Modifiying smart dimensions 1

[brudje]

I have a real newbie question here:

Where/how do I setup solidworks to automatically give me the change dimension dialog box immediately after I create a dimension,instead of having to double click the dimension to change it?

Having a brian block, thanks for the help...

 

[JMirisola]

Tools/options/general...tick the 'input dimension value'

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP1.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2MB RAM, nVidia 2500M

 

[brudje]

Thank you....Figured it out right after I sent email


How about turning off the grid so it doesn't appear when you start a sketch...

 

[BiPolarMoment]

I have a question that is what I thought this post was going to be about: I know you can force a dimension to be vertical or horizontal, but can you force a dimension to be the absolute distance? (length of a line for example) Alternatively, after dimensioning point to point is there a way to toggle it to vert/horizontal/actual?

Sometimes I find it hard to make sure the dimension ends up as the total distance (unless I use a construction circle instead)--especially if the line or whatnot is close to vertical/horizontal.

Side question: is there a hotkey when dimensioning a circle to make it a radius instead of a diameter?

 

[brudje]

Once you place a dimension, you can alter what it is "measuring" by moving the mouse off center give it a try and you will see what happens.

Your diameter question, right click on the dimension, and you have the option to change it from radius to diameter, to linear...

 

[BiPolarMoment]

brudje:

Thanks, though I understood that already.. for a "true" dimension I was meaning something more like the horizontal/vertical/baseline/ordinate dimension like on the dimension toolbar to ensure that it is measured point to point as opposed to projected to an axis (x/y).

I was aware of that display as radius tool but I was hoping for something involving less clicks--especially if dimensioning repeatedly. Like a hotkey.. hold a button and it defaults to radius or something.

Thanks anyway!

 

[jraoul]

"Side question: is there a hotkey when dimensioning a circle to make it a radius instead of a diameter?"

Here is a macro out of the SolidWorks API help section:

Change Radial to Diametric Style Example (VB)
This example shows how to change radial style to diametric style.



'-------------------------------------

'

' Preconditions: Radial dimension is selected in the model.

'

' Postconditions: Selected radial dimension is changed to

' a diametric dimension.

'

'-------------------------------------

Option Explicit

Sub main()

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks

Dim swModel As SldWorks.ModelDoc2

Dim swSelMgr As SldWorks.SelectionMgr

Dim swDispDim As SldWorks.DisplayDimension

Dim bRet As Boolean

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks

Set swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc

Set swSelMgr = swModel.SelectionManager

Set swDispDim = swSelMgr.GetSelectedObject5(1)



' Toggle between radial and diametric styles

If swDispDim.Diametric Then

swDispDim.Diametric = False

Else

swDispDim.Diametric = True

End If



' Redraw to see changes

swModel.GraphicsRedraw2

End Sub

 

[Janman]

BiPolarMoment,

To get your "true" dimension, just use the smart-dimension tool outside of a sketch, and select the two points you want to measure between or alternately just use the measure tool if your are just needing to know for your curiosity.

 

[handleman]

BiPolarMoment:
Here is a quick macro that you can map to a button. If you select a line or two points and then run the macro it will create an aligned, linear dimension between endpoints or selected points.

Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim swDoc As SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim swSelMgr As SldWorks.SelectionMgr
Dim swDim As SldWorks.Dimension
Dim swDispDim As SldWorks.DisplayDimension
Dim i As Long
Dim selpt As Variant
Sub main()

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks
Set swDoc = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set swSelMgr = swDoc.SelectionManager

If swSelMgr.GetSelectedObjectCount2(-1) > 0 Then
    'For i = 1 To swselmgr.GetSelectedObjectCount2(-1)
    
    'Next i
    selpt = swSelMgr.GetSelectionPoint2(swSelMgr.GetSelectedObjectCount2(-1), -1)
    Set swDispDim = swDoc.AddDimension2(selpt(0), selpt(1), selpt(2))
Else
    MsgBox "failed"
End If
End Sub