Modify Dimension snap points

[Simon205]

Anyone know if it's possible to edit the actual entities a dimension snaps to?

Say for example, you've dimensioned between two points (and then that dimension is used in lots of equations etc...) and you want to change one of the points to a line or another point without affecting anything else that's using the dimension.

Cheers,


Simon

 

[Gupta65]

You can drag and edit the dimension snap point but this will affect/change the value of anything else that's using the dimension.

Deepak Gupta
SW2009 SP4.1
SW2007 SP5.0
MathCAD 14.0

 

[mjcole]

Simon,

If you want to keep the same value you can copy it modify the dimension snap by clicking on the dimension and hovering over the end of the Attachment Line till you see the cursor icon change to a box on the end of the line then Drag that point to another point or line. SolidWorks does not have a Horizontal or Vertical option for the dimension if it already exists but if you delete it and add a new one it will have the same D#@Feature Name ID.

When creating the replacement dim, you can use the Right Click Snap to lock the orientation of the dimension and then place it where you want. the Right Click icon shows what will happen if you click not the current state.

I'll try to make a quick video showing the things I've mentioned in this post.

Cheers Back,

Michael

 

[Simon205]

Hi Guys,

Thanks a lot for the replies. Yeah, the click & drag thing is exactly what I'm after - what's confused me is that the dimension I need to drag to a new place has no handle points to drag - all the other dims in the skecth have them (the little blue circles at the end of the extension lines), but for some reason, this one doesn't!

Cheers,


Simon

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Is it a system generated dimension? eg. The depth of a cut-extrude.

Was it placed manually or with the Insert > Model Items function?

 

[Simon205]

It was placed manually. Screenshot here:

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/225/20091214dimsnaps.jpg

The problem dimension (0.75mm) has no 'editable' snap points. I've highlighed another ok dimension (5.5mm) to show the little blue square snap points present.

Any ideas?

Thanks,


Simon

 

[BluTurtle]

Try this. It might work. Drag the 0.75mm dim upwards, past the geometry towards that angluar dim. Once the dim is out side of the geometry, you should see extensions lines for 0.75m dim.

Now do you see the editable snaps?

 

[Simon205]

Nope! Thanks for the suggestion though, I've sent the file to support; I'll let you know if they come back with anything useful.

Cheers

 

[Simon205]

Quick update on this - it appears the dimension can't be dragged anywhere because it was created from an offset command, and is therefore linked to the geometry it was offest from. So there you go!

Cheers for the replies.


Simon

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Thank you for the feedback on the reason, but;

CorBlimeyLimey (Mechanical) 11 Dec 09 7:27
Is it a system generated dimension? eg. The depth of a cut-extrude.

Simon205 (Mechanical) 14 Dec 09 6:16
It was placed manually.

 

[Simon205]

sorry for any confusion - nope, it was obviously not placed manually! I guess this points to there being no distinguishing features between system & user placed dims, (apart from the absence of the drag points)....

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

By default, Driven dimensions are set to be displayed in a different colour (usually grey instead of black).

Go to Tools > Options > System Options > Colors --- Color Scheme Settings and change the color (if you want to) for Dimensions, Non-Imported (Driven)