Vertical Points Relation
Picked on points, the Vertical relation puts two or more points straight above one another on the screen. It is listed as Vertical points.
When to Use It
- Line up the centers of two holes up the part
- Keep two corners plumb without drawing a line between them
- Set a point straight above or below 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 straight above or below 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 Vertical. Instead of waiting for the bar, you can click Vertical 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 Vertical 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 straight above or below 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 | Vertical points. |
Tips
- The button in the bar is just named Vertical. It becomes Vertical points in the lists because it ties points.
- To make a whole line upright instead, pick the line itself (see Vertical Relation).
- It keeps the position across only. The points can still slide up and down. Use Smart Dimension to set the distance.
If Something Goes Wrong
- "Vertical 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.
- "Vertical 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.
- "Vertical 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.