SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part I: SolidWorks Basics

FIGURE 3.33

The Fully Define Sketch interface

Exploring Sketch Settings

In addition to sketch tools, another important aspect of controlling sketches is sketch settings.

Sketch settings are found in two different locations. The first location is at Tools ➪ Options ➪

Sketch. In this chapter, I cover the settings found at the second location, Tools ➪ Sketch Settings.

These settings mainly affect sketch relations.

Automatic Solve is turned on by default. As you make changes to a sketch by adding relations or

changing dimensions, SolidWorks automatically and immediately updates the sketch to reflect the

changes. When the Automatic Solve setting is turned off, these changes are deferred until you exit

the sketch or turn the Automatic Solve setting back on. The setting can be useful to prevent inter-

mediate solutions (for example, when half of the changes are made) that may cause problems with

the sketch, and when you are confident that the outcome will be correct. It is a rarely used option,

and you could probably exist just fine without even knowing this option was there at all.

If you import a large drawing from the DXF or DWG format, these drawings import as sketch enti-

ties into either a SolidWorks sketch or a drawing. SolidWorks may automatically turn off the

Automatic Solve setting for performance (speed) reasons on files of this type.

Enable Snapping is turned on by default. It enables the cursor to snap to the endpoints of existing

sketch entities to help you make cleaner sketches. When you turn this setting off, Automatic

Relations is also disabled (although the icon for the setting remains depressed, Automatic Relations

are not created). Holding down the Ctrl key while sketching disables snapping. Holding down the

Ctrl key while dragging sketch entities functions such as copying sketch geometry. The No Solve

Move is discussed in the Sketch toolbar section.