Datasheet
23
Chapter 1: Introducing SolidWorks
Cross-Reference
You can read more about the PropertyManager in Chapter 2.
n
FIGURE 1.21
Dragging an endpoint where lines have relations
Next, add a second parallel and a horizontal relation, as shown in Figure 1.22. If you are following
along by re-creating the sketch on your computer, you will notice that one line has turned from blue
to black.
FIGURE 1.22
Horizontal and parallel relations are added.
The line colors represent sketch states. It may be impossible to see this in the black and white print-
ing of this book, but if you are following along on your own computer, you can now see one black line
and three blue lines. Sketch states include Underdefined, Overdefined, Fully Defined, Unsolvable, Zero
Length, and Dangling, and are described as follows:
l
Blue: Underdefined. The sketch entity is not completely defined. You can drag a portion of
it to change size, position, or orientation.
l
Black: Fully Defined. The sketch entity is fully defined by a combination of sketch relations
and dimensions. A sketch cannot be fully defined without being connected in some way to
something external to the sketch, such as the part origin or an edge. (The exception to this rule
is the use of the Fix constraint, which, although effective, is not a recommended practice.)
l
Red: Overdefined — Not Solved. When a sketch entity has two or more relations and one
of them cannot be satisfied, the unsatisfied will be red. For example, if a line has both
Horizontal and Vertical relations, and the line is actually vertical, the Vertical relation will be
yellow (because it is conflicting but satisfied), and the Horizontal will be red (because it is
conflicting and not satisfied).
l
Yellow: Overdefined — Conflicts. Solving the sketch relations would result in a zero-
length entity; for example, this can occur where an arc is tangent to a line, and the center-
point of the arc is also coincident to the line.
05_9781118002759-ch01.indd 2305_9781118002759-ch01.indd 23 3/17/11 8:57 PM3/17/11 8:57 PM