Add Hide Construction Lines checkbox in Sketch palette

[eleph67]

It would be handy to be able to hide/show construction lines while editing a sketch. For example when I design a feature I first create construction lines, then I overwrite the relevant segments with non-contruction line types. This makes it is easier to select profiles for extrusion or pattern creation. The Sketch Palette would be a good place for this option.

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

@eleph67 

This question comes up now and then but whenever I offer to demonstrate the solution - nobody will Attach their actual file here for the demonstration. 
Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

[jeff_strater]

While I understand the request to hide/show construction geometry in a sketch, I suspect that this would confuse a lot of users, or people who edit others' sketches.   When you cannot move a curve, but cannot see what it is constrained to, that would be challenging to try to figure out, unless you happened to notice that construction curves was unchecked.  We see it all the time with "show profiles".  Do a search for "cannot extrude sketch", and you will see many people whose sketches are just set to not show the profiles.

The other point here is:  " This makes it is easier to select profiles for extrusion or pattern creation".  I understand the pattern creation part, but not the "profiles for extrusion" part.  That is, in fact, the entire reason for the existence of construction geometry in Fusion sketches:  so that that geometry does not participate in profiles at all.  Maybe I am  missing something.

Again, not an unreasonable suggestion, but there are some potential issues with it.

[eleph67]

Hi Jeff,

thank you for considering my request, I really appreciate.

Please forget the profile creation part, you're completely right. In fact the suggestion is only related to handling of  overlapping geometries, which frequently involve both construction and non-construction elements. Current solution, with the popup menu, is somewhat not straightforward and slow when dealing with several elements to be selected.

As a secondary benefit, hiding construction lines would provide an uncluttered view of real sketch lines which, besides, may assist in detecting small gaps in intended profiles. A plus would also be to be able to Export in DXF without construction lines, but this probably open a different request. As a hobbyst, I use DXF to prepare paths for my diy CNC router, using a simple german tool (not sure I can mention it here).

I understand your concern on confusing users. Not only would I set the default to "show construction lines", but I would also reset it every time the sketch is opened - which makes sense because construction lines are hidden anyway when the sketch is closed. This would avoid any confusion. Additionally, the whole setting could be hidden and forced to default at the application preferences level, so that unexperienced users will not get in trouble.

Thanks & best regards

m

[adam · Accepted solution]

As of the current version of Fusion, Autodesk have FINALLY added an option to hide construction lines in the sketch palette!  Thank you Autodesk!

[m_brembati]

Hi all!

I'm using the new checkbox to hide construction geometry in sketch design mode. When when the checkbox is cleared, the construction lines are correctly hidden.

However, construction lines can still be selected using usual selection tools and they still participate in automatic snap/constraints while using drawing tools. I feel this behavior is confusing for the user and it is inconsistent with GUI design principles. I expect hidden objects not to be selectable or interact in any way with drawing process.

One of my use cases is to delete in a single step all non-construction lines in order to start over designing my part based on construction geometry. To do so I hide construction lines, I select all visible objects with rectangle selection and I press delete. This process will select and delete hidden construction geometry as well.  

Another use case is to draw new objects creating automatic snap/constaints to other non-construction and visible objects. Even if construction lines are hidden, they still cause snaps and generate constraints.

Thank you