In the world of computer-aided design (CAD), presentation and visualization are crucial aspects of the design process. SolidWorks, a widely-used CAD software, offers various features to help engineers and designers effectively manage the appearance of their models. One such feature is Display States.

What are Display States?

Display States in SolidWorks are a powerful tool used to control the appearance of components in an assembly or parts in a part document without affecting the actual geometry or design of the models. Display States allow users to show or hide components, change colors or transparency, adjust line styles, and switch between different display modes, all within the same configuration.

Importance of Display States in Design Workflow

Display States offer several benefits in streamlining the design workflow and improving overall productivity:

1. Simplify Model Visualization: Display States help users to focus on specific components or areas of their models, making it easier to understand complex assemblies or part documents.
2. Enhance Design Review and Presentation: By customizing the appearance of models, designers can effectively communicate their ideas and design intent to clients, colleagues, or other stakeholders during design reviews and presentations.
3. Reduce File Size and Improve Performance: By hiding unnecessary components or adjusting display properties, users can reduce file size and improve the performance of their SolidWorks documents.
4. Maintain Design Integrity: Display States enable users to make visual changes to their models without altering the actual design, ensuring that the geometry and dimensions remain consistent across all configurations.

 

Getting Started with Display States

To effectively use Display States in SolidWorks, it’s essential to understand how to access, create, and manage them. In this section, we’ll walk you through the basics of working with Display States.

Accessing Display States in SolidWorks

To access Display States in SolidWorks, follow these steps:

1. Open an assembly or part document in SolidWorks.
2. In the FeatureManager Design Tree, locate the ConfigurationManager tab (usually positioned next to the PropertyManager tab).
3. Click on the ConfigurationManager tab to access the Display States section, which is typically located at the bottom of the ConfigurationManager tree.

Here, you can view the existing Display States for your document and access various options related to Display States.

Creating a New Display State

To create a new Display State, follow these steps:

1. In the Display States section of the ConfigurationManager tab, right-click on an existing Display State or the empty space.
2. Select ‘Add Display State’ from the context menu. A new Display State will be created and added to the list.
3. Double-click the newly created Display State to activate it.

Now, you can start customizing the appearance of your model within the new Display State.

Renaming and Deleting Display States

To keep your Display States organized, it’s a good practice to give them descriptive names. To rename a Display State:

1. In the Display States section of the ConfigurationManager tab, click once on the Display State you wish to rename.
2. Wait for a moment, and then click on the name again. Alternatively, you can right-click on the Display State and choose ‘Rename Display State’ from the context menu.
3. Type in the new name and press Enter.

To delete a Display State:

1. In the Display States section of the ConfigurationManager tab, right-click on the Display State you want to remove.
2. Choose ‘Delete Display State’ from the context menu. Confirm the deletion if prompted.

Please note that deleting a Display State is irreversible, so make sure you no longer need it before proceeding.

Now that you know how to access, create, rename, and delete Display States, you can start customizing your model’s appearance and leveraging the power of Display States in your design workflow.

Managing the Appearance of Components and Parts

Once you have created a new Display State, you can customize the appearance of components and parts in your SolidWorks assembly or part document. This section will guide you through the various ways to control the visibility and display modes, as well as adjust colors, transparency, and line styles.

Controlling Visibility and Display Modes

Hiding and Showing Components

To hide or show components in a Display State, follow these steps:

1. Activate the desired Display State by double-clicking on it in the ConfigurationManager tab.
2. In the graphics area or the FeatureManager Design Tree, right-click on the component you want to hide or show.
3. In the context menu, hover over ‘Hide/Show’ and choose ‘Hide Component’ or ‘Show Component’ as needed. The visibility change will be applied only to the active Display State.

Changing Display Modes

SolidWorks offers various display modes, such as Shaded, Shaded with Edges, Wireframe, and Hidden Lines Removed. To change the display mode for components within a Display State, follow these steps:

1. Activate the desired Display State.
2. Right-click on the component you want to change the display mode for, either in the graphics area or the FeatureManager Design Tree.
3. In the context menu, hover over ‘Change Display Mode’ and choose the desired display mode from the list.

Adjusting Color, Transparency, and Line Styles

Applying Colors to Components or Faces

To change the color of a component or face within a Display State, follow these steps:

1. Activate the desired Display State.
2. Right-click on the component or face you want to change the color for.
3. In the context menu, choose ‘Appearances,’ then select either ‘Component’ or ‘Face’ (for assemblies) or ‘Body’ or ‘Face’ (for part documents).
4. In the Appearance PropertyManager, choose the desired color and adjust other appearance properties as needed. Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.

Setting Transparency Levels

To adjust the transparency level of a component, follow these steps:

1. Activate the desired Display State.
2. Right-click on the component you want to adjust the transparency for.
3. In the context menu, choose ‘Transparency’ to toggle between opaque and transparent states. You can further adjust the transparency level in the Appearance PropertyManager by selecting ‘Appearances’ and then ‘Component’ (for assemblies) or ‘Body’ (for part documents).

 

Modifying Line Styles

Advanced Display State Techniques

After mastering the basics of Display States, you can further enhance your SolidWorks experience by exploring advanced techniques. This section will introduce you to advanced Display State properties, linking Display States to configurations, and using Display States in drawings.

Configuring Display State Properties

You can configure Display State properties to control how certain aspects of the display are managed. To access these properties, follow these steps:

1. In the ConfigurationManager tab, right-click on a Display State.
2. Choose ‘Properties’ from the context menu.

In the Display State Properties dialog box, you can configure options such as:

• Use Display State: Choose between using the selected Display State or the parent configuration’s Display State.
• Hide all components in new Display States: Automatically hide all components when a new Display State is created.
• Link Display State to configurations: Link a Display State to a specific configuration, so it’s only available when that configuration is active.

 

Linking Display States to Configurations

You can link a Display State to a specific configuration so that it is only available when that configuration is active. To link a Display State to a configuration, follow these steps:

1. Access the Display State Properties dialog box, as described in the previous section.
2. Check the box next to ‘Link Display State to configurations.’
3. Choose the desired configuration from the drop-down list.

After linking a Display State to a configuration, you can switch between configurations to see how the appearance of your model changes based on the active Display State.

 

Using Display States in Drawings

Display States can also be used in SolidWorks drawings to control the appearance of views. To use a Display State in a drawing, follow these steps:

1. Open a drawing and insert a view of your assembly or part.
2. Click on the view to select it.
3. In the PropertyManager, locate the ‘Display State’ section.
4. Choose the desired Display State from the drop-down list.

The selected Display State will be applied to the drawing view, allowing you to present your model with the desired appearance settings.

Tips and Best Practices for Display States in SolidWorks

To make the most of Display States in SolidWorks and optimize your design workflow, consider the following tips and best practices:

Organizing Display States for Efficiency

Keep your Display States organized by giving them descriptive names and grouping related Display States together. This makes it easier to locate and switch between them during design reviews or presentations.

Utilizing Display States for Different Purposes

Display States can be used for various purposes, such as:

• Examining internal components by hiding exterior parts or making them transparent.
• Comparing different color schemes, material finishes, or textures without creating separate configurations.
• Creating exploded views or section views that highlight specific components or features.
• Simplifying complex assemblies for performance improvement by hiding or displaying components in different display modes.

Combining Display States with Configurations

Make use of both Display States and configurations to manage different aspects of your design. Use configurations to control the geometry, dimensions, and features of your model, while using Display States to manage the appearance and visibility of components. This helps maintain a clear separation between design changes and appearance adjustments.

Leveraging Display States for Design Review and Presentation

Use Display States to emphasize specific components, hide unnecessary parts, or highlight design features during design reviews or presentations. By tailoring the appearance of your model for each audience, you can better communicate your design intent and make it easier for others to understand your work.

Troubleshooting Common Display State Issues

If you encounter issues with Display States, such as components not appearing correctly or Display States not updating as expected, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

• Ensure you have the correct Display State active before making changes to the appearance or visibility of components.
• Verify that there are no conflicts between Display States and part-level appearances or display settings.
• Check if the Display State is linked to a specific configuration and ensure the correct configuration is active.

Conclusion

Harnessing the Power of Display States in SolidWorks to Streamline Your Design Process

Display States in SolidWorks are a powerful tool that enables users to control the appearance of components and parts without affecting the underlying geometry or design. By mastering Display States, you can improve your design workflow by simplifying model visualization, enhancing design reviews and presentations, and maintaining design integrity.

In this comprehensive guide, we covered the basics of accessing, creating, and managing Display States, as well as techniques to control visibility, display modes, colors, transparency, and line styles. We also discussed advanced techniques, such as configuring Display State properties, linking Display States to configurations, and using Display States in drawings.

By implementing the tips and best practices shared in this guide, you can harness the power of Display States to streamline your design process and effectively communicate your ideas and design intent with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.