wish: overhaul of dimensioning, snapping of insertion points of dimensions

[Tobias Kern]

hi,

i often have problems with the dimensioning tools,

because these tools always dimension the object

who is on top.

more than often it happens that it is possible to

snap a dimension point (or is it called "insertion",

the point who shows what ist dimensioned)

with a new dimension and not the object itself.

the only solution is: first move the first drawn dimension

(the dimension lays over the object = see first paragraph)

to the background, then you can snap the object.

but this workflow is boring and not userfriendly.

so the dimension points (insertions) should have a

very very low / or better, no priority to snap with/to other

dimensions.

maybe as a option in the snapping settings:

snap insertion points of dimensions yes/no.

for me it makes no sense to snap insertions

of dimensions in any way?

[Benson Shaw]

Mostly agree. Although sometimes I do want to snap a new dimension to an existing one.

Extending wish:

One thing that might help would be a Dimension Selected Object(s) mode. When enabled, this mode would disable snaps to everything except the selected object(s). The Dimension tool would need a temporary selection capability. Either by:

(1) Press Option (Alt). Same as temporary selection available in Move by Points, Rotate, and other tools.

(2) Face/edge selection with highlight. Similar to selection during Extract, Shell, Fillet Edge and some other tools.

Speculation:

Dimension Selected Objects mode might help progress toward 3d dims. If selection is a 3d object, the Dim tool would be aware of 3d status and calculate the distance in 3 space. Dimension value text placement would need options such as - fixed parallel to screen (handy for saved view), auto rotate to always face screen (similar to image props), parallel to Top view Front or Right view or other default views, or parallel to Working Plane, other options?

-B

[Kevin McAllister]

A simple solution could be to add a separate dimension snap control to the snapping palette. It could affect snapping to things like dimensions, text, markers, revision clouds etc. - basically anything in the Dims/Notes tool palette.

KM