Inventor Sketch Tab in Ribbon

[cheryl_sneddon]

Hi All,

Might be a bit late with asking this one since it has been in the last few releases, but why does Inventor now have a sketch tab active even when not in a sketch?

The reason it is causing me issues is I teach Inventor as a reseller and most of my delegates still struggle with creating lots of unwanted sketches. When I ask them they always tell me it is because they don't know when they are in the sketch mode or not. They tend to think that when they see this tab they are in sketch mode.

I have to make sure I fully explain that unless this tab is highlighted you are not in the sketch. Wouldn't it be better to only have this tab visible when you are in the sketch?

Correct me if I am wrong here but didn't Inventor used to be this way? Maybe back in release 2016 or 2017?

Just really trying to figure out what value it has? Can it be turned off on Application Options maybe?

Thanks, 🙂

[Mark.Lancaster · Accepted solution]

@cheryl_sneddon 

Not sure what configuration was in the past for Inventor and the sketch ribbon tab..

Its been a while for me for teaching Inventor but when I was doing it..  I first focused on the just doing sketches and not sketches and then extrude.  I had the students finish a sketch and then start another one so newbies can get use to the workflow.   I also do it that way, to reinforce my sketching methodology of keeping it simple and not try to create one big sketch.  For me I found the helpful in teaching students new to Inventor.

In the end I don't have an answer or the reason why.   But there's no setting for it.

[mcgyvr · Accepted solution]

Its to work more efficiently/quickly (reduction in mouse clicks)..

One can go right to the sketch tab and hit circle which will immediately prompt for a sketch plane and then put me right into circle mode..

Vs having to hit the "Start 2d sketch" then select a sketch plane then hit the circle button. 

It eliminates the "Start 2d sketch" mouse click or hotkey..

No way to turn that off

[cheryl_sneddon]

I get that being productive is a valuable thing but when learning how to use Inventor it needs to be more intuitive. 

I don't think this is saving any time, whether you have been using Inventor for a day, a year or a decade. 

Aw well one of those things I guess.

Thanks.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Cheryl,

Many thanks for your feedback! I get your point. Even today, after nearly 20 years of using Inventor, I still click on "Start 2D Sketch" command. This old habit is hard to break.

Enabling the Sketch tab and some Sketch commands is a way to help new users. We consistently got negative feedback from some new users saying they don't know how to proceed with a design. They don't understand why creating sketch geometry requires a sketch to be created in the first place. As a result, we sort of automate the process of creating a sketch by allowing certain Sketch creation commands to be enabled.

Many thanks!