator privileges.

Note: If you can't find the AppData folder, you have to go to the View tab and select Options. In the Folder Options dialog, go to the View tab and make sure that you toggle on the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option.

Select all the files in the temp folder using the Ctrl+A keys, and then hit the Delete key. You’ll be prompted with the following message:

Click Yes. Don’t worry, Windows will not let you delete any files that it still needs. If Windows still requires a file, you will get the following message:

Toggle on the “Do this for all current items” option and click Skip.

If Windows still requires a folder, you will get the following message:

Toggle on the “Do this for all current items” option and click Skip.

Note: Once this task is complete, I would suggest that you also empty your Recycle Bin.

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2.Defrag your hard drives.

Windows will automatically defrag on a regular basis. However, Windows defragging is fairly tame or unaggressive. Check with your IT department, they may have a more robust defrag application which will yield better results.

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3.Get rid of malware.

If you’re connected to the Internet, there are many ways that your computer can get infected with malware. Most companies have installed software to protect against malware, but this is only effective if you keep it up to date, and run regular scans.

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4.Keep your drivers up to date.

This becomes obvious when new versions of software are installed. Especially with graphic performance. Keeping your graphic card, and hardware, drivers up to date will eliminate most of these issues.

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5.Check network connectivity.

If you’re running across a network to access your licenses, data, macros, or any other related files, you want to ensure that the network speed is optimized. This should be done by an experienced IT professional. If you would like to attempt it yourself, there are numerous sites on the Internet that can assist you in checking and optimizing your network connectivity.

Check your Solid Edge data for errors

We’ve all heard the old saying “garbage in, garbage out”. This also applies to any CAD assembly structure. We receive many assembly based inquiries on our tech line. When there is a perceived performance issue we often obtain a copy of the assembly from the customer. We then attempt to repeat the problem and rectify it or report it to Siemens. The vast majority of issues can be remedied by simply cleaning or fixing the data. Some of the more common issues we discover and fix include:

• Broken links/ missing files
• Failed or conflicting relationships
• Files that have not been updated
• Features with profile problems
• Failed features

Solid Edge provides several tools to check and repair your assembly data. For example: The Errors command on the Tools tab>Assistants group.

The Errors command tracks items in parts and assemblies that have failed to re-compute properly, so you can fix them. The Errors command prevents such changes from causing unnoticed problems in your Solid Edge documents, and makes it easier to find, evaluate, and fix the errors.

Other commands that are useful for detecting and fixing problems in Solid Edge are:

• Assembly Relationship Manager
• Component Tracker
• Inter-part Manager
• Repair Missing Files
• Design Manager (formerly known as Revision Manager)
• Drawing View Tracker

If you are not aware of these tools, or don’t know how to use them, I strongly suggest that you read up on them in the Solid Edge Help section, or attend an Advanced Assembly course.

These issues are unfortunately created by the user, or one of his/her colleagues. They are frustrating to the user and equally frustrating to us, because they are preventable with proper training and proper data management. Which leads me to my last topic.

Take the Advanced Assembly course

Users who attend this course, will not only learn how to detect and fix common problems, but will learn proper techniques on how to avoid these problems. Furthermore, they are taught many time saving methods and processes which will streamline the creation of assemblies and improve the overall efficiency of working with assemblies. The proper initial creation of an assembly model will save time downstream, when the assembly is used, or revised, by others in your company.Users who have attended this course have far less problems and therefore spend more time modelling.

If you would like to learn more about the Advanced Assembly course, please visit our technical training page at http://www.designfusion.com/training or contact your Account Manager.

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