In our process of getting the CAD data to the shop floor for processing we use the 2DEditor to do some cleanup on our flat layouts of sheet metal parts. We also have the need to print the Autocad files that we get from customers. Two years ago I was asked to beta test the ‘new’ 2D editor that SolidWorks was changing to. I agreed and was initially impressed with the slick user interface but when I actually tried to use the product in production I found that it would not print correctly and the procedure for writing a DXF file that included only selected entities was over complicated by the lack of a command line DXFOUT /v/e (v – version, e – entities). As a matter of fact there was no apparent way to select entities for inclusion in the DXF file. As a dutiful beta tester I reported all these issues.
As this was going on I was wondering why the change. The old DwgEditor did all we needed to do and did it very well. But I guess some people were actually drawing in the product and maybe the change was needed to get some functionality. But I actually believe it was licensing issue that drove the change. DwgEditor which is now called 2Deditor is actually Intellicad just re-branded with all the SolidWorks logos.
To continue the story lets jump to earlier this year with the release of DraftSight. All of our inboxes were flooded with invitations to download the newest iteration of Dessault Systemes’ 2D editor. Thinking that at least the printing issue was resolved I downloaded the program and installed it. I even went so far as to register on the online community that was set up for DraftSight. I was excited to check out the program by trying to print some .DWG files we received from a customer. Guess what, the printing still does not work! I have a hard time understanding what’s going on with the printing. I set all the options the way I need them and take a look at the preview and everything looks great. But when I hit the print button, I get either a postage size image of the drawing or a blank page from the printer. How can the print preview look fine but the output be wrong? I thought that’s what the print preview was for!
Reading the comments on the forums I see that this is a common problem, in fact very few individuals are able to print. The solution is to write out a PDF file and then print it...you got to be kidding. I left some comments on the forum about my issues with the program and have had no official response from the developers but the moderator did say that they were aware of the problem and working hard to resolve it.
To finish the story, a new beta was released last week with no explanation other than some bug fixes were instituted. I downloaded it thinking surely that I would be able to print an existing DWG file but no I have the same problem with the new beta. Looking at the forums I see that I’m not the only one with the printing problem. Poking around on the website I found a video that shows you how to print from model space (which is what I was trying to do). I watched the video and performed the exact same steps and not only did I get a blank page out of the printer the paper size was incorrect also.
I realize that this software is labeled as BETA and I have no right to complain about everything not working correctly but the basic function of printing a drawing? Come on guys!
There is a silver lining in all this, you can still download the 2Deditor from the SolidWorks website and it prints just fine. I hope that a BETA III will be coming down the line shortly and we’ll all be happy campers again.