Constraints

The 2D Layout for 3D Design workbench lets you create geometrical constraints, which specify explicitly how the geometry should behave.

 

As constraint commands work as in the Interactive Drafting and Sketcher workbenches, the tasks included in this section provide links to the Interactive Drafting User's Guide or to the Sketcher User's Guide. As such, the information detailed in these tasks is presented in the context of these workbenches. You should note that these user's guides contain images that correspond to the related workbench and therefore illustrate geometry in an environment that is different from the 2D Layout for 3D Design environment (symbols and background color, for example).
 

Before you begin creating constraints in 2D Layout for 3D Design

Before you begin creating constraints in 2D Layout for 3D Design, remember the following points:

  • A constraint applies to up to three elements.
  • Constraints are created either through the constraint commands or via SmartPick.
  • When you use SmartPick, you detect geometrical constraints dynamically. But SmartPick can simply be used to automatically detect constraints without necessarily creating them. For more information, refer to the SmartPick task in the Sketcher User's Guide.
  • In the 2D Layout for 3D Design workbench, dimensional constraints do not exist as such. It is by creating driving dimensions that you can drive constrained geometry.
  • If you want constraints to be created, make sure the Show Constraints icon , and optionally the Create Detected Constraints icon , are active, before you start creating constraints. Refer to Layout Tools for more information on these options.

 

Creating Quick Constraints (task documented in the Interactive Drafting User's Guide): quickly set geometrical constraints.
Fixing Elements Together (task documented in the Sketcher User's Guide): constrain a set of geometrical elements; once constrained, the set is considered as rigid and can be easily moved just by dragging one of its elements.
Creating Constraints via a Dialog Box (task documented in the Interactive Drafting User's Guide): set geometrical constraints via a dialog box.
Creating a Contact Constraint (task documented in the Sketcher User's Guide): apply a constraint with a relative positioning that can be compared to contact.
  Creating Constraints via SmartPick (task documented in the Interactive Drafting User's Guide): detect, create and visualize constraints using SmartPick.