"Display All Constraints" does not show ALL constaints.

[b_ruijter]

Hello,

I recently realized how annoying it is that "F8 Show All Constraints" does not shows all constraints.

The functions the function literally says ALL sketch contstraints. And it shows some constraints, but not all at all.

For some reasen the constraints that are attached to end points are still hidden? And only show up when you hoover over the endpoint.

This is strange and not at all what you expect.

Am i doing something wrong? Is there a setting that is set to "do not realy show all sketch constraints"? 

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

This is intended behavior for Coincident Constraints that solve in “groups” to reduce screen clutter.  Once you figure out the behavior - it should become desirable over having all displayed.

[b_ruijter]

Ok, i see know that that is so. (figures)

I was confused by the fact that if you set this "on"(F8), new constraints don't show up. You have to set it of and set it on again.

Weird. 

Any thoughts on that?

[b_ruijter]

It's still weird. 

ALL constraints should be ALL constraints. The clutter is the concequence of the choise.

If you would like to "reduce clutter" than that should be a different choice.

This way it is useless.

[EdvinTailwind]

I agree with @b_ruijter here. For example it's annoying when you have a loop that's needs to be closed. If the coincident constraints were shown any missing ones could be spotted quickly, rather than having to find it manually or launching the Sketch doctor.

IDEA: A command that let's you switch between ALL and ALMOST ALL, like Shift+F8.

[suomenvaimennin]

So at least in 2024 if you have a coincident constraint from a line to a point, the hovering doesn't show anything.

The constraint is still there, but no way to find and delete it except to delete and start over, and thus breaking any later attachment points.

ALL constraints should be ALL, NOT what you have decided is best and hidden without explanation.

Kind of annoying that this is marked as "solved".

[SBix26]

Nothing has changed in 2024 or 2025 in this regard.  Hovering over a coincident constraint shows the entities that are included, and any of them can be selected and deleted.

I wonder what is different about your system?

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Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025 | Windows 11 Home 23H2

[suomenvaimennin]

So mine will show a constraint if I hover over a point, but not if I hover over the line. So if I have a line constrained to a point I can only see it at that point, which may have many other lines constrained to it. So which of those point constraints do I choose to delete? I usually don't use this type of constraint, but rather a dimensional constraint set to zero since this is so annoying.

[SBix26]

When you move your cursor over the displayed constraint glyphs, the involved entity will highlight.  In the image in my previous post the cursor is over the middle constraint glyph, and the line up and to the right is highlighted.  If I move to one of the other glyphs, different entities will highlight.  If I select Delete, the coincident constraint to that line will be removed.  The other two are still in effect.

I want to be clear that I'm not a great fan of this functionality.  But it mostly works and I've gotten accustomed to working with it over many years.  I very rarely have to delete geometry in order to modify sketch constraints.  I haven't used competing applications (SW, SE, NX, Creo, etc) to know how others have solved the problem of displaying and manipulating these kinds of constraints, so I don't have any recommendations for Autodesk to improve it.

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Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025 | Windows 11 Home 23H2

[suomenvaimennin]

OK, Thanks. I got it to work sometimes. If I open the exact same sketch the hover will work. Then close it and try again, and nothing. Third time works again. I guess I'll stick to dimension to 0 trick untli this is fixed in 2035.

[SBix26]

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@suomenvaimennin wrote:

 I guess I'll stick to dimension to 0 trick untli this is fixed in 2035.

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I think your solution is quite a bit worse than the problem!

I have noticed for many years over many versions and many computers that if I use Undo while editing a sketch the coincident constraints will no longer show their glyphs for the remainder of that editing session.  The solution is to exit the sketch and re-enter it.  I've gotten so used to it that I haven't even raised it as an issue, but that, at least, ought to be fixed.

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Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025 | Windows 11 Home 23H2

[suomenvaimennin]

Yup, that sounds typical. Find a workaround or other trick rather than fixing the actual problems.

[skilbyMEVDS]

Wow nothing new to this issue huh? still impossible to delete coincident restraints? what an absolute dogwater software company, can't make basic functions like this one or copy+paste work but they have time to spam me with emails twice a day.