SolidWorks World Question

I was shocked the other day when my boss approached me about going to
SolidWorks World this go round. Times have been hard at our company for
quite a while so I more or less thought when I sent him the 'boss
justification' email that I would never hear anything about it. I had
forgotten about even sending the email to him since it was over 3 months and
I hadn't heard a word from him. But anyway it looks like I might finally be
going this year (actually next year), the question concerns my co-worker.
He would be going also if he wishes but he is concerned that he wouldn't be
able to absorb much knowledge by just listening to the presentations but on
the other hand he has a hard time following the presentation if he's trying
to take notes. I was wondering if the presenter give out handouts of the
material or not. I think this would be beneficial to all.

What are everyone's general impressions of SWW? Have you seen the
productivity increases? How has the 'networking' actually help your
company?

I know this has been discussed before but it is always good for us newbies
to hear from the gurus again.

thanks

 

I think it's well worth the time. If you pick up one or two tips each day
(plenty reasonable) that make you more productive, you are ahead. If you
meet one or two people that you can call to answer a question some day in
the heat of the battle, you are way ahead.

One of the main things is to plan ahead. Look at the schedule now and
figure out how the two of you can go to the maximum number of sessions that
you are interested in. It makes some sense for both of you to hear the same
stuff, but it also makes sense to hear more variety and share notes.

If you want to try to meet with a SW employee, arrange it ahead of time.
Make a list of everything you want to cover, make several copies so you can
give them one, get your ducks in a row, and plan a time.

In each of the sessions, make sure you find out at the beginning whether or
not the presentation will be available for download right away. In mine, I
try to remember to tell people that if they see it on the screen, they don't
need to write it down - the presentation is already available to download
from our user group site. If you hear me say it, and you think it's
important, write it down. Most presenters would probably be happy to send
you a copy right away if you give them a business card with that request
written on it. I get bunches of cards each year and I have to write on each
one what's the reason for this card or I won't remember.

Take plenty of business cards. Then take some more.

Take several writing utensils in case you have a failure.

Plan to arrive no later than Sunday afternoon to arrive in time for the
Pavilion opening. It's the first time to see everything and it's a fun
evening.

Once the Pavilion is open, you don't have to worry about food - there's
always more than you can eat.

Attend the Tuesday evening event - it's a memorable occasion.

Wear comfortable shoes - lots of walking.

Take a camera - you will want to show others at home what it was like.

I haven't ever found a need to have a car. Take a cab or shuttle to & from
the airport, and then walk from the hotel to the site. The off-site events
will have transportation provided.

I'm sure I'll think of more as the time draws near, but these are the main
points.

WT

 

Pizza attracts ...

 

It depends upon the presenter. Most of the ones I've gone to don't, but many
of them make presentations available later, often in PowerPoint. Your friend
might try taking a digital voice recorder. One of my colleague's tried that
in 2006.

I've been to two, in 2000 and 2006. I'm going again this year. In 2000, I
had been using SW for a little over a year and felt that SWW was like a
really good training class where I got to choose just what I wanted to learn
about. By 2006, you would think I didn't have a whole lot left to learn, but
three of us went and spread ourselves out so we only saw one or two
presentations in common and still couldn't catch all of what we wanted to
see.

Follow Wayne's advice, it's good!

I don't have any hard numbers, but I believe so. If not, I wouldn't waste
the company's money. Just one or two important things learned can pay for
the trip and the time away from the job. One thing we are not good at is
taking what we learn back and spreading it amongst those who couldn't go.

I don't think the networking has done much for my company in particular, but
I'm sure there are other people who will say that it has done a lot for
theirs.

Jerry Steiger

 

I indeed want to come, but I am a bit recalcitrant or reluctant,
because I've been burned out on bugs in times past (not only with
SolidWorks), so I don't load up SWks until SP4 or 5 anymore.

I am only now considering putting SWks 2007 on for daily use, and I
suspect that the SolidWorks World may concentrate on SWks 2008
issues. I would suspect most presenters prepared their presentations
in SWks 2007.

Jerry, can you give "the rest of us" who lag behind on upgrades an
idea of how relevant the presentations are to those of us who are on
SWks 2006 or 2007?

How do you see these issues in light of your prior years of visits?

Thanks - Bo

 

Not a bad attitude at all! We usually wait for at least a couple of service
packs.

That has been my experience. Although I think that a larger percentage of
presentations at SWW2006 were based on earlier software than at SWW2000.
Back then, the software pretty much worked at release.

There will be things you see that you can only look forward to, perhaps some
that will even seduce you into changing earlier than you planned, but there
will also be things you see that are old as the hills to some people but
astonishingly new to you. In my experience those are often the most valuable
insights. I believe that Paul Kellner is running on year old code, but he
still finds it worth going. I think you will to.

Jerry

 

Well, I'll have to go, and indeed sign up for some of the sessions.

I am going to look for the best sessions I can for my type of work or
possible work, and I'll keep a total open view on SWks 2008.

Thanks Jerry - Bo