AnsweredAssumed Answered

Equation Driven Dimension Displays "?"

Question asked by Christopher Bright on Oct 20, 2008
Latest reply on Oct 23, 2008 by Christopher Bright

Like • Show 0 Likes0
Comment • 14

Added equation to dimension and a RED "?" symbol appears next to it in the sketch. Open equation editor and uncheck Active which removes the Solved check mark and causes the Evaluates To to change from x (value of equation result) to "Suppressed". When OK is clicked, the RED "?" after the dimension disappears. The sketch is listed as Fully Defined when the equation is in either state. Is this normal? Done research using the SW Help feature but found nothing meaningful in this context. What are the implications of these states?

Christopher Bright Oct 22, 2008 12:48 PM

Correct Answer

Thanks. Although this example was created in SW08 (SP4.0) it's surprising that the symbology for sum is replaced by a "?". Perhaps it's a system setting, or simply an OS/font issue. Again, it's not a critical problem. The Equation functions as expected. Thank you again, I'll be sure to return to this forum if I have other concerns that cannot be readily addressed on my own.

See the reply in context

No one else had this question

Outcomes

14 Replies

1-YJ1IM Oct 20, 2008 3:41 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Were these equations created in an assembly? "?" normally means a lost or missing reference. If assembly is also open, the "?" should disappear.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Christopher Bright @ 1-YJ1IM on Oct 20, 2008 3:56 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  This is simply a sketch in a new Part unto itself and therefore unrelated to any other Part or Assembly. The "?" is in the context of the sketch alone and seems to have no effect on the Part file itself. This adds to the ambiguity of the two equation states, Active checked (Solved) and Active unchecked ("Suppressed"). Perhaps the question should rather be, What does Suppressed in an Equation mean? Although Suppressed, the sketch remains Fully Defined. This is actually the impetus for my inquiry. The implication of the states is the concern. By the way, the RED "?" symbol appears directly in the sketch in the graphics area, not in the FeatureManager design tree. The symbol, along with its' associated dimension and others, are not visible after exiting the sketch. (Of course.)
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
1-YJ1IM Oct 20, 2008 4:40 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Not sure about the red ?. Can you attach n image or the file itself? Suppressing an equation is typically configuration specific, where you do not want the dimension driven by the equation for that specific configuration. Suppressing the equation does not suppress the dimension, so the sketch would still be fully defined.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Christopher Bright @ 1-YJ1IM on Oct 21, 2008 5:38 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  It appears that the the forum message tool supports only gif, jpeg or html for attaching files. Surprisingly no SW file types may be attached. I think perhaps I will learn the secret of the bazaar "?" symbol in due course. Thanks for your attention.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Anna Wood @ Christopher Bright on Oct 21, 2008 6:17 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    You can zip the files into an archive and post a zip file.
    
    You can also upload png image files to the forum.
    
    Cheers,
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
    - Christopher Bright @ Anna Wood on Oct 22, 2008 12:11 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Thanks for the uploading advice.
      
      Here is a very simple example of the equation-controlled geometry. The equation is "D2@Sketch1" = "D1@Sketch1"/2. To review, double-click Sketch1 in the FeatureManager design tree. Note the "?" associated with 0.7500 (dimension named D1@Sketch2) and that the sketch is fully defined. Right-click Equations in the FeatureManager design tree and select Edit Equation. Note that the check-box under the "Active" heading is indeed checked. Note also that the "Evaluates To" heading lists the Equation as Solved (denoted by the green check mark) and the solution is 0.75in. This is based on half of the sketch circle diameter 1.5000 (dimension name D1@Sketch1), per the syntax of the equation. If the Active box is unchecked the Equation becomes suppressed. It's perplexing that SW allows suppression of an Equation. Why bother adding one? Perhaps it has functionality in configurations. I added a Design Table to add some configurations to explore this, but it merely changes the geometry based upon designated values and subject to the established equation. I fully understand the power of both Equations and Design Tables, which can work in concert as I've just proven. But it's that bazaar "?" symbol attached to dimension D1@Sketch2 (or presumably any dimension subject to an equation) that concerns me. However confusing the "?" is to me, the equation, as simple as it is here, acts as expected. I've resorted to this forum because I could find no reference among SW Help or the Self-Service resources on SolidWorks.com Customer Portal. This is not a critical issue, it's just daunting - Enquiring Minds Want To Know.
      Attachments
      Test_Equation.zip31.9 KB
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
      Actions
      - 1-YJ1IM @ Christopher Bright on Oct 22, 2008 12:37 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        The red "?" should actually be the sum symbol to indicate that the dimension is driven by a equation. I only have SolidWorks 2009 here and it shows the sum symbol for me.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions
        Christopher Bright @ 1-YJ1IM on Oct 22, 2008 12:48 PM
        Unmark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Thanks. Although this example was created in SW08 (SP4.0) it's surprising that the symbology for sum is replaced by a "?". Perhaps it's a system setting, or simply an OS/font issue. Again, it's not a critical problem. The Equation functions as expected. Thank you again, I'll be sure to return to this forum if I have other concerns that cannot be readily addressed on my own.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions
        Joel Bickel @ 1-YJ1IM on Oct 22, 2008 12:55 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Christopher,
        
        I looked at your part and I did not see a "?" by the 1.5 dim, but there is a "?" by the .75 dim.
        
        There also is red "!" in the equation box for "evaluates to". That seems odd because I don't think there's anything wrong with the eq. If look at the eq and hit "ok" without any changes, I get an error that says "the syntax is incorect"
        
        What is wrong with this syntax?
        
        "D1@Sketch1" = "D2@Sketch1"/2
        
        that's strange: the second question mark in the first line was sum symbol (alt 228) and it changed when I uploaded the message.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions
        Christopher Bright @ Joel Bickel on Oct 22, 2008 1:38 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        My mistake. In my description I transposed the dimension names, but not in the equation itself. The equation syntax appears to be sound. The "?" symbol is actually associated with D2@Sketch2 (resultant value 0.7500 displayed).
        
        I see no errors in the Equation editor, just the green check mark denoting the equation as Solved. The check mark is replaced by "suppressed" if the Active box is unchecked. But still, no errors are reported.
        
        Back in the part, in ConfigurationManager, when a different configuration is activated, the part responds according to it's associated value. Therefore, while the circle diameter is controlled by the configuration, the Equation controls its' center point relative to the sketch origin, all as intended.
        
        It's not clear why various aspects of the file are behaving differently for others. I am again experiencing no errors, just the "?" symbol in place of the Equation symbol.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions
        Mike Myers @ Christopher Bright on Oct 23, 2008 1:54 AM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        2008 SP4.0 here, and my screen looks just like Waynes, showing the sum symbol with no errors.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions
        Christopher Bright @ Mike Myers on Oct 23, 2008 10:02 AM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Considering Mike is running SW08 SP4.0 as am I but he's displaying the equation symbol instead of the "?", perhaps it is indeed some SW system option I have not yet stumbled upon. I'll be sure to research it a bit further. In the meantime, thank you all for your response.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions
1-YJ1IM Oct 23, 2008 1:14 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I suggest that you get with your VAR to find out what font SolidWorks uses for this. You can then check if this font is installed.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Christopher Bright @ 1-YJ1IM on Oct 23, 2008 5:08 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  That's a swell idea!
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions

Equation Driven Dimension Displays "?"

Outcomes

Attachments

Related Content

Recommended Content