Creating Constraints via a Dialog Box

This task shows you how to set various geometrical constraints using a dialog box.

You may define several constraints simultaneously using the Constraint Definition dialog box, or by means of the contextual command (right-click).
If you want the constraints to be created permanently, activate Dimensional constraints and/or the Geometrical constraints (depending on the type of constraint you want to create) from the Sketch Tools toolbar. If you do not activate these icons, the constraints will only be created temporarily.
Open the Constraint_DialBox.CATPart document.

  1. Select the required elements to be constrained. For example, two lines.

  2. Click Constraints Defined in Dialog Box from the Constraint toolbar.

    The Constraint Definition  dialog box appears, indicating the types of constraints you can set between the selected lines (selectable options). 

    These constraints may be constraints to be applied either one per element (Length, Fix, Horizontal, Vertical) or constraints between two selected elements (Distance, Angle, Coincidence, Parallelism or Perpendicular).
    Multi-selection is available.
    If constraints already exist, they are checked in the dialog box.

  3. Select the constraints to be applied on the selected elements.

  4. Under Create Multiple Constraints, select the Target Element check box and select the required target element.

    • The selected elements are constrained with respect to the target element.
    • The available constraints in the dialog box may change based on the selected target element.

  5. Click OK.
    The elements are constrained.
Tips:
 
  • At any time after the constraint was created, you can modify the constraint measure direction and/or reference. See Defining Constraint Measure Direction for more details.
  • Note that, by default, a diameter constraint is created on closed circles when checking the Radius/Diameter option. If you need a radius constraint, you just have to convert this constraint into a radius constraint by double-clicking it and choosing the Radius option.