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Remove or Relax Constraints
There are two ways to cancel the effects of constraints when you need to make
design changes:
 Delete the constraints individually and later apply new constraints. While
the cursor hovers over a geometric constraint icon, you can use the Delete
key or the shortcut menu to delete the constraint.
 Relax the constraints temporarily on selected objects to make the changes.
With a grip selected or when you specify options during an editing
command, tap the Shift key to alternate between relaxing constraints
and maintaining constraints.
Relaxed constraints are not maintained during editing. Constraints are restored
automatically if possible when the editing process is complete. Constraints
that are no longer valid are removed.
NOTE The DELCONSTRAINT command deletes all geometric and dimensional
constraints from an object.
Constrain Objects Geometrically
Geometric constraints determine the relationships between 2D geometric
objects or points on objects relative to each other.
Overview of Geometric Constraints
You can specify geometric constraints between 2D objects or points on objects.
When you later edit the constrained geometry, the constraints are maintained.
Thus, using geometric constraints, you have a method of including design
requirements in your drawing.
For example, in the illustration below, the following constraints are applied
to the geometry.
 Every endpoint is constrained to remain coincident with the endpoint of
every adjacent object—these constraints are displayed as small blue squares
 The vertical lines are constrained to remain parallel with each other and
to remain equal to each other in length
 The left vertical line is constrained to remain perpendicular to the
horizontal line
284 | Chapter 6 Create and Modify Objects