show dimensions for component move with copy

[splitwindow]

how do I show, or can I see, the dimensions that were used for a component move with copy

[jhackney1972]

Move/Copy will give you a identical copy of the a component.  You can edit the sketch but both components will change size.  I think you want Copy/Paste New.  Take a look at the video.

[splitwindow]

Hi John,

That's not what I was looking for. 

The dimensions I was referring to are the component x,y,z dimensions that were used during the initial "move/copy" dialogue box that pops up when the command is used - see screen shot attached. I was hoping to be able to edit the same initial dialogue box such that I could modify the original dimensions used.

Please let me know if this is possible - Thanks in advance.

[HughesTooling]

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@splitwindow wrote:

Hi John,

That's not what I was looking for. 

The dimensions I was referring to are the component x,y,z dimensions that were used during the initial "move/copy" dialogue box that pops up when the command is used - see screen shot attached. I was hoping to be able to edit the same initial dialogue box such that I could modify the original dimensions used.

Please let me know if this is possible - Thanks in advance.

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In your image (please don't attache images just paste into your message) you are using translate so the info should be stored in the Move in the timeline. 

That said move should not really be used in a parametric design you should use joints to position components.

[splitwindow]

Hi Mark,

As you indicate (and as I was expecting) the info should be in the timeline but I didn't see it there. After some "playing around" what I found was that the original move info was there if I used "bodies" as the move object but did not report the original info if I used "component" as the object. 

Also, if I converted the moved body into a component, it showed as a new part and not an instance of the copied object.

Anyway, as long as I understand what's going on I can work with it.

I agree that I should use joints to position components, but for what I'm doing it seemed quicker to place parts somewhat arbitrarily until I nail-down a firm design.

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

A few things you should know about Move:

1. Move Body is a parametric feature (creates a timeline entry). 
2. Move Component does not create a timeline entry.  Move Component, instead, puts the design in a "Capture Pending" state:
   
   in that state, you can choose to reset component positions, or capture them (which will add a Capture timeline entry)
3. For Move Body, Free Move mode (the default):
   
   does not retain the values used to create the move.  This is because if you do a sequence of moves during the command, including rotations, those value become meaningless (the rotation also rotates the coordinate system of the move, so is order dependent).
4. However, if you use Translate mode:
   
   the translation values are retained, and will show up on edit.

Hope this helps

[HughesTooling]

@splitwindow Sorry, mislead you there on moving components. Personally never use move at all in my designs and just assumed moving components would work the same as moving bodies. I guess you could use move and capture position while experimenting then go back and use a joint then make sure you delete the capture position. 

Really my only experience with move is on the forum trying to fix designs where someone's painted themselves into a corner! Move is nearly also a sign you're doing something wrong.