Assemblies

Step 1.
Open a Brand New Assembly Solidworks Document.

Step 2.
Open the base part of the project to be assembled. Note this part will be fixed and cannot be moved. Everything else will be added upon to this base part.

Step 3.
Go 'Windows' drop-down menu, and 'Tile Vertically' between the base part and the new assembly window. If necessary minimise and move the part and assembly window manually firstly.

Step 4.
Select the origin in the assembly window. (Do this by clicking on the origin in the design tree of the new assembly) A green square dot should appear in the centre of the assembly graphics window.

Step 5.
Press and hold down on the left mouse button on the very top top of the Base Part design tree (on the line above annotations) and drag the part onto the origin (green square dot) in the new assembly graphics window. A special pair of double arrows should appear. Let go of the left mouse button, and the part should be correctly inserted as a base piece.

Objects can be copied in an assembly, by left clicking on an object/ part, and holding the CTRL key down. Release the mouse to drop the copied part.
A part can also be copied from the design tree in the same fashion as copying it in the graphics window. Click the left mouse button and hold down the CTRL key.


For exploded views, one can edit the steps already put in with the Auto Explode wizard. 
In order to add in a new step, right click on the last step and go 'edit defination' There is a special stairs/ steps icon to add in a new step.