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SolidWorks

Book Review: SolidWorks for Dummies

8 Dec, 2005 By: Ron LaFon

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An easy-to-read guide with lots of tips; includes CD-ROM with multimedia tutorials.

Author: Greg Jankowski
Publisher: Wiley Publishing – For Dummies Series (2005)
Pages: 342
Price: $29.99

SolidWorks for Dummies is the first of the For Dummies series of books on 3D mechanical design. Using the conversational tone that the books are known for, SolidWorks for Dummies guides you through the basics of how SolidWorks works and helps you plan your designs and create parts and assemblies. It has lots of screen captures to help illustrate the concepts as well as lots of tips and asides on things you'll need to know and understand.

SolidWorks for Dummies is the first in the For Dummies series of books on 3D mechanical design.

Novices can feel daunted by SolidWorks, so a friendly book that helps with the basics and teaches ways to establish good work habits is a welcome addition to the technical library. SolidWorks for Dummies is divided into sections of chapters, including Beginning the SolidWorks Journey, Design Intent and the Virtual Prototype, and Playing Nicely with Others (and Picking Up Your Toys).

The last section of the book is The Part of Tens, which includes three chapters each covering ten tips: Ten Tips for Becoming More Proficient with SolidWorks, Ten Ways to Extend and Reuse Your Design Information and Ten Resources for the SolidWorks Community. A tear-out SolidWorks For Dummies cheat sheet is bound in the front of the book.

The SolidWorks application is packaged in several different ways with features unlocked depending upon the license acquired. SolidWorks for Dummies covers SolidWorks Office Premium (the complete version), so it covers some advanced components and touches on the new features found in SolidWorks 2006.

Greg Jankowski, SolidWorks customer satisfaction manager and Cadalyst columnist, authored SolidWorks for Dummies. Whether you're a SolidWorks novice or a seasoned professional reviewing features that you seldom use, this book is a valuable and well-written resource.

The book is available at www.solidworks.com/dummies.