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Improvements to Onshape - January 12th, 2017
![cody_armstrong](https://profiles.onshape.com/0dcc2196d291ee05e510ee5afe83fe1e57228b9f99cba59a6581e2aab42b2bfd.png)
![](https://us.v-cdn.net/6022175/uploads/0ZP89G269V75/logo-onshape-gray-green-401x.png)
It's a new year and we are starting it off with some big new features! Including some highly requested new features. Let's get started.
IN-CONTEXT DESIGN
Create and/or edit parts within the context of the assembly.
NAMED POSITIONS
Named positions make it easy to capture the position of parts in your assembly and return to that position.
RECENTLY OPENED DOCUMENTS IMPROVEMENT
You can now remove Documents from your Recently Opened Documents list.
IMPORT IMPROVEMENTS
There is a new option when importing to allow parts with faulty geometry. Imported parts with faulty geometry will show as an error in the Feature list and parts list. In the past, if the imported geometry had problems you could not use it in Onshape.
SHADED DRAWING VIEWS
Shaded drawing views are now supported in Onshape Drawings. Right-click the drawing view and choose "Show shaded view."
EDIT TABLE TOOLBAR IMPROVEMENTS
Editing tables has been made easier with a change to the edit table toolbar. Now the toolbars for editing cells and editing the table have been combined into one.
DRAWING VIEW IMPROVEMENTS
While dragging drawing views, dimensions and annotations move with the view. In the past, when dragging a view the dimensions and annotations did not update until after you finished dragging.
ARC DIMENSION IMPROVEMENTS
Extension arcs will only be created on arc dimensions where it is not possible for the arrowhead to touch the geometry.
When exporting a drawing to PDF, there is a new option to save the PDF with "Selectable" text. This makes the text in the PDF selectable and also searchable.
![](https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/0w/w52qddnk0ri8.png)
INSERT DIALOG IMPROVEMENTS
Labels now appear in the Insert dialog when browsing to other Documents.
![](https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/ek/jcoco3e79sm6.png)
LINKED DOCUMENTS IMPROVEMENT
If you link to a Document, then later move the tabs associated with that link to a different Document, you will now have an option to update the link to the new Document.
![](https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/p8/as4xe5cco5bd.png)
NX IMPORT
NX parts and assemblies can be imported into an Onshape Document and translated. To import a part, simply import the .prt file into a Document. To import an assembly, place all parts and the assembly in a zip file and import that into an Onshape Document. The zip file name must match the name of the top-level assembly.
Please take a moment to try out these new features and improvements and let us know what you think!
Remember: The updates listed here are now live for all users when creating new documents and over the next few days these features will also be available in documents created before the date of this update.
IN-CONTEXT DESIGN
Create and/or edit parts within the context of the assembly.
NAMED POSITIONS
Named positions make it easy to capture the position of parts in your assembly and return to that position.
RECENTLY OPENED DOCUMENTS IMPROVEMENT
You can now remove Documents from your Recently Opened Documents list.
IMPORT IMPROVEMENTS
There is a new option when importing to allow parts with faulty geometry. Imported parts with faulty geometry will show as an error in the Feature list and parts list. In the past, if the imported geometry had problems you could not use it in Onshape.
SHADED DRAWING VIEWS
Shaded drawing views are now supported in Onshape Drawings. Right-click the drawing view and choose "Show shaded view."
EDIT TABLE TOOLBAR IMPROVEMENTS
Editing tables has been made easier with a change to the edit table toolbar. Now the toolbars for editing cells and editing the table have been combined into one.
DRAWING VIEW IMPROVEMENTS
While dragging drawing views, dimensions and annotations move with the view. In the past, when dragging a view the dimensions and annotations did not update until after you finished dragging.
ARC DIMENSION IMPROVEMENTS
Extension arcs will only be created on arc dimensions where it is not possible for the arrowhead to touch the geometry.
When exporting a drawing to PDF, there is a new option to save the PDF with "Selectable" text. This makes the text in the PDF selectable and also searchable.
![](https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/0w/w52qddnk0ri8.png)
INSERT DIALOG IMPROVEMENTS
Labels now appear in the Insert dialog when browsing to other Documents.
![](https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/ek/jcoco3e79sm6.png)
LINKED DOCUMENTS IMPROVEMENT
If you link to a Document, then later move the tabs associated with that link to a different Document, you will now have an option to update the link to the new Document.
![](https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/p8/as4xe5cco5bd.png)
NX IMPORT
NX parts and assemblies can be imported into an Onshape Document and translated. To import a part, simply import the .prt file into a Document. To import an assembly, place all parts and the assembly in a zip file and import that into an Onshape Document. The zip file name must match the name of the top-level assembly.
Please take a moment to try out these new features and improvements and let us know what you think!
Remember: The updates listed here are now live for all users when creating new documents and over the next few days these features will also be available in documents created before the date of this update.
5
Comments
Y'all are going to LOVE ICE.....
Done yet?
You DO NOT need to make sketch in order to extrude a face from your base part. Go right into the extrude command, click on the face and build.
If you're running pipe....this tool is for you.
Also when creating a context anything you make in the first context will update as one update. If you add another context to that part studio that will be a separate context that need to be updated separately. You will also have to insert the 2nd context through the insert tab, it doesn't automatically insert it or give you the option like when the 1st context is created.
Drawing updates are good. I always find drawing across CAD systems to be frustrating and slow compared to design, so every time improvement and ease of use improvement to drawings is celebrated.
That "import parts with faults" will be extremely helpful for my brother pulling in complex ID surfaces.
Named Positions are a perfect solution to getting those flexible assemblies into working position without using mates or limits. So much better than layers of configurations which I have used in previous live's.
Love the drawing improvement's, shaded views tick's of another of my requirement's and you can't go wrong improving the table tool. Keep them coming.
Twitter: @onshapetricks & @babart1977
Twitter: @onshapetricks & @babart1977
Twitter: @onshapetricks & @babart1977
I very much like introduction of create part studio In-context design feature. I can now create and/or edit parts within the context of the assembly. Look forward to playing with this. Thank you very much Onshape team
Shaded view is also a welcome sight.
I would also like to see the 'named position' used in drawings, along with 'named view' as a future update.
Also while the labels in the insert panel is great especially for user-library, it would soon become to much if it lists all the tags used. Would like to limit it a bit [either keyword or as a option when creating the label] or be able to organise it so the library tags are at the top.
I've moved some parts into new docs and when opening an assembly referencing the moved part the chain-link symbol is not highlighting in blue like it would be if there's a new version of a part.
Linked[in]
Looking forward to using named views in drawings when it comes!!
For me OS has passed the "Gap filling missing features milestone" and is into the "making new and interesting features that make life easier, more enjoyable and productive."
It's no-longer a baby, it's a teenager that thinks it's going to rip up the rule book and reinvent the world.
More please
Owen S.
HWM-Water Ltd
OK, let's just say direction is good, speed is fine but it is still work in progress..
Just wondering... The lines between Part Studios and Assemblies are blurring. Is it likely they'll be combined into a one size fits all super studio?
Owen S.
HWM-Water Ltd
Check this out: https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/comment/12677/#Comment_12677
Cheers,
Owen S.
HWM-Water Ltd