identify constraint which prevents the move

[fredJME3H]

hello everyone

newbie question-

if i want to move a drawing and it wont move - how can i find the constraint that is holding it where it is?

thank you

Fred

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Please share the file.

File > export > save as f3d on local device  > attach it to the next post.

günther

[fredJME3H]

attached file.

This is a simple example and I know that the constraint that is holding everything is the constraint in the bottom left being constrained to the origin . But on other drawings i have done there are many constraints- so how is the quick way of finding which constraint is the "culprit".

Is it possible to temporarly remove all constraints then move the drawing and then reinstate the constraints minus the "anchor" ?

regards

fred

[fredJME3H]

This is a better example .

I am wanting to align the lefthand vertical edge with the origin.

Like "constraints">"collinear" left edge >origin point

Please help thank you

[fredJME3H]

why didnt the file attach? I will try again

fred

[chrisplyler]

You're talking about constraints and origins. Are you then talking about moving sketches or elements in a sketch, instead of drawings? In Fusion 360, drawings are a completely different thing.

Within a sketch, if you want to move everything, then only a few things would prevent that:

1. Some constraint(s) or dimension(s) to the origin, acting as an "anchor."

2. Some constraint(s) or dimension(s) to a projected element, also acting as an "anchor."

3. Some element(s) of your sketch having the FIXED constraint.

[fredJME3H]

thanks- yes my terminology was wrong - it is a sketch that I want to move not a drawing (sorry)

my question is - Is there a way of easily identifying what constraint is "anchoring" and preventing the sketch from moving?

I am still trying to attach the file which has an example and i am trying again. if it doesnt attach this time- please explain how to attach - thanks

(Ah-ha) looks like I may have it attached this time !!

[g-andresen]

Hi,

maybe this way?

günther

[laughingcreek]

in theory, when you hover over a constraint, the effected sketch entities are suppose to give you some sort of visual indication of what they are acting on.  In practice this system only partially works, and could use a lot of improvement.  I wonder if the development team only got partly done with this scheme before being pulled off onto something else, and haven't made it back around to this (seems to have happened to a lot of the functionality in fusion).

I think it would be peachy if constraints that are acting on a sketch item would jiggle around or change colors when you try to drag something.

[jeff_strater]

There is no easy way to do this, to be honest.  It's a combination of experience (something is likely constrained to the origin, or to a fixed geometry, or to a projected geometry).  When I am debugging someone else's sketch, I usually just start dragging things.  That often helps visualize what is free to move and what is not.  (hint here - if you hit ESC in the middle of a drag, it will abort it.  If you forget, Undo is pretty effective).  Then search around for some of the common constraints that will restrict movement:  coincident, vertical/horizontal, colinear, dimensions.

[chrisplyler]

No easy way, except it gets easy once you have a little experience.

Please note that in the file you attached, nothing in Sketch2 is fully constrained, except for a single point that you projected into the sketch (the purple colored point). I am able to window-select everything in the sketch and move it around at will. Everything moves except that one purple point.

[steve.larsen0804]

How do we get this into the Requested Feature queue?  With a complex model that consists of projections, constraints and most importantly, hidden constraints, it would be most helpful to identify which constraints are preventing a move.  The underlying engine already knows which constraint(s) is holding things up, seems a trivial task to light them up, flash them, put into a listbox or the error dialog, something.

Bonus points for letting us save all constraints, remove/disable them, move the part, then re-enable those that still apply.

[jppoirier79]

Finding where the anchoring constraint can be difficult. Sometimes you know when the anchor point is but there are multiple constraints over the same point. If you click on the point, you will see a series of constraints pop up. When hovering over these additional constraints, you will see point and line highlighted blue showing what is attach to the constraint. If you click on an additional constraints, you can hit delete. Once deleted, you can try to move the sketch. If it is not the constraint holding the sketch, you can undo.