dimensions

[Anonymous]

Why are my sketch dimension always greyed out and not selectable.

[Beyondforce · Accepted solution]

A screencast will be nice!

Ben.

[George-Roberts]

Are the dimension values encased in brackets ()? If so, they are reference dimensions which you cannot edit. This means your sketch is fully constrained / dimensioned and the reference dimension is driven by all other parameters / constraints.

[Anonymous]

IT did not answer my question why are the sketch dimensions greyed out is it something I need to do in constraints.

[Anonymous]

IT did not answer my question why are the sketch dimensions greyed out is it something I need to do in constraints.

[Beyondforce]

We are still waiting for a screencast or the file!

[George-Roberts]

And you also didn't answer if it was encased in brackets... If it is, it answers your question. You are not able to change reference dimensions because of the nature of the shape.

Imagine dimensioning a square, you need angles and two dimensions. If all corners are 90degrees (or constrained perpendicular when drawing) and you add two dimensions, it will be fully constrained. If you added a third dimension, it would be a reference dimension, because it would be impossible to change and keep all other 'driven' dimensions and constraints the same

[Anonymous]

If I double click on a dimension I get the greyed out dimension come up in between brackets, if I then double click that greyed out dimension it turns blue and I can edit it.

In the attached screen shot the dimension is ready for editing.

[George-Roberts]

Oh, your in a 2D view. When you override the dimension here, it just changes the text. You need to switch to the model and physically change the part size

[Anonymous]

I have solved this problem

[Anonymous]

I have had this problem, while working on initial Sketches, and in my case it was caused by the program switching to "Stop Sketch". 

The solution was to:

• go to the control ribbon at the top of the design space,
• select Sketch
• select Create Sketch  
• left click anywhere on the design grid: after a few seconds pause, the design grid will (mysteriously) move slightly diagonally towards the top right corner of the screen, the contrast level will reduce (going slightly 'milky'); an additional option appears on the right end of the control ribbon, namely "Stop Sketch".

The program is now in Sketch Mode, and the Sketch Dimension tool is enabled

[Anonymous]

The suggestion in my last posting produces a New Sketch, which is not at all helpful.

All that's required, to "re-activate" the Sketch Dimension tool, is to select 'Edit Sketch': my problem was caused by the program 'Stopping' the Sketch, seemingly of its own accord.  The solution to this problem was:

• On the (sort of) tree diagram in the top left corner of the design area, right-click on the icon for the currently active Sketch (i.e. the one that you've got on screen): this should open a drop-down list.
• From the drop-down list, left-click on Edit Sketch (3rd on the list): this should put the Sketch back into an edit-able mode in general, in which the Sketch Dimension tool is active.