It's beginners, however, that will realize the greatest benefit. After doing the standard 30 minute jump start tutorial, I would recommend that a new guy put aside the tutorial book that comes with the software and instead spend their time digging into Inside SolidWorks. It does a very clear job of introducing the software (especially the mindset required for modeling with a feature based modeler), with a special focus on how to avoid the standard problems and sidestep the pitfalls that new users usually encounter. I wish that I had Inside SolidWOrks when going through the steep part of my learning curve.

The big disappointment with the book? Like most SolidWorks tutorials, this book almost completely sidesteps the most challenging and potentially rewarding part of using the software: building parts in the context of an assembly (what is often called the 'top down' method). An extra chapter on 'in context relationships', good modeling practices when building parts from inside assemblies, and a good introduction on how parametric relationships can make or destroy your parts would have made this a five star book. Every user who builds from the top down knows the crushing pain of moving a component in an assembly and seeing the feature trees of some or all of his/her components turn red with rebuild errors (the guy I sit next to refers to this phenomenon as seeing his screen fill with blood); I would have liked to see the author tackle this complicated issue with the same thoroughness and competence that he approaches all of the other subjects

19 of 20 found the following review helpful:


Not a very good Reference book  Jan 02, 2006 By P. Perk
I have learned three CAD systems; AutoCAD, Pro/E, and SW in the past six years. By far, SolidWorks is the easiest and the finest product in my opinion. I have read numerous CAD instructional manuals, books, and taken countless instructional classes.

I have been using SW for two plus years, and I needed a hard copy of various commands and procedures for a quick reference, namely a reference book. As one reviewer stated, "This is the big fat reference book." The author stated, "this invaluable how-to and reference manual clearly marks functionality specific to SolidWorks 2006 for users who have not yet upgraded to the latest release."

The book is fairly clear and concise in certain areas, but is lacking big time in others; "under explained sections and unfriendly syntax. The way the book provides information is very bewildering and chaotic. There are few major changes between 2005 and 2006, but there was a major change in the Hole Wizard that was not captured in the book. I wonder how many other changes are missing?

I would not advise this book as a reference book, or a SW book for any serious user.

19 of 20 found the following review helpful:


Not even for free  Jul 22, 2003 By Nedi Bourne
I obtained a copy of this book for free. I read the reviews:
"This book is full of errors when it comes to SolidWorks 2003".

"One feels the author was too lazy to create a real world set of examples and instead loves to hear himself expound on his CAD knowledge (which sadly is very faulty)".

"Why do people buy a book like this"?

But, it was free. I know now why the person gave me the book... It was not worth the time I spent looking through it. Do not make the same mistake I did. This was not a helpful or useful book.

13 of 13 found the following review helpful:


Inside SolidWorks 2003  Feb 14, 2003 By Phil Muhlfelder
Engineers are lousy authors. David Murray is an engineer. He may be a great teacher in front of a classroom - where he has the opportunity to explain and illustrate his point in great detail - but he does not get the job done in a book.

After working through this book it appears to me to be an update of an earlier version. My guess is that he has done little more than change the name to address the 2003 version of SolidWorks. His motive? Sell more books!

Furthermore, Mr. Murray glosses over over how to accomplish the more difficult tasks in SolidWorks - but is effusive and wordy when it comes the subject of CAD/CAM and simple SolidWorks operations.

Take for example lofted parts. After having beat the relatively simple operations of sweeps and revolved parts into oblivion, he leaves the reader out to dry when it comes to lofted parts. If you cannot figure lofting out for yourself using the SolidWorks Help files, the reader is dead in the water.

Bottom line, my take is that this book is a unsophisticated attempt to bleed as much profit as possible from a much earlier work. Don't count on it to carry you through the more difficult aspects of using SolidWorks for 3D applications.

16 of 17 found the following review helpful:


Not a good book. Why do people buy it?  May 26, 2003 By Jerrreil Baird
Why do people buy a book like this? This was not a helpful or useful book. I wanted to learn design and software techniques using Solidworks. This book skips back and forth, is very vague in most areas and is filled with software errors. Is this a 2003 book? Someone should tell me he needs to update his software. You need to read the book cover to cover to obtain some information.

Look elsewhere to find a more user friendly book that you can pick up and be productive. I am very surprise that he has sold as many books as he has. I guess people are not that smart, "including me".

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