I am sure there are many threads on this and I dont want it to become a bag session I was curious if those who use both applications could point out what specifically (top two or three) things they like about each, see you don't even have to mention the negative.

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"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
~ Stephen Wright

Do a search it'll answer 99.999999% of your questions. But I'm bored so here's my answer. The last IV I used was 6 so can't compare them. Things I like about SW. #1 in my neck of the woods there are more SW then IV jobs. #2 is configurations.

Pro:
SW configuration, able to do lofted bend in sheet metal
IV allow equation in all dimension box, easier interface, walk through parts in perspective, much easier to focus move and rotate view, MS.

IMHO,

SW Pros:

1. Configurations!!!
2. Weldment environment
3. Ability to import an XLS for creating a spline/curve (and have editability)

IV Pros:

1. Parameters/equations easier to work with (and a MUCH nicer interface, I must add - this is my biggest pet peeve in SolidWorks!)
2. Simpler interface
3. Derived part features

Disclaimer: The last "real work" I did in Inventor was R8.

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Brian McElyea
CSWP, CSWPSMTL
CADFanatic
North Alabama SolidWorks User Group (NASWUG)
Follow me on Twitter: @skrythe

And lay it flat?

That would be very nice.

_________________
"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
~ Stephen Wright

Yes, round to rect transition is easy in SW.
I've found a way to do it in IV so it doesn't bother me.

The equation thing in SW is killing me
Its like working Mechanical Desktop again.

Pineapple.

The fact that Solidworks has configurations somewhat negates the need for extensive use of equations in a design IMHO.

All my dimension variables I cater for by the use of configurations and thus do not feel frustrated at Solidworks poor handling on this topic compared to Inventors.

Eddy

SW

Configuration does not replace equation. Equation control relation with in a part. Configuration control a series of similar parts.
Its something as simple as width = 2 x length. Even with config you can type the number in 10 times for both dimension. With equation you just change one dimension. In more complex part/assembly, you can control everything with a few dimension.

Equations in Solidworks do suck.....especially coming from the UG side of things which has awesome equations. You can use Solidworks equations and in-context/master model techniques though so that you enter a dimension and control everything, pretty easy...maybe too easy. Equations in swx are just not as elegant as other cad systems. I do the width= 2x length thing all the time and it works well for that, I also use sketch relations alot for that kind of stuff. If/then equations get harry though and you can't control feature supression by equations. For complex part equations that only affects one part, I use an Excel design table and Excels formulas which works well.

UG handles configs like IV....external files from a master file which is harder to work with IMO. All in one file is the way to go for most stuff.....just quicker and easier to manage.

_________________
Jason
-I don't know if I'm alive and dreaming, or dead and remembering.

"Chuck Norris can speak braille."

I had thought from earlier releases that inventor was actually better in sheetmetal. I guess I was wrong on that. I do love the equations in inventor alot and I like the great apple cant imagine configurations could replace them in part modeling. Configurations would be a good work around but still a WORK AROUND of sorts. Thanks for all the great feed back.

_________________
"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
~ Stephen Wright

The way I see it

Agreed....I rarely use SWIFT.....equation enhancements would be welcome. If you go to the enhnacement request page and pick the Tools/equations catagory, you get a list of popular enhancements. Be sure to vote for them and help them get implemented.

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/service ... index.html

Allow numeric custom file properties to be used in equations
Ability to rename an equation driven dimension
Ability to enter equations directly in the dimension dialog
Ability for equations to use the volume, density or other properties of the part as variables.
Ability to use equations in context of a drawing
Ability to delete all equations at one time using the edit all command.

_________________
Jason
-I don't know if I'm alive and dreaming, or dead and remembering.

"Chuck Norris can speak braille."

I'm a much bigger fan of Design Tables compared to Equations. Easier to work with Excel equations and push that data back into SW.

I ahev to admit, I tend to favor IV over SW these days. I have over 10 yrs on IV and 5 yrs on SW. The pro's for IV far outweigh SW as far as I'm concerned. A few years ago, that wasn't the case, SW was better than IV in many aspects. But I'd have to say, over the last 3 yrs or so, IV has blown right past SW in many of the processes I use on a daily basis to where I'll tackle anything with IV long before I pick up SW now.

SW......honestly, I don't really know of any anymore. IV just seems to do everything better for the most part. Sure there might be a thing or two, but day to day....I don't see it.

IV - Clean and accruate translation. We did a test of 10 parts from other cad packages (sw, iv, pro/e, unigraphics, catia), IV was the only one that brought each and every solid over accurately up to the 9th decimal. SW??? 60% of those same models were off as of the 3rd decimal. That's a scarry issue if you work with tight tolerances.

SW also had numerous problems or failures translation files (it wouldn't even bring in a Catia file). Also, Inventor was able to translate each solid and convert it to a native IV solid and thus allow us to constrain it with parameters. No more "dumb solids".

IV sheet metal is much better, assemblies are a breeze (IV has an "insert" constraint), use of equations is simple, flexible workflow, dimensioning is far better now, a lot less "clicks", most options are right at the mouse, IV is more stable, especially on 64bit (Vista or Win 7).

And one last thing, Autodesk doesn't take the stand I see SW people do, when it comes to comparing one to the other. SW people (resellers and users) seem to take offense when you question them if SW can do what IV does. I have yet to see anyone from ADesk or their resellers act that way. Typically they are more than willing to hear what you have to say and then will either show you how IV can do it or admit that it's something IV can't do yet. I witnessed this most at AU where they seemed to welcome SW (or other users) but at SWW, myself and a few others got the bums rush out when we requested to see a demo of SW translating an IV file. It also seems SW resellers have become more like the Pro/E resellers of years ago where they'll tell you anything to get you to buy, then ignore you after they have you. I witnessed this personally with our local reseller.

AutoDesk support is far and away much better than any I've ever had with SW.

So when I hear the same old tune of "SW will do everything better" or "SW is much better than IV", I roll my eyes, laugh and then request them to explain that claim....typically they simply just mummble and storm off saying "well, it just is".