configurable Sketch Plane

added in 2005. never use it.

I would agree that the configurable sketch would seem too dangerous. But I'd like to defend it as a good idea and say instead that it's the plane normals and sketch orientation issues that are the real danger.

Noticed it a while back, thought about it, filed it away (just in case) but largely figrured I would never us it. If anything, I would use configurations on a sketch that drove the position of a plane (done that before) before using configurable planes. Also, since I figured it wouldn't get used much, I also figured it wouldn't be all that reliable (if folks don't use a feature, bugs don't get found and fixed in my experience - for robustness I try to default to things that are used a lot when appropriate)

On a similar note (maybe new thread?) has anyone used configurable suppression or unsuprression of sketch relations? Tha'ts been around for a while. Just opened a new part to give it a try, and even though there is a group box in the PM to choose the cofnigs that the suppression/unsuppression would apply to, I found that it would apply to both configs reagardless of what I told it to do. Maybe i am not clicking in the right order? (likely, though I tried it three different ways), or maybe it is broken but no one reported that it doesn't work becasue no one uses it? Kinda curious about that one - I would love to see a good reason to use it. I have never run into one that I can think of.

Ed

BTW, matt... what's up? working on a new kick-ass presentation, or are you just getting some background for your own knowledge? I know that the SWx World acceptence emails came out in the last few weeks... Speaking of planes - I gotta go catch one. Be back next week to follow up...

I used it once, probably a couple years ago now. I don't remember the exact circumstance, but a design change late in a project backed me into a corner. That is, I didn't want to take the time to find an cleaner way. I definitely remember having trouble getting the suppression states right. So, this problem has probably been around for some time. I hope I never have to open that model again. what a horror it would be to understand. Complex sketches are bad enough.

The only circumstance I can think of where configurable sketch relations would be really warranted would be a case where the alternative would be suppressing multiple copies of a feature with minor variations, or in- context relations to different places for different instances of a part in an assembly.

It will probably come in handy at some point to pull off a trick which is otherwise much less doable in SW. No immediate need for it.

I can see this having more widespread use, although I don't use it either. Changing design intent with configs would be useful.

I'd also like to be able to configure the construction state toggle, or switch the sketch used for a feature, which would be very useful.

Just local user group research. I do this every other month or so.

Plus talking about tech issues helps folks focus on constructive topics.