Creating Angular Dims

When you do 'Insert>Dimension' and get the 'Attach type' menu, make sure it is set to 'On entity'. It seems to default to the last type you used and the stuff you mentioned sees like it might be another type of attachment. When in 'On entity', clicking, to lines at an angle to each other, places the angle with MMB (accept/done). Single clicking on circular feature should give you a radius, double clicking, a diametral dimension. The last click will be the place to put the dimension. No change there from previous versions.

Naturally, some may be reluctant to answer your question, wondering how such fundemental elements of design intent are left to the drawing for creation. I certainly am. Here are my top three reasons for creating parts/assemblies so that dimensions 'show' in the drawing:

1) It is simpler, easier for lazy people like me to just press a button and capitalize on the work I've already done in creating the model by being able to 'show' model dimesions in the drawing; 2) The most extremely cool thing about parametric modellers (not Pro/e alone, but Pro/e first) is that the drawing is a window on the model; you are actually seeing views of the model, snapshots, as it were. So, you can actually modify a 'shown' dimension because it really exists; 3) Because parametric modellers are also associative, modifying one of these 'shown' dimesions actually changes the model when regenerated, because these modellers are associative as well as parametric. So much more is based on this associativity: design optimization with 'beharioral modelling' and structural/thermal design analysis; feature based tool pathing; scene and model based rendering ~ all of which update when the models/assemblies update. Reusability ~ my essential laziness is fully validated! Where are paens, poems, dances (I get carried away).

Did I leave any out? Anyone care to augment the list?

David Janes

The dimensions required to fabricate the part simply do not exist - I didn't create the model

I know the mouse picks to create dims, I've created thousands of drawings in Pro since rel 15, but it seems WF is extremely finicky when creating dia. dimensions to the point that I believe there is an issue I've exported the model for use in 2001 and have zero problems creating the dimensions

: >Naturally, some may be reluctant to answer your question, wondering how such : >fundemental elements of design intent are left to the drawing for creation. I : >certainly am : : The dimensions required to fabricate the part simply do not exist - I didn't : create the model

Which means that exonerates you from even investigating it!?! This is Pro/e!!!! The model is EVERYTHING! And, I have found in all kinds of troubleshooting, that going back to the beginning, redoing the assumptions, covering all the easy, old ground, with new eyes, even using Pro/e's investigational tools, like analysis and measure (but IN THE MODEL) can tell you a great deal. For example, can you give an angular dimension to things (faces, edges, silhouettes) which seem, in a drawing, to be planar, but are not? Can you give an angular dimension to planes which do not share the same axis of rotation, something which you can not see or investigate in a drawing? It needs to be investigated precisely what you are trying to give an angular dimension to, because you really can't tell in stinking

2D. : : I know the mouse picks to create dims, I've created thousands of drawings in : Pro since rel 15, but it seems WF is extremely finicky when creating dia. : dimensions to the point that I believe there is an issue

No, sorry, it's not WF. Look through the submissions to this NG about WF, yours seems to be the first on difficulties with creating angular and radial/diametral dimensions. It is not a general "issue". I certainly have no problem creating these dimensions in a drawing. What you may be failing to account for is that it doesn't matter how far back you go with the software ~ you are NEW to Wildfire ~ and it's a BIG step for most people, especially the 'old timers'. Just as an example of where you might be having difficulties, the selection process is completely cocked up, compared to what you have been used to. And if you are doing this incorrectly, you could easily be getting the wrong result. In fact, it is so different, so confusing, there are tutorials on just this topic provided by PTC in their User Area. Anything you can find out about how selection works will help you get used to the differences. Master selection and you've mastered 90% of what's hard in Wildfire ~ and 90% of its increased power and flexibility! But don't give up ~ persistence, persistence, persistence (and investigation) be your watchwords.

David Janes

Simple, time to time hit "Update the display" icon or select menu item "View/Update..." and then continue with dimensioning.

This is an issue of WF 2002490 and maybe some other datecodes.

I would like to know if this is resolved in later date codes.

"Simple, time to time hit "Update the display" icon or select menu item "View/Update..." and then continue with dimensioning.

This is an issue of WF 2002490 and maybe some other datecodes.

I would like to know if this is resolved in later date codes."

Bingo! That did the trick, thanks-

"No, sorry, it's not WF. Look through the submissions to this NG about WF, yours seems to be the first on difficulties with creating angular and radial/diametral dimensions. It is not a general "issue". I certainly have no problem creating these dimensions in a drawing" Dooh!!! - Thanks again Vitomir...