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(continued...) Associated design documents can also be managed from within SolidWorks files.
A design binder entry in the feature manager enables other files such as Word or Excel documents to be embedded or linked to the current model document.
By default a blank design journal item only is listed.
This does not add to the file size until it is activated by double click opening to inserting content such as model image grabs from the clipboard.
The template can be customised to include custom properties.
Post-it style text or voice comments can be added and time stamped on any feature manager items to annotate design intent.
Theses can be accessed from the right click menu on the relevant feature or in a Comments folder at the top of the history tree where all comments are collected together.
As the range of functions continues to expand, there is a risk that SolidWorks' recognised ease of use is compromised by the sheer number of commands.
The interface can now be customised to provide industry specific subsets of functionality, hiding menus that are not generally used in the selected industry.
This workflow customisation is currently grouped as consumer product design including surfacing, machine design with sheet metal and weldments and mould design that includes surface and mould commands.