2012

Table Of Contents

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

■ The horizontal line is constrained to remain horizontal

■ The location of the circle and the horizontal line are constrained to remain

fixed in space—these constraints are displayed as lock icons

NOTE The locked geometry is not associated to the other geometry without

geometric constraints linked to it.

The geometry is not fully constrained, however. Using grips, you can still change

the radius of the arc, the diameter of the circle, the length of the horizontal

line, and the length of the vertical lines. To specify these distances, you need

to apply dimensional constraints.

NOTE Constraints can be added to segments within a polyline as if they were

separate objects.