Rapid Dimension Manipulator (Part 1: …of Mice and Pies)

SolidWorks 2010 saw several cool interface improvements that may have been prematurely included.  One of these was the Rapid Dimension Manipulator (or as I like to call it, the Dimension Pie; it’s just easier to say).  The Dimension Pie appears at the mouse cursor location when the user inserts a dimension in a drawing view.  It allows the user to quickly place dimensions along a chosen side at evenly spaced intervals.

The Problem

Although the Dimension Pie does speed up certain dimensioning activities, it also burdens the user by being in the way a lot.  This prevents the user from quickly making additional selections by requiring a mouse dance.  In case you’ve not upgraded to SolidWorks 2010 yet, a mouse dance is when the user is forced to move the mouse cursor away from one location and to bring it back again just to dismiss some pop-up.

As I see it, the shape and size of the pie take up too much real estate on the view pane.  The pie shape is just the right sort of shape to be equally annoying in almost every situation.   In my opinion, a rectangular bar shape would’ve much less intrusive.  Another problem is that there is no way to quickly banish the Dimension Pie or to turn it off completely.

Temporary Solution

As of right now, SolidWorks 2010 SP3 (and SP3.1, I presume) allows for the use of a registry key to turn off the Dimension Pie.  If someone is interested, this key is posted somewhere in the SolidWorks Forums (search for “Rapid Dimension Manipulator”).  I’m not providing that solution here because I just don’t like it.  It requires the use to upgrade to SP3 and then to apply the registry key.  A permanent solution is planned for SP4 anyway, so if you haven’t already upgraded, you may wish to wait a week or two.

Author: fcsuper

As a drafter, mechanical designer and CAD engineer, I've been in the mechanical design field since 1991. For the first 8 years of my career, I was an AutoCAD professional. I utilized AutoLISP and many other AutoCAD customization features to streamline drafting activities for 6+ drafters and designers. I authored several custom functions, one of which was published in the March 1997 issue of Cadalyst Magazine. Since 1998, I've been used SolidWorks non-stop. I've worked to utilize the SolidWorks' user environment to simplify drafting and design activities for 20+ engineers. I've created this website to provide current information about SolidWorks from a variety of contributors. More recently, I am now employed by Dassault Systemes as SOLIDWORKS Sr. Product Definition Manager to improve drawing, annotation and MBD related areas.

3 thoughts on “Rapid Dimension Manipulator (Part 1: …of Mice and Pies)”

  1. I downloaded SP4 early edition yesterday, and now you have the choice if you want the “pie” or not. The option to have it on or off is right in the dimension dialog, and the it will remember your choice for the future ( if Solidworks session ended)

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