Sketcher Preferences

From FreeCAD Documentation
This page contains changes which are not marked for translation.

The preferences for the Sketcher Workbench can be found in the Preferences Editor. In the menu select Edit → Preferences... and then Sketcher.

There are four pages: General, Grid, Display and Appearance.

This page has been updated for version 0.22.

In version 0.21 and below the Appearance page is labeled "Colors".

General

On the this page you can specify the following:

Name Description
Show section 'Advanced solver control' If checked, the sketcher dialog will show the section Advanced solver control to adjust solver settings.
Improve solving while dragging If checked, a special solver algorithm will be used while dragging sketch elements. This avoids that the sketch flips around while dragging. It is an improvement for most cases, however for complex sketches this option can increase the time to solve the sketch.
Auto remove redundants If checked, new constraints that are redundant are automatically removed.
Esc can leave sketch edit mode If checked, the Esc key can trigger exiting sketch edit mode. The option to disable this may be useful for users who are used to pressing Esc as part of their workflow in other CAD solutions but don't necessarily want to exit a sketch.
Notify automatic constraint substitutions If checked, you will be informed with a dialog about constraint substitutions. For example if the endpoints of two arcs are connected with the coincident constraint and you reconnect the arcs using the tangent constraint, the coincidence constraint will be substituted by the tangent constraint and you will get a popup dialog telling you this.
Unify Coincident and PointOnObject introduced in version 0.22 If checked, the Coincident constraint tool and PointOnObject constraint tool are unified in a single tool.

After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD.

Auto tool for Horizontal/Vertical introduced in version 0.22 If checked, the Automatic horizontal/vertical constraint tool is added to the toolbar (it is always available in the menu and through its shortcut), and the Horizontal constraint tool and Vertical constraint tool are grouped below it in a dropdown.

After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD.

Dimensioning constraints introduced in version 0.22 Specifies the dimensional constraint tools for the toolbar (all dimensional tools are always available in the menu and through their shortcuts). The options are:
  • Single tool: A combined Dimension tool for all dimensional constraints. The separate tools are grouped below it in a dropdown.
  • Separated tools: Only the separate tools.
  • Both: Both the combined Dimension tool and the separated tools.

After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD.

Dimension tool diameter/radius mode introduced in version 0.22 Specifies how the combined Dimension tool handles circles and arcs. The options are:
  • Auto: First apply a radius dimension to arcs and a diameter dimension to circles. Before picking the point that will position the dimension, it is possible to switch with the M key.
  • Diameter: Always first apply a diameter dimension. Idem.
  • Radius: Always first apply a radius dimension. Idem.
On-View-Parameters introduced in version 0.22 Specifies the visibility mode for the On-View-Parameters. The options are:
  • Disabled: On-View-Parameters are completely disabled.
  • Only dimensional: Only dimensional On-View-Parameters are enabled. They are the most useful. For example the radius of a circle.
  • All: Both dimensional and positional On-View-Parameters are enabled. Positional parameters are the position of the cursor. For example for the center of a circle.

Grid

On the this page you can specify the following:

Name Description
Grid If checked, a grid will be shown while the sketch is in edit mode. Used for new sketches. Is stored in the ViewShow Grid property of sketches.
Grid Auto Spacing If checked, grid spacing is automatically adapted based on the view dimensions. Used for new sketches. Is stored in the ViewGrid Auto property of sketches.
Grid spacing The distance between two subsequent grid lines. Used as a base value if Grid Auto Spacing is enabled. Used for new sketches. Is stored in the ViewGrid Size property of sketches.
Pixel size threshold The grid spacing threshold in pixels. Only used if Grid Auto Spacing is enabled. If the onscreen spacing is smaller than this value, physical grid spacing is multiplied by the Major grid lines every value. If the onscreen spacing is larger than the threshold value times the every value, physical grid spacing is divided by the every value. If the every value is set to 1, 10 is used instead in these calculations.
Minor grid lines For minor grid lines you can specify:
  • Line pattern
  • Line width
  • Line color
Major grid lines For major grid lines you can specify:
  • Major grid lines every: The number of squares between major grid lines. Set to 1 to disable major grid lines.
  • Line pattern
  • Line width
  • Line color

Display

On the this page you can specify the following:

Name Description
Font size The font size used for the labels and constraints in the sketch.
View scale ratio introduced in version 0.21 The 3D view is scaled based on this factor.
Segments per geometry Curves are approximated by polygon segments for visualization. This value defines the number of segments. The lower limit is 50 segments. Higher values refine the visualization but can lead to longer calculation times, especially for B-splines.
Ask for value after creating a dimensional constraint If checked, a dialog will pop up to input a value for new dimensional constraints.
Geometry creation "Continue Mode" If checked, geometry creation tools will remain active after creating an element. You can leave a tool any time by right-clicking in the sketch.
Constraint creation "Continue Mode" If checked, constraint creation tools will remain active after creating a constraint. You can leave a tool any time by right-clicking in the sketch.
Hide base length units for supported unit systems If checked, the length unit from the selected unit system is used but not displayed in sketch constraints. Only for supported unit systems.
Show coordinates beside cursor while editing introduced in version 0.21 If checked, cursor coordinates are displayed beside the cursor while editing a sketch.
Use system decimals setting for cursor coordinates introduced in version 0.21 If checked, cursor coordinates will use the system decimals setting instead of the short form.
Show dimensional constraint name with format introduced in version 0.21 If checked, the names of dimensional constraints (if available) are displayed using the given format:
  • %N: Parameter name.
  • %V: Dimension value.
Hide all objects that depend on the sketch If checked, all objects that depend on the sketch will be hidden when the sketch is opened. Note that this may have no effect if the Show objects used for external geometry and/or Show objects that the sketch is attached to options are selected.
Show objects used for external geometry If checked, hidden objects used for external geometry will be shown when the sketch is opened. If you edit for example a sketch that uses geometry from a pad, this pad will be shown (if not already). Other features in the Tree view between the pad and the sketch will not necessarily be shown.
Show objects that the sketch is attached to If checked, hidden objects the sketch is attached to will be shown when the sketch is opened. If you attached for example a sketch to a pocket, this pocket will be shown (if not already).
Restore camera position after editing If checked, the camera position is moved back to where it was before the sketch was opened.
Force orthographic camera when entering edit If checked, camera mode will be forced to orthographic when the sketch is opened. Camera mode will be restored when leaving edit mode. This preference is only available if Restore camera position after editing is activated.
Open sketch in Section View mode If checked, the sketch will open with 'Section View' active.
Apply to existing sketches If pressed, the Visibility automation settings will be applied to existing sketches too. Otherwise they will only be used for new sketches.

Appearance

On the this page you can specify the following. Unless otherwise stated these preferences are only used while a sketch is in edit mode.

Name Description
Creating line The color used for sketch elements while they are being created.
Coordinate text The color used for the coordinates displayed while creating sketch elements.
Cursor crosshair The color used for the crosshair cursor displayed while creating sketch elements.
Vertex The colors used for constrained and unconstrained vertices (points).
Edge The colors used for constrained and unconstrained edges. introduced in version 0.22: The line pattern and line width can also be specified.
Construction geometry The colors used for constrained and unconstrained construction geometry. introduced in version 0.22: The line pattern and line width can also be specified.
Internal alignment edge The colors used for constrained and unconstrained internal alignment edges. introduced in version 0.22: The line pattern and line width can also be specified.
External geometry The color used for external geometry. introduced in version 0.22: The line pattern and line width can also be specified.
Fully constrained Sketch The color used for a fully constrained sketch.
Invalid Sketch The color used for an invalid sketch.
Constraint symbols The color used for driving geometric constraints.
Dimensional constraint The color used for driving dimensional constraints.
Reference constraint The color used for reference dimensional constraints.
Expression dependent constraint The color used for expression dependent dimensional constraints.
Deactivated constraint The color used for deactivated constraints.
Colors outside Sketcher: Vertex The color used for vertices (points) when not in edit mode.
Colors outside Sketcher: Edge The color used for edges when not in edit mode.

Hint: The color for selections inside sketches is the global selection setting Enable selection highlighting, see the Preferences Editor.

Note

There is another preference that has an influence on sketches. If the Transparent objects preference on the Display → 3D View tab is set to Backface pass, arrowheads on one end of sketch dimensions are hidden on some systems. When viewed from the rear the dimension value can then also be hidden. Versions 0.19 to 0.21 (except Link branch) are affected. In versions 0.19 and 0.20 the effect only occurs if Show grid is deactivated in the Edit controls section of the Task panel as shown below.

See forum topic.

Front view, grid enabled and grid disabled

Rear view, grid enabled and grid disabled hiding arrowheads on the opposite end as well as the dimension value