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Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!
2

Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

(OP)
Hi there, I have a problem with my Solidworks setup at work. At university I used to be able to make a sketch, then drag the points and lines to manipulate its shape. For some reason when I click, hold and drag a point, it does nothing, and when I try to drag a line, it detaches itself from the lines it was attached and moves it independantly.

ie. Once a line is drawn, you cannot adjust its length, except when you add dimension constraints. You cant just drag it to increase its length, or change its angle

I've spent the last couple of days searching through the settings, and I still havent managed to sort it. It is really annoying!

There has to be a really simple answer for this but I just cant find it. Can anyone help please?

Thanks in advance,
Jonny

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

Somebody hosed your Options--definitely different settings from the default.  I don't have time to check it now (have to leave), but you'll find the fix in your Tools > Options window for system settings.  Stuff like snap, grid, external references, etc. should adjust this (by memory).

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

(OP)
Thanks for the advise, I've tried changing the setting where you said, but there is still no difference. I have even selected 'reset setting to factory default', and again its the same.

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

Tools > System Options > Sketch > Override Dimensions.

This will allow you to drag sketchs even if you have dimensions on the elements.

Have you viewed the specific contraints that have been placed on the sketch?

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SWx 2007 SP 2.0 & Pro/E 2001
XP Pro SP2.0 P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
      o
  _`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

(In reference to David Beckham) "He can't kick with his left foot, he can't tackle, he can't head the ball and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right."  -- George Best

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

(OP)
Sorry, I havent made it quite clear

When creating a sketch, from scratch, leaving it totally un-constrained, I cannot manipulate its shape by dragging end pont of line. The only way I can change it shape from my rough sketch is through dimensioning. Not with the mouse.

I tried the setting you said to overide dimensions, but I dont have any dimensions.


Thanks for your help

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

Go into "Tools / Add-Ins" and see if you have "SolidWorks 2D emulator" activated.  If so, uncheck it and you should be okay again.

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

What colour are you sketch elements. Black or Blue?

cheers

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

What would SWx 2D emulator have anything to do with this problem.....I don't see the connection.  I thought that was for the ACAD addicts that want SWx to drive like ACAD

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SWx 2007 SP 2.0 & Pro/E 2001
XP Pro SP2.0 P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
      o
  _`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

(In reference to David Beckham) "He can't kick with his left foot, he can't tackle, he can't head the ball and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right."  -- George Best

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

Check to make sure you do not have any Selection Filters activated.

cheers

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

(OP)
Still no joy I'm afraid. 2-D Emulator was turned off, so I turned it on then back off again, and its still the same.

Ive checked the selection filters and they are all off.

I've put a video on this link to clarify what I mean. The quality isnt great though.In the video, I draw a simple rectangle, try to extend the height, the top line detaches itself. Then I remove the vertical constraint from the line on the right, try to adjust its angle, nand nothing, just the cursor with a dot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtzpzcHc9G8


Once again, thanks for helping me around this problem

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

If you ever have to make a movie again, try using CamStudio from http://www.camstudio.org/

It was very difficult to see anything in the YouTube video.

cheers

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

Try going to Tools>Options>System Options>Relations/Snaps and uncheck the box for automatic relations and see if that helps.

Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats.
--Howard Aiken, IBM engineer

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

(OP)
No, that doesnt work either. I'll re-upload my video using the suggested software.

Thanks

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

(OP)
Link works now

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

OK, I've got every option checked in Tools > Options > System Options > Sketch > Relations/Snaps with the exception of Grid.

Is that what you have?

If so, you may have a hosed installation.  I'd call my VAR if I had this problem and these suggestions didn't help.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

Try "Alternative to try before reinstalling"  FAQ559-507 by SBaugh

cheers

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

I agree with CBL's recommendation.  It looks like your SW installation took a trip into the Twilight Zone.

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

(OP)
Arghhhh! Even that didnt work!.

Do you think it could be something to do with my mouse!?

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

At this stage anything's possible. Do you have others to try?

cheers

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

2
With a sketch open, go to Tools>Sketch Settings and deselect "detach segment on drag"

Richard

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

Looks like Richard has this one.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

I agree.  I didn't even know about that setting.  I learn something new here every day... star for SWUGNGuy.

RE: Daft Little Problem That Is Driving Me CRAZY!

(OP)
Hi there everyone, I'd just like to say thanks to everyone who has helped me around this problem.

I tried the last suggestion, turning off  "detach segment on drag" but it still didnt work. I re-installed solidworks, still no joy.

The problem actually lay in the software installed for the mouse!!

Its a Trust Optical Wireless Mouse, with 5 buttons. The software installed for it allows you to configure the side buttons for going back and forwards in internet explorer, or what ever you want to designate them as.

After uninstalling the mouse software, giving the pc a restart, my problem has gone! Woohoo, at last!

Once again, thanks again to everyone at this great site, which I never even knew about till Sunday night!

Jonny

 

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