Searching the Help in SOLIDWORKS Composer

Greetings, users of SOLIDWORKS Composer! In our previous article we explained how to access the Help for SOLIDWORKS Composer.

In this article, we explain how to get the keyword search function working in the Help.  The difference it makes in our productivity is like night and day when we can filter for results based on keywords:

Once the search function works, it can make a huge difference.  So say we all!

To get this working, we will need Internet Explorer and the Java plug-in (32-bit version)

Simply because keyword search requires the Java plug-in, which requires the Internet Explorer browser.  The workflow in this article was originally tested using Internet Explorer version 11.

NOTE that Microsoft has terminated support for Internet Explorer in 2016.

The steps are as follows:

1. Review and perform the relevant solutions in the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base (active support subscription required).   By searching with keywords “Composer help” we find the following relevant solutions.  Ensure that these Knowledge Base solutions have been implemented as needed:
   • S-070901
   • S-072112
   • S-071015
2. Regarding the above solutions, the Java version we want to install is the 32-bit version, not the 64-bit.  The 64-bit version may help with other applications, but for this we need the 32-bit. Per the footnote in the image below, 32-bit and 64-bit versions can be installed and used interchangeably, with both enabled at the same time.  So it’s off to here we go, based on a web search for “download Java 32-bit“:
   

   The Java 32-bit version, which we need to search the help in SOLIDWORKS Composer.

3. Once we initiate a keyword search for the first time in SOLIDWORKS Composer Help, we may not see results initially.  Look for this query, which should have appeared on one of the monitors:
   

   This query can be found on one of the monitors the first time we initiate a keyword search

4. Choose Run to proceed (after checking the box “Do not show again…”), and the search results should appear now.

Learn more SOLIDWORKS Composer tips and tricks in our SOLIDWORKS Composer Essentials course!