7 Replies Latest reply on Dec 19, 2016 4:36 PM by Rick Becker

Is anyone else annoyed with sketch dimensions

Bill Beam Dec 19, 2016 1:58 PM

I don't like the way solidworks 2016 trys to pre-dimension selected items in a sketch. Lets say I'm cutting 2 holes in a block. I just selected both holes and made them equal to each other. Since both holes are still selected when I activate the dimension tool solidworks automatically sets the distance between the holes. Now I don't want to know the dimension between the holes I want to set the dimension from the edge of the block. So now I have to hit escape to de-select the holes and then reactivate the dimension tool. I have just changed over from 2013 and with that version everything would automatically deselect and you could start dimensioning anyway you wanted to. Is there a way to have the dimension tool deselect everything when activated?

Re: Is anyone else annoyed with sketch dimensions

Steven Barry Dec 19, 2016 2:35 PM (in response to Bill Beam)

Bill, not sure if there is a setting to do this automatically but you could do a couple of things:

- Assign "Select" to a keyboard shortcut. (go to Tools -> Customize -> Keyboard)
This will allow you to use a different keypress besides ESC to deselect items that are already selected.
- Left click on a blank area of the workspace before clicking the dimension command.
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- Re: Is anyone else annoyed with sketch dimensions
  
  Bill Dec 19, 2016 3:32 PM (in response to Steven Barry)
  
  Thanks you for the reply. I know that I can clear out the selected items before activating the dimension command but most of the time I'm in a hurry and forget to do that. It's just very annoying to me and maybe I'm just the lone voice in the wilderness.
  
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Re: Is anyone else annoyed with sketch dimensions

Glenn Schroeder Dec 19, 2016 3:43 PM (in response to Bill Beam)

Some people like it: http://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2015/11/solidworks-2016-dimensioning-pre-selected-entities-tutorial/#.WFhGM1MrJaQ
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- Re: Is anyone else annoyed with sketch dimensions
  
  Bill Beam Dec 19, 2016 4:01 PM (in response to Glenn Schroeder)
  
  Glenn I looked at the video and I will admit that in some circumstances It might be useful. However most of the time I want to make the decision on how my part should be dimensioned, not the other way around. I would still prefer that everything would de-select when I activate the dimension command. Like I said before maybe it's just me.
  
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  - Re: Is anyone else annoyed with sketch dimensions
    
    Glenn Schroeder Dec 19, 2016 4:03 PM (in response to Bill Beam )
    
    It's not just you. There were other people talking about it here when SW2016 was first released that didn't like it (although it definitely got overshadowed by the uproar about the new color scheme). I don't have strong feelings about it either way.
    
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  - Re: Is anyone else annoyed with sketch dimensions
    
    Rick Becker Dec 19, 2016 4:36 PM (in response to Bill Beam )
    
    Bill,
    It's not just you. I have been using 2016 for close to a year and it still annoys the @#$% out of me. Total time waster & PITA.
    
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Re: Is anyone else annoyed with sketch dimensions

John Stoltzfus Dec 19, 2016 3:49 PM (in response to Bill Beam)

Not sure when it started - but within the last release sometime, agreed it is a PAIN
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