How to see features I'm editing.

[Anonymous]

The edit feature facility in Fusion 360 is powerful. 

Unfortunately, when I click on the edit feature, I can't see what is already selected, so I have to start all over if I want to edit a feature.  Knowing what I'm working on also helps debug designs with problems.  Is there some what to see what features are used to create a construct (plane, axis or point) or is this a feature that should be added to Fusion 360?

Thanks,

Richard

[jodom4]

Hey richard,

If I follow you, I think you're asking about why when you edit a feature, the other elements that were created later in the timeline disappear temporarily. The short answer is that since you're basically going back in time, the things that were made later in the timeline don't exist yet, therefore can't be shown while the feature is being edited. 

In lots of cases you can edit an object without going back in the timeline if it's essential that you see the other objects while you're working.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, I didn't make myself clear.  I get how and why later
features disappear later in the timeline - and for good reason.

What I'm referring to is when I click on the "edit feature" option. I
want to be able to identify the design elements referenced by the feature.

Example:  Let's say I'm defining a point as the intersection of a plane
and an axis.  When I come back to that point to edit or review the
feature, I'd like the menu to identify which plane and which axis is
referenced - and (dare to dream) maybe let me change one element but not
the other.

It could even take the form of an Inspect menu command.

As designs get more complicated, two needs become increasingly important:

> To be able to trace references to design elements that might be
causing a problem (such as might generate a warning flag) or otherwise
cause the model to perform incorrectly.
> To be able "clean things up" by getting rid of unnecessary or
problematic design elements.

Think of this as the ability to "trace" a feature.

Does this help clarify the issue / opportunity?

Thanks,

Richard

[laughingcreek]

I agree something along these lines is needed.  Here's a post I had with the same question about sketches and what plan they are on.  Seems like something fusion could generally improve.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/how-to-tell-what-surface-plane-a-sketch-is...

[BigBearBrian]

Three years later, this feature still doesn't appear to be implemented.

[big_mark]

Make that 7 years later now.  Why?  Can not even be hard -- it knows the data as it complains when something messes with what used to create it.