SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part V: Creating Drawings

Using Insert Model Items

Insert Model Items takes all the dimensions, symbols, annotations, and other elements that are
used to create the model and puts them onto the drawing. Because these dimensions come directly
from the sketches and features of the model, they are driving dimensions. This means that you can
double-click and change them from the drawing the same way you can change sketch and feature
dimensions, and with the same effect. As a result, changing these dimensions even from the draw-
ing causes the parts and assemblies in which they are used to be changed.

You can insert the model items on a per-feature basis, either only bringing the items that are

appropriate into the current view, or bringing items into all views. Insertion can be further broken

down by type of item, and it can become as specific as pattern counts, Hole Wizard items, specific

symbol types, and reference geometry types. To use Insert Model Items, you can choose Insert ➪

Model Items or can access this command from the Annotations toolbar. The Model Items

PropertyManager interface is shown in Figure 23.1.

FIGURE 23.1

The Model Items PropertyManager interface

Usually, the dimensions need to be rearranged, although SolidWorks does try to arrange them so

that they do not overlap. Figure 23.2 shows the result of bringing dimensions into all views for the

part. The part is on the CD-ROM in the Chapter 21 materials.

Figure 23.2 contains duplicate dimensions, overlapping dimensions, unnecessarily long leaders,

radius dimensions pointing to the wrong side of the arc, and a lot of awkward placement. This is

what you can expect from using the automatic functions. At best, these dimensions require rear-

ranging, and at worst, they probably require that you delete and replace some of them or move

them to new views where they make more sense.