Drawing Dimensions and Component Suppression Problems

[Tom_Servo]

Can anyone tell me what the deal is with dimensions not returning after the referenced component is suppressed? 

The benefit to suppression is that it keeps references intact. So why are the dimension in drawing deleted?

Am I just missing some setting like this one:?

Allow dimensions to remain attached to the references even after suppressed because that's kind of the idea of suppression = YES

Someone please tell me this is only a settings issue. 

And no, I do not find it valuable at all to have orphaned dimensions stick around if they don't reattach when the component is unsuppressed.

[tyler.warner]

@Tom_Servo can you provide an example/video/file? Is this with a single part?

Is this with an assembly where a component is dimensioned to & suppressed within the assembly & then unsuppressed? I'm guessing this situation.

Are you running into this from code you're running or general usage?

[Tom_Servo]

model a cube and assemble it into a weldment.

Create a drawing of the weldment and add a dimension to the cube.

From the weldment, suppress the cube and return to the drawing.

Back to the weldment resume the cube and return to the drawing.

The dimensions were created manually.

If necessary I can create a video but I think the description above should be sufficient. 

[WCrihfield]

Just a quick passing thought, but if you just turn the visibility of the component off, instead of suppressing it in this process, will that preserve the dimension after you turn its visibility back on?  I don't even know if that is an option for you or not, but I always used visibility and DVR's (design view representations), instead of suppression & LOD's, so that's why it comes to mind.  

[tyler.warner]

Is there a specific reason for suppressing the cube, looking at the drawing, then unsuppressing the cube?

For the visibilty idea from above, it seems like changing the visibility in the assembly doesn't change the view on the drawing. But, changing the component visibility on the drawing will turn off the connected dims & turn them back on when the component visibility is turned back on.

Another idea is to add work points in the assembly where you need to dimension to. You can then turn these on using the model tree within the view on the drawing. Once dimensioned to you can turn the work points off & the dims will remain connected even when you turn off the work point or component visibility.

Using an additional model state would allow you to see the assembly on the drawing with the component suppressed without affecting your main view.

[Tom_Servo]

We are using suppression because it will prevent automation errors of inactive components and it's faster to update when 50% of the rules and parts are not running/updating.

But yeah visibility is much more forgiving but can also lead to sloppy practices and inaccurate models.
By inaccurate I mean you can have situations where the model is not failing when it should be.

[Tom_Servo]

Yes, imagine you are programming a drawing for 20 unique configurations; for simplicity lets say it's only 3.
In a weldment you are using parts A, B, and C.
In the normal course of a day you will need to switch between the possible configurations. When piece A is suppressed you couldn't save the drawing while programming the B+C scenario.

I acknowledge your idea about work points as a solution but not as a viable one. The number of additional work features needed to automate a model with 100+ drawings is what prevents me from implementing such a solution.

I have an idea as to what I want to try to do but I'm not sure if I can get it to work yet.
If I get a solution I will be sure to share it.