You probably already know the Rebuild function: It is the small "traffic light" which is located in the top menu bar in your SOLIDWORKS and is displayed on the features, parts, subassemblies that need to be updated in your design when you have made a change. In SOLIDWORKS 2018, it has been joined by a number of new Rebuild options:
I have created a separate tab in my Command Manager, so I have access to the functions both as shortcuts and buttons.
REBUILD (CTRL-B)
is the normal Rebuild tool (CTRL-B), and it recalculates only the features you have changed in your construction - i.e. the changes you have made to the Sketch, Parts, Assembly, or Drawing you are working on.
FORCE REBUILD / FORCE REBUILD TOP LEVEL ASSEMBLY (CTRL-Q)
Force Rebuild is probably the recalculation feature most of us use, as CTRL-Q is better on the keyboard than the "regular" rebuild. However, Force Rebuild not only calculates the changes, it calculates the entire structure and thus also the features that have not been changed.
Force Rebuild has not had a button before, but now it actually has 2 buttons. When you work in Parts, Sketches and Drawings it's still called Force Rebuild. But when you switch to Assemblies, can you use "Force Rebuild Top Level Assembly".
We've had Rebuild and Force Rebuild in SOLIDWORKS for as long as I can remember, but Force Rebuild has only been accessible via the menu or key shortcuts.
REBUILD ALL CONFIGURATIONS (CTRL+SHIFT+B) & FORCE REBUILD ALL CONFIGURATIONS (CTRL+SHIFT+Q)
Being able to recalculate all configurations at parts and assembly level has been a lot more difficult before SOLIDWORKS 2018.
But with SOLIDWORKS 2018, it is now possible to recalculate all changes at the configuration level with Rebuild All Configurations (CTRL + SHIFT + B), and with Force Rebuild All Configurations (CTRL + SHIFT + Q). You can recalculate all features in all configurations in your construction.
However, remember to use the features as needed. The more comprehensive recalculation function you choose, the longer the calculation will take.
Translated by Jan Egil Bæver
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