Dimensions in Family Sketch Mode Greyed-out

[craig]

I'm creating a generic family and while in sketch mode some of the dimensions that I am creating appear in black text and are selectable, while other dimensions, while creating in sketch mode, appear in grayscale and are not selectable until completing the sketch mode and coming back to family mode. Why is this happening?

[barthbradley]

Dimensions are referencing elements within Sketch mode and Elements outside of Sketch Mode. 

[ralphdenhaan]

Hi,

When dimensions are greyed out, it means they don't reference a sketch object. This occurs when referencing a solid or void outside the sketch. So keep an eye on where you place the dimensions. For example, use the reference planes and sketch line references.

[barthbradley]

FWIW: It's good practice NOT to place Labeled Dimensions INSIDE Sketch Mode.  Align and Lock to Sketch Linework to Ref. Planes OUTSIDE OF SKETCH MODE that are driven by Labeled Dims.  Locked Dims in Sketch Mode are okay. By "Locked" Dims, I mean Dims pulled between Sketch Linework and PADLOCKED.    By "Labeled" Dims, I mean those driven by Parameters.  

[craig]

That makes sense, however the 2" dimension (in my previously attached example) is dimensioning the distance between the two sketch lines, so it should not be greyed out in sketch mode. Additionally the two curb thickness dimensions are dimensioning between a sketch line and a reference line which is not in the sketch, so it should be grayed out but isn't. Hmmm...still a head scratcher.

[barthbradley]

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@craig wrote:

 however the 2" dimension (in my previously attached example) is dimensioning the distance between the two sketch lines, so it should not be greyed out in sketch mode. 

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Sure it would if you pulled the Dimension outside of Sketch Mode.  Or are you saying that you pulled the Dimension in Sketch Mode and it went grey?   That can happen, but I don't see it could have happened in your case - based on what I'm seeing in that Screenshot.  

[ToanDN]

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@craig wrote:

That makes sense, however the 2" dimension (in my previously attached example) is dimensioning the distance between the two sketch lines, so it should not be greyed out in sketch mode. Additionally the two curb thickness dimensions are dimensioning between a sketch line and a reference line which is not in the sketch, so it should be grayed out but isn't. Hmmm...still a head scratcher.

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Did you actually tab when placing the dimension to make sure the references are the sketch lines?  Often you think you are picking a sketch line but you actually pick the geometry in the model.