Display Name of Sketch Entity?

[BARM]

Can anyone tell me how to display the name of each sketch entity within the sketch?

Thanks.

---SW 2008 SP1.1---

 

[JMirisola]

Ok, it's early and I'm just having my first cup of coffee...
Do you mean names like 'line' and 'arc'?

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Certified DriveWorks AE

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

Dell M90, Core2 Duo
4GB RAM
Nvidia 3500M

 

[BARM]

Oh eh, I forgot about your time zone out on the left coast.

Yes. When you draw a line SW dosen't SW give a name you can display?

---SW 2008 SP1.1---

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Go to Tools > Options > System Options > General and select Show dimension names.

 

[BARM]

Thanks. That's good info but.... if I hover my cursor over the relation symbol I get a feedback message that says "perpendicular(line4, line5)". Can SW display these names?

Thanks.

---SW 2008 SP1.1---

 

[handleman]

Each sketch entity (I assume you actually mean entities as opposed to dimensions) does indeed have a name. However, I don't know of any way to actually display those names on the sketch. I can't imagine what would be the usefulness of doing this. Any given sketch contains so many entities that the names would obscure the actual sketch geometry.

What are you actually trying to achieve? There may be a slightly different way to reach your actual end goal.

 

[JMirisola]

I have to go with handleman on this one. Showing sketch relations clutters up sketches enough as it is, I can't imagine have the entities' names up there as well. What is your end goal?

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Certified DriveWorks AE

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

Dell M90, Core2 Duo
4GB RAM
Nvidia 3500M

 

[BARM]

Yes I do mean the entities.

Since SW offers UP the info. I'm assuming it does for a reason. Also the info isn't even displayed in the properties manager for the line.

Thanks.

---SW 2008 SP1.1---

 

[BARM]

Additionally I agree with what you've stated but I work with students who I'm sure with ask me the same question.

---SW 2008 SP1.1---

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I assume the reason is for internal tracking/handling/processing by SW.

It is much simpler for users to click on graphical entities rather than keep track of their ID's, and have to type them into a selection box.

Maybe the ID's could be used in API macros if non-graphical manipulation is required.

 

[fcsuper]

The internal ID's for individual sketch entities is not a constant, if I remember right. They can potentionally change if the entity changes.

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

That's right! If a line is split into two pieces, one piece retains the same ID, but the other piece will be given a new one. The direction the line was drawn determines which piece retains the original ID.

BARM,
Did you have a specific use in mind for the entity names?

 

[mjcole]

Display Delete relations is a good tool for interrogating dimensions and relations.

When you select Entities it displays the names in the Property Manager.

If you Box select all your geometry you can locate each item by selecting it in the Property Manager and looking for it to highlight on screen. You may need to be in Add Relations to get the item names or just select more than one item.

Michael

 

[BARM]

"BARM,
Did you have a specific use in mind for the entity names?"

No. I just came across the info and wanted to know it's function or display methods.

Thanks.

---SW 2008 SP1.1---