Dimension value edit controls

Dimension value edit handle

The dimension value edit handle consists of the following controls to modify dimension values:

Dimension Value Edit dialog box

Control	Effect
(A) Value edit box	Enters or edits a dimensional value using one of the following techniques: Typing a value in the box. If your mouse has a wheel, rotating the wheel to change the dimension value displayed in the box. If available, selecting a discrete value or range of values from a list. Pressing the Tab key applies the value and keeps the dialog box open. Pressing Enter applies the value and closes it.
(B) Lock	Locks or unlocks the dimension. Tip: You can lock a dimension only if all variables that it is dependent upon are also locked. You cannot unlock a dimension that is controlled by a formula or is used within the formula of another dimension or variable.
(C) Directional arrows	Specifies the direction to apply the dimension value edit. The default direction is indicated by the highlighted arrow button. The specified change can be symmetric as well. You also can specify direction using the dimension direction indicators on the dimension line.
Note: If a dimension value edit box is completely disabled, it means the dimension cannot be edited in its current state.

Displaying 3D PMI dimension editing controls (synchronous and ordered)

Depending on the dimension type and where you click, a single click can display all of the dimension editing functions, or display only the dimension value edit box. In many cases, you can use Alt+click to get the opposite behavior. Examples of these behaviors are shown in the following table.

For this dimension type	When dimensions are	You can	By doing this
3D PMI dimensions (synchronous, ordered)	Drivable(locked dimensions and unlocked dimensions)	Edit the dimension formatting.	Click a dimension line or projection line. Alt+click the dimension text. Click a dimension under the PMI collector in PathFinder.
	Drivable(locked dimensions and unlocked dimensions)	Edit the dimension value. Display the synchronous dimension value edit command bar.	Click the dimension text. Alt+click a dimension line or projection line. Alt+click a dimension in PathFinder.
	Driven (to scale)	Edit the dimension format.	Click anywhere on the dimension.
	Driven (to scale)	Edit the dimension value and format.	With the dimension already selected, click the dimension text.
	Driven (not-to-scale)	Edit the dimension value and format.	Click the dimension text. Alt+click a dimension line or projection line.
	Driven (not-to-scale)	Edit dimension format.	Alt+click the dimension text. Click a dimension line or projection line.
Automatic dimensions on ordered features	When the Dynamic Edit command is selected:	Edit the dimension value and format.	Click the dimension text. Alt+click a dimension line or projection line.
	When the Dynamic Edit command is selected:	Edit the dimension format.	Alt+click the dimension text. Click a dimension line or projection line.
	In edit definition mode:	Edit the dimension value only.	Click the dimension text.
All PMI dimensions	All dimension behaviors	Delete the dimension value in the Dimension Value Edit box.	When the cursor is in the edit box and the value is highlighted, press the Delete key.
All PMI dimensions	All dimension behaviors	Delete the dimension.	When the dimension is selected, or when the cursor is outside the edit box, press the Delete key.

Dimension direction indicators

When you move the cursor onto a synchronous dimension value, or when you Alt+click a dimension line or projection line, a 3D arrow terminator and a 3D sphere terminator appear at opposite ends of the dimension line. These indicate the side of the model to change.

The side that will be pushed or pulled is indicated by the 3D arrow terminator.
The stationary side is indicated by the 3D sphere terminator.
Both 3D arrow terminators are displayed for a symmetric dimension edit.
You can use the 3D terminators or the arrow buttons on the Dimension Value Edit dialog box to change the direction of edit.

Sometimes the 3D terminators on the model provide better indicators than the arrows in the dialog box, as shown in the following example.

Variations in the dimension value edit handle

The dimension value edit handle displays controls based on whether you are modifying a model dimension, a sketch dimension, or a drawing dimension.

Example:

When you edit a PMI model dimension value, the handle displays directional controls and a dimension lock.

You can use these to specify the direction that you want the model to change, and to prevent a dimension from being changed indirectly.

Example:

The dimension value edit handle for 2D sketch geometry in a synchronous model does not provide directional controls.

Sketch dimensions are always placed as locked dimensions (A), so you can adjust the value while you are sketching. When you edit a sketch dimension, you can change it to an unlocked dimension (B).

To learn how, see Edit a 2D dimension (sketch, profile, draft).

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