Reference Snap Lines in Drawings

[MrSmithtastic]

What would be really great (especially for balloon control) would be reference snap lines (like Creo has). Essentially you can right click an edge of the model in the drawing and select create reference line, then drag it away from the edge however far you need/want it to be (it should work much like a sketch offset). You should be able to create a reference snap line from either the model in the drawing or the bounding box of the view. Then you can snap text, dimensions and balloons to the line. The line will remain attached to the view it's referencing and the annotations will remain attached to the line. So if the view moves everything comes with it and if you move the line the annotations also go with it. This also allows balloons to be kept nice and tidy (I've never found that auto-balloon actually makes them look very nice so prefer to manually put them in).

Some views from creo below. It's really nice functionality to have.

[AlexFielder]

So this would be construction lines of sorts - something akin to the defpoints layer in AutoCAD - visible but doesn't print!?

With some not inconsiderable effort, I guess you could approximate this with a view-based sketch and sketch lines set to an as yet, non-existent/newly-created non-printing mode (as opposed to the Sketch-only mode currently available), whilst also being snap-able when placing dimensions.

Interesting...

[MrSmithtastic]

Yes this is pretty much exactly the thing, they definitely shouldn't print... sort of flexible grid lines I suppose you could call them.

[AlexFielder]

Given that it is effectively grid lines, I guess an AutoCAD-style non-printable "dynamic sketch block" would also work.

[MrSmithtastic]

perhaps though it needs to remain flexible. You'd want to be able to easily drag the lines about whilst maintaining a relationship to the model/view.

Another great addition to this functionality would be the ability to snap multiple elements at once to the line. Again with Creo you can draw a load of balloons, but in a ref snap line and then select all the balloons and drag then towards the line, they'll all snap to it at the same time... It's flipping awesome!

[AlexFielder]

I don't suppose you can record it in action?

[MrSmithtastic]

I've been hunting youtube for videos of it as I don't have Creo anymore but can't find much which is really annoying!!

Might have to tap up one my my old colleagues to see if they can sort out a screencast or something.

[MrSmithtastic]

This is the best I can find ATM and I really doesn't do the tool justice... If I can I'll install a trial Creo and do my own video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc0aau9yZHg

[AlexFielder]

Interesting video; also interesting that he takes the time to move the lines even though they won't print.

[MrSmithtastic]

OK. This is cut down a lot, I've obviously put 4 balloons in here but I cropped that out.... Shows what's possible though.

[AlexFielder]

Pretty interesting functionality, just need to get some votes. 🙂

[esmith53]

This would be very handy.  Right now, Inventor can auto-create horizontal or vertical balloons, but if you're referencing off of a 3/4 view, it would be nice to align the balloons with the angle of the view or a sketched line.

[bharath.suresh]

Please add this functionality. It would also be very useful for drawing automation. 

[alexander.hendrix]

Please add this functionality, it makes the drawing looks more professional than balloons that are not in line

[Tom_Servo]

I just created a fully automated drawing with almost 100 dimensions. 

Using iLogic to control the position of the dimensions is a joke!

Autodesk, let's raise the bar and get us the drawing automation and manual drawing creation tools we need. 

Although knowing Autodesk, I would guess they wouldn't let you toggle the visibility of the snap lines jk they really better let us hide them. 

[smehtaF6M8L]

Using Creo before using Inventor makes me hate Inventor so much for the lack of functionality Creo offered that made life so much easier. We need snap line in Inventor for sure. You have my upvote.