I am confused by my ability to edit (say a slight adjustment with extrude) a sub component if I forget to activate it.

[mporter88]

I am confused by my ability to edit (say... a slight adjustment with extrude) a sub component when I forget to activate it.

I have created all of my sub components as components from the first body creation.

(There are no stand alone bodies in the top level component/assembly.)

I do this so that each subcomponent will contain all developments in a discrete timeline.

But if I forget to change the activation from the top level assembly/component to the sub component I wish to change....I can still make the change to the sub component....which confuses me.

I feel like I am missing something in the "philosophy" of arranging things in a hierarchy.

Can someone clue me in as to what is happening when I edit a sub component without activating it via the sub component's radio button.... and accidentally leave the top level component/assembly activated?

Any input appreciated.

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

Certain "editing" can be done, to a component, without activating it and still appear in the component.  You did not say what your edit entailed but say you wanted to change a sketch dimension already under the component.  You can edit this sketch without activating the component because the sketch "belongs" to the component.  Say you want to add a fillet to a component and your forget to activate it, no problem because the fillet uses an edge that exists in the component and no where else.  I hope you kinda get the idea that the creation of new sketches and new bodies requires you to activate the component but edits and additions that use the existing bodies in the component do not require activation.  I personally activate all the time because I want to be sure but sometimes I forget and then I evaluate the conditions.

[mporter88]

Thank you very much!

My concern was that I was somehow junking up my assembly hierarchy and/or breaking the time line....but it seems that I would not because I am editing something and not creating a new something...which makes sense.

Typically I am pushing in or pulling out faces using extrude by tiny amounts in adjusting for clearances.

Always flats.  

I will continue to try to activate the component I want to edit as it seems like best practice.

Have a good day!

MP