Quick add special symbols to Solidworks

When filling in these requirements, it is often necessary to insert symbols such as diameter (⌀), plus–minus (±), degree (°), and others. Using the Symbol Table to add them is not a fast process. In design work, it is desirable to optimize routine tasks — including drawing preparation.

For example, to insert a symbol from the Symbol Table, you have to go through three menus and then select the required one from a large number of fonts. Although the Symbol Table provides a wide variety of options, a designer doesn’t need all of them for technical drawings — only a small set of special symbols is typically required.

 Adding special symbols

The Symbol Library

The Symbol Table

When applying dimensions, the diameter (⌀) and degree (°) symbols can be inserted quickly.

Adding a diameter

However, this method does not work as easily in notes. You have to make quite a large number of mouse clicks before reaching the required symbol. Fortunately, there is a way to quickly insert special characters using ALT codes. To enter a special character, hold down the ALT key and type the corresponding numeric code.

Below is a list of the most frequently used symbols:

English keyboard!

(±); input: ALT+0177
(°); input: ALT+0176
(²); input: ALT+0178
(³); input: ALT+0179 
(Ø); input: ALT+0216
(ø); input: ALT+0248 

Of course, this list of ALT codes is not exhaustive — the full list can be easily found online, for example, on Wikipedia.

To speed up your work, memorizing just a few numeric codes is not difficult — give it a try.

You can also insert some special characters using internal SolidWorks codes such as <MOD-DIAM>, <MOD-DEG>, and <MOD-PM>, which correspond to the diameter, degree, and plus–minus symbols, respectively. However, using ALT codes is usually shorter and more convenient.