Horiz/Vert Sketch Constraint Graphical-Preview Bug

[josh.nieman]

We just migrated from 2022 to 2024. Specifically using Inventor 2024.2 // 29.20.27200.0000

I and several other users have experienced problems with the graphical-preview/reference line for the Horizontal and Vertical sketch constraint while editing a part-sketch in an assembly context. To be clear, I mean editing a sketch within a part component, by double clicking it in an assembly. The top level "active document" is an assembly, the "active edit document" is a part component of that assembly.

The constraint preview graphic line is displayed according to the ASSEMBLY horizontal/vertical rotation, and NOT the part.

I've been able to reproduce this by:
1 - Create an assembly using Standard.iam as the template.
2 - Start the Create-Component command to create a new part using Standard.ipt as the template.

3 - Fully constrain that part to the origin places of the assembly, such that it was rotated along the assembly XY plane some number significant enough to see visual misalignment (30 degrees in the attached example)

4 - Right click on the component in the assembly model browser and click "Open"
5 - Create a sketch on the XY plane of said part and draw a line at some skewed arbitrary angle.

6 - Save and Close that part

7 - With the Assembly now the active document, double-click the Part component, to "edit component in place"

8 - Edit the sketch created in step 5

9 - Click the horizontal constraint button and observe the graphical preview line is incorrectly aligned

We also experience this issue with old parts from 2020, 2018, etc that have not yet been migrated, when we edit their sketches in an assembly context / 'edit component in place' context.

I've attached the assembly and part that I created (I also made a 1x2x3" extrusion in the part to create the sketch on a face, but the extrusion didn't seem pertinent to replicating the problem) as well as a crudely marked up screenshot showing the graphic misalignment with respect to the part orientation.

If I go through with clicking the objects I wish to horizontally constrain... it -does- respect the part orientation and constrains them horizontally with regard to part vectors, which is different than the assembly vectors.  But having to know the part orientation kind of defeats the purpose of the preview/reference graphic line, doesn't it?  🙂

edit-to-add specific version info

[josh.nieman]

In short:

Observed behavior:
The graphical reference line for Vertical/Horizontal constraints aligns to the Assembly vectors when editing a part-sketch in that Assembly context.

Desired/Expected behavior:

When editing a Part sketch and beginning the vertical/horizontal constraint command, the graphical preview line should align to the part orientation, and not the assembly orientation, which also coincides with the actual constraint results.

[CCarreiras]

Hi!

That is not a problem only in 24 version.
In previous versions similar, situations occur when editing parts in assembly context.

Anyway, report it to developers.

[kacper.suchomski]

I remember that I had similar situations, but in my rush I didn't pay attention to it.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I don't believe this is a bug. It is controlled by an App Option. Go to Tools -> App Options -> Sketch -> make sure  the two boxes under "Look at" are checked.

Many thanks!

[josh.nieman]

@johnsonshiue Thank you for your reply.

I do not believe the option you allude to is concerning the problem I have.  I may not be clear in what I was describing, though. The options you speak of only seem to affect the initial view orientation after creating a new sketch. Meaning that if the box is checked, Inventor will automatically orient the view to "square up" to or "look at" the sketch plane. I am speaking to the orientation of the preview graphic of Horizontal/Vertical constraints, regardless of view orientation.

From the help doc

https://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-1898C432-CFD2-46F1-8BAE-631392DFBF1D

Look at sketch plane on sketch creation and edit

When selected, specifies that the graphics window reorients so that the sketch plane is parallel to the view for new sketches. Clear the check box to create a sketch on the selected sketch plane regardless of orientation to the view.

In Part Environment controls Look at behavior:

• When creating or editing a part sketch.
• When creating or editing a component in part.
• During in-place edit of a part within an assembly.

---

Regardless, I did previously only have the checkbox for "Look at" checked for "Part" so I did check both of them as you recommended. However, I can repeat the steps above and get the same confusing behavior initially described. The checkbox does not appear to change the behavior.

The issue remains that the green preview graphic is showing ASSEMBLY orientation of horizontal/vertical and not the SKETCH PLANE orientation of horizontal/vertical.

Please see attached screenshot.
- I have both checkboxes 'checked' that you recommend.

- The top level ActiveDocument is HVConstGraphicDemo.iam

- I am currently editting Sketch3, which was made by selecting the broad face nearest the user POV, within the HVConstGraphicDemo.ipt component using the directions outlined above.

- I have the Assembly Triad visible, as circled below.

- I took this screenshot while the "Create Horizontal Constraint" command is active and no selections made yet.

Issue: The constraint preview line is parallel to the ASSEMBLY X-Axis and not the SKETCH/PART X-Axis which is the only relevant orientation in this context. This is visually misleading, unhelpful, and inaccurate.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! If possible, please share the Inventor files in zip here or send it to me directly johnson.shiue@autodesk.com. I would like to understand the sketching preview behavior better.

Many thanks!

[josh.nieman]

Thank you for following up with me. I will do as you requested as soon as possible.

I'll see if I can also create and attach a screen recording that might clarify exactly the behavior I'm pointing out.

Edit: due to file size of the screen recording, I'll email you with a OneDrive link to the files.

[Brennen_Lining]

Did this ever get resolved?  Running into this issue daily and it's affecting workflow.

[josh.nieman]

*edit* Delete, misfire

[josh.nieman]

@Brennen_Lining :

@johnsonshiue  has been very responsive via email, but I have not made time to try his latest recommendation.  Johnson advised running the Inventor Factory Reset Utility (I believe I that's the name) to see if that clears out any latent issues during migration to the new version.

So maybe try that and see if it works - sorry I don't have more info to share at this time. The issue still crops up for me, too, from time to time but I've been too preoccupied to test, presently.

[josh.nieman]

FWIW, the problem persists from time to time, after all the above fixes.

It's just become (yet another) annoyance that I just deal with, and it doesn't feel like it's worth the trouble it takes to get things fixed to pursue it any longer.

Maybe someone else will be more persistent about this bug and get it fixed in the future.