Coming from SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS tool names and the closest SchoolCAD tool for each.
SchoolCAD uses the same basic workflow as SOLIDWORKS: sketch, dimension and add relations (SchoolCAD calls them constraints), then build features that stay in a history you can edit (the feature tree, like the FeatureManager design tree). Some tools have different names. This table lists SOLIDWORKS names and the SchoolCAD tool for each.
| SOLIDWORKS | SchoolCAD | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Point Arc | Arc | Sketch toolbar |
| 3 Point Corner Rectangle | Aligned rectangle | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Rectangle |
| Assembly | Assembly | Status bar: the Assembly tab, bottom left |
| Axis (Reference Geometry) | Axis | Part workspace toolbar |
| Base Flange/Tab | Sheet metal | Part workspace toolbar |
| Base Flange/Tab | Tab | Part workspace toolbar |
| Bill of Materials | Bill of materials | Assembly toolbar |
| Break Corner | Corner break | Part workspace toolbar |
| Center Rectangle | Centre rect | Sketch toolbar |
| Centerline | Centerline | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Line |
| Centerpoint Arc | Centre point arc | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Arc |
| Centerpoint Arc Slot | Arc slot | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Slot |
| Chamfer | Chamfer | Part workspace toolbar |
| Circle | Circle | Sketch toolbar |
| Circular Pattern | Pattern | Part workspace toolbar |
| Circular Sketch Pattern | Pattern | Sketch toolbar |
| Coincident | Coincident | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Coincident mate | Planar | Assembly toolbar (Advanced; in Standard: More ▾) |
| Coincident mate | Ball | Assembly toolbar (Advanced; in Standard: More ▾) |
| Collinear | Coincident | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Collinear | Collinear | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Combine (Add) | Combine | Part workspace toolbar |
| Combine (Common) | Intersect | Part workspace toolbar |
| Combine (Subtract) | Subtract | Part workspace toolbar |
| Concentric | Concentric | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Concentric mate | Cylindrical | Assembly toolbar (Advanced; in Standard: More ▾) |
| Convert Entities | Project | Sketch toolbar |
| Convert to Body | Mesh to solid | Part workspace toolbar |
| Convert to Sheet Metal | Convert to sheet metal | Part workspace toolbar |
| Copy Entities | Transform | Sketch toolbar |
| Coradial | Coincident | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Corner Rectangle | Rectangle | Sketch toolbar |
| Corner Rectangle + Sketch Fillet | Rounded rectangle | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Rectangle |
| Cosmetic Thread | Thread | Part workspace toolbar |
| Curve Driven Pattern | Pattern | Part workspace toolbar |
| Cut List | Cut list | Part workspace toolbar |
| Decals | Decal | Part workspace toolbar |
| Delete Face | Fill hole | Part workspace toolbar |
| Design Library | Library | Part workspace toolbar |
| Draft | Draft | Part workspace toolbar |
| Draft Analysis | Draft analysis | Part workspace toolbar, at the right |
| Drawing | Drawing sheet (edit and keep) | Export menu |
| Driven Dimension | Reference dimension | Sketch toolbar |
| DXF/DWG import | Insert image | Sketch toolbar |
| Edge Flange | Flange | Part workspace toolbar |
| Ellipse | Ellipse | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Circle |
| End Cap | End cap | Part workspace toolbar |
| Equal | Equal | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Equation Driven Curve | Equation curve | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Spline |
| Exploded View | Explode step | Assembly toolbar |
| Extend Entities | Extend | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Trim |
| Extruded Boss (box) | Shapes | Part workspace toolbar |
| Extruded Boss/Base | Extrude | Part workspace toolbar |
| Extruded Cut | Extrude | Part workspace toolbar |
| Fill Pattern | Fill pattern | Part workspace toolbar |
| Fillet | Fillet | Part workspace toolbar |
| Fix | Fix | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Flatten | Flat pattern | Part workspace toolbar |
| Flex | Deform | Part workspace toolbar |
| For construction | Construction | Sketch toolbar |
| Fully Define Sketch | Auto-constrain | Sketch toolbar |
| Global Variables | Parameters | Parameters panel: + Add |
| Gusset | Gusset | Part workspace toolbar |
| Helix and Spiral + Swept Boss | Coil | Part workspace toolbar |
| Help | Help | Status bar: Help |
| Hem | Hem | Part workspace toolbar |
| Hinge mate | Revolute | Assembly toolbar |
| Hole Wizard | Hole | Part workspace toolbar |
| Horizontal | Horizontal | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Insert Components | Insert | Assembly toolbar |
| Insert Part | Insert design | Part workspace toolbar |
| Interference Detection | Check | Part workspace toolbar, at the right |
| Intersection Curve | Intersection | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Project |
| Line | Line | Sketch toolbar |
| Linear Pattern | Pattern | Part workspace toolbar |
| Linear Sketch Pattern | Pattern | Sketch toolbar |
| Lip/Groove | Lip/Groove | Part workspace toolbar |
| Lock mate | Fastened | Assembly toolbar |
| Lofted Boss/Base | Loft | Part workspace toolbar |
| Lofted Cut | Loft | Part workspace toolbar |
| Make Drawing from Part | Engineering drawing (PDF) | Export menu |
| Mass Properties | Mass properties | Part workspace toolbar, at the right |
| Mate | Mate | Part workspace toolbar |
| Measure | Measure | Part workspace toolbar, at the right |
| Midpoint | Midpoint | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Midpoint Line | Midpoint line | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Line |
| Mirror | Mirror | Part workspace toolbar |
| Mirror Body | Mirror | Part workspace toolbar |
| Mirror Entities | Mirror | Sketch toolbar |
| Mirror Feature | Mirror | Part workspace toolbar |
| Mounting Boss | Boss | Part workspace toolbar |
| Move Entities | Transform | Sketch toolbar |
| Move Face | Move face | Part workspace toolbar |
| Move/Copy Bodies | Transform | Part workspace toolbar |
| Offset Entities | Offset | Sketch toolbar |
| Open | Open SOLIDWORKS files | SchoolCAD |
| Open / Insert Part | Import | Part workspace toolbar |
| Options | Settings | Top bar: the ⚙ button |
| Parallel | Parallel | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Partial Ellipse | Elliptical arc | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Circle |
| Perimeter Circle | 2-point circle | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Circle |
| Perimeter Circle | 3-point circle | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Circle |
| Perimeter Circle (3 tangent) | 3-tangent circle | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Circle |
| Perimeter Circle (tangent) | 2-tangent circle | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Circle |
| Perpendicular | Perpendicular | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Plane (Reference Geometry) | Plane | Part workspace toolbar |
| Point | Point | Sketch toolbar |
| Point (Reference Geometry) | Point | Part workspace toolbar |
| Polygon | Polygon | Sketch toolbar |
| Polygon (circumscribed circle) | Circumscribed polygon | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Polygon |
| Print3D | 3D Print Studio | Top bar: 3D print |
| Repair Sketch | Tie loose ends | Sketch toolbar |
| Revolved Boss/Base | Revolve | Part workspace toolbar |
| Revolved Cut | Revolve | Part workspace toolbar |
| Rib | Rib | Part workspace toolbar |
| Rotate Entities | Transform | Sketch toolbar |
| Section View | Section view | Part workspace toolbar, at the right |
| Shell | Shell | Part workspace toolbar |
| Sketch | Sketch | Part workspace toolbar |
| Sketch Chamfer | Chamfer | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Fillet |
| Sketch Fillet | Fillet | Sketch toolbar |
| Sketch Picture | Insert image | Sketch toolbar |
| Sketched Bend | Bend | Part workspace toolbar |
| Slider mate | Slider | Assembly toolbar |
| Slot mate | Pin slot | Assembly toolbar (Advanced; in Standard: More ▾) |
| Smart Dimension | Dimension | Sketch toolbar |
| Snap Hook | Snap fit | Part workspace toolbar |
| Snap Hook Groove | Snap fit | Part workspace toolbar |
| Spline | Spline | Sketch toolbar |
| Split | Split | Part workspace toolbar |
| Split Entities | Split | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Trim |
| Straight Slot | Slot | Sketch toolbar |
| Structural Member | Frame | Part workspace toolbar |
| Swept Boss (circular profile) | Pipe | Part workspace toolbar |
| Swept Boss/Base | Sweep | Part workspace toolbar |
| Swept Cut | Sweep | Part workspace toolbar |
| Symmetric | Symmetric | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Tangent | Tangent | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Tangent Arc | Tangent arc | Sketch toolbar: under the ▾ next to Arc |
| Text | Text | Sketch toolbar |
| Thicken | Thicken | Part workspace toolbar |
| Thread | Thread | Part workspace toolbar |
| Toolbox | Library | Part workspace toolbar |
| Trim Entities | Trim | Sketch toolbar |
| Trim/Extend | Frame trim | Part workspace toolbar |
| Tutorials | Learn | SchoolCAD |
| Vent | Vent | Part workspace toolbar |
| Vertical | Vertical | Sketch toolbar: constraints |
| Weldments | Frame | Part workspace toolbar |
| Wrap | Wrap | Part workspace toolbar |
Moving the view like SOLIDWORKS#
Open Settings (the ⚙ button at the top right) and set the mouse buttons to work like SOLIDWORKS, so turning, moving and zooming the view feel the same. See Settings.
SOLIDWORKS' keys#
Choosing SOLIDWORKS' mouse buttons also sets the keyboard like SOLIDWORKS: S opens Search tools (as the shortcut bar), Space the view selector (front, top, isometric, normal to), and Enter repeats the last tool. F zooms to fit, Z zooms out and Shift+Z in, and Shift + arrow keys turn the view 90°, as in SOLIDWORKS. See Keyboard shortcuts for every key.