Horizontal Points Relation
Picked on points, the Horizontal relation puts two or more points at the same height, side by side across the screen. It is listed as Horizontal points.
When to Use It
- Line up the centers of two holes across the part
- Keep two corners level without drawing a line between them
- Set a point level with the origin
Step by Step
- Open a sketch and draw the pieces (see Lines, Circles and Rectangles). Sketching is part of modeling, which comes with the Pro plans.
- Click Select on the Sketch tab (or press S).
- Move the pointer over a piece until its dots show, click the first point (an end, a corner, a center or a line's middle), then click each point that should be level with it. The origin counts as a point.
- Keep the pointer still for about half a second. A bar titled Add a relation to the N selected opens beside it, with one button for each relation that fits. Click Horizontal. Instead of waiting for the bar, you can click Horizontal under Add a relation in the Properties panel. (The right-click menu needs a piece selected, so for points use the bar or Properties.)
- A small green square marks the relation on the sketch, and a message says Horizontal added. It stays true as you move and resize; Edit, Constraints lists it. Ctrl+Z takes it back.
Options
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Picks | Two or more points. Each point after the first is tied to the first. |
| Result | Each later point moves until it sits level with the first point, as the screen shows the sketch. The first point stays. |
| Which one gives | A point on an anchored piece (an origin, a part edge, a Fix) stays and the other point moves. |
| Node tool | Click a point with the Node tool, hold Shift and click a second point, then hold still: the bar offers Coincident, Horizontal and Vertical (see Node). |
| Listed as | Horizontal points. |
Tips
- The button in the bar is just named Horizontal. It becomes Horizontal points in the lists because it ties points.
- To make a whole line level instead, pick the line itself (see Horizontal Relation).
- It keeps the height only. The points can still slide sideways. Use Smart Dimension to set the distance across.
If Something Goes Wrong
- "Horizontal cannot hold together with the relations already there. Nothing changed." Something already placed (another relation, a typed size or a Fix) fights this one. Delete the one in the way from the list under Edit (see Edit Menu) and try again.
- "Horizontal already holds through the relations you have, so nothing was added." The sketch already forces this, so nothing more is needed.
- The button is not in the bar. The bar only lists relations that fit what you picked. Check what is selected in the Selected list of the Properties panel. If the panel says None fits this selection. Pick another point, piece or part edge with it., change the picks.
- "Horizontal applied once: the relation solver could not load, so it will not be kept." The piece moved once but nothing was stored. Check your connection and add it again.