14-Alexandrite

Question

Sketcher Intent Manager

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
March 1, 2010
55 replies
15381 views

During a recent PTC/USER Technical Committee meeting we had a discussion about the Sketcher Intent Manager.

This discussion made me curious as to if there are still users that find the need to turn off the Intent Manager, which is why I am writing.

If there is anyone that still turns off the Sketcher Intent Manager, can you please respond to the questions below?

1. What are the circumstances that causes you to turn off the Intent Manager?

2. If you are importing data, is this done as a "normal" sketch with the intent to drive geometry with that sketch, or as a cosmetic sketch where you are probably not looking to drive geometry?

Please note that the reason of "Because it is annoying", is NOT specific enough.

In order to present the need for this, I need specific use cases (models and/or written) in which users turn off intent manager and still want to do something non-cosmetic with the resulting sketch.

Thanks....

Joel Nelson

PTC/USER Sheetmetal TC Chair

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K

koch_michael_j

1-Visitor

Don't forget that weak dims may also carry a large nuber of digits beyond
the decimnal point that do not display on screen.

Doug Schaefer <>
03/05/2010 10:33 AM
Please respond to
Doug Schaefer <>

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Subject
[proecad] - RE: Sketcher Intent Manager

Caterpillar: Confidential Green Retain Until: 04/04/2010

For me, dimensions communicate design intent. When I see a weak dim in a
sketch, that communicates to me that design intent isn't captured, at
least not intentionally. It may be that the last person wanted it this
way or it could be that they just went with what Pro|E thought was good.
Now, if I want to modify that I need to do more digging into the model to
see if it's the intended dim or a convenient one. Strengthening them, if
I want to keep them, communicates to the next guy (usually me, 6-12 months
later) that this is exactly what I want.

There's nothing wrong with them, per se, they control geometry the same.
The only functional limitation is that they will disappear without
prompting (usually) if there's a conflict between them and newly placed
dims or constraints.
Doug Schaefer

D

dgschaefer

21-Topaz II

As you sketch, IM will dimension and constrain the sketch automatically.
These dims come in 'weak' and show as gray rather than yellow to
distinguish them from user created dims. The weak dims get replaced
automatically (usually) as you create your own dims and constraints.
Weak is an unfortunate term as they aren't any less capable of
controlling the geometry. Maybe temporary is a better way to think of
them. You can convert a weak to a strong, but not the other way around.

Doug Schaefer

P

ptc-46674

1-Visitor

Summary : what is the benefit of converting weak dimension to strong

1. Strengthening them, if I want to keep them, communicates to the next guy (usually me,
6-12 months later) that this is exactly what I want.

I think this is the best answer / reason for converting weak to strong.

2. There's nothing wrong with them, per se, they control geometry the same.
The only functional limitation is that they <strike>will</strike> possible can disappear without
prompting (usually) if there's a conflict between them and newly placed
dims or constraints.

This is true

3. As you sketch, IM will dimension and constrain the sketch automatically.
These dims come in 'weak' and show as gray rather than yellow to
distinguish them from user created dims. The weak dims get replaced
automatically (usually) as you create your own dims and constraints.
Weak is an unfortunate term as they aren't any less capable of
controlling the geometry. Maybe temporary is a better way to think of
them.

I don't think temporary is accurate more like Intent Manager auto generated dimensioning scheme ?

Below list some statements that were posted and are not correct "in my experience using ProE"

4. On the drafting side of things, the weak dimensions basically become
strong when you place the parametric dimensions on the views.

This is not true in ProE wildfire 4.0 M092, I am not sure about earlier versions or date codes. When I go back into the part and do a redefine feature the dimensions maintain the state they had originally in sketcher mode "weak, strong, locked"

5. First and foremost it allows you to show the dimensioning scheme you want your detailed drawing to show. When you do the show/erase only those dimensions show up.

This is not true, all dimensions from the Sketch show up in the drawing when you use show dimension.

6. Second, making the constraints what you want drives the robustness of the model.

Weak dimension control the design just as well as strong dimensions, if they are attached to the reference that you want. But I agree they should be converted to strong see items #1 above, It lets other designers know you've looked at the dimension scheme and the sketch is constrained the way you intended.

thanks for all the input from everyone, I will be converting all weak dimensions to strong in the future and I will bring this up at our next best practices meeting here at McKesson.

Dave

1_sketcher-Mode-Dimension-Types.pdf

3_DRAWING_SKETCHER_DEMO.pdf

StephenW

23-Emerald III

Here's a tip for people who are anal (me) about getting rid of all weak dimensions. You can search for weak dimension in Pro/Program.

Here's what I do. Go to TOOLS, PROGRAM, SHOW DESIGN, FROM MODEL (you can go to EDIT DESIGN, but it puts you into notepad and you can change stuff and it adds an annoying yes/no when you close it)
At the top of the window that pops up, choose EDIT, SEARCH. There will be a search box that pops up. Type weak in the box (lower case, yes it's case sensitive). It will go to the feature with weak dimensions. Usually you have to scroll up a little to see what feature number contains the weak dimensions.

Have fun

P

pfariello

1-Visitor

While speaking with the PTC gentleman at the conference, he stated that in WF 5.0, the option to turn off IM is completely removed. The option is still there for Cosmetic Sketch Features. He assured me that (paraphrasing) "all issues with having to work outside of IM have been fixed". (I let that slide in the discussion, I guess time will tell)

BTW, how can hidden config options be turned on? Has anyone been able to turn off IM in WF 5.0?

Thanks,

Patrick Fariello

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