CAD Forum

Sooo...I modeled something and modified it in not such a parametric way. The result was that I needed to modify a driving sketch part, but the math wasn't easy. So, I had to iterate to get the result I wanted. Should I have fixed the part to be correctly parametric? Yes...But that's beside the point.
What annoyed me is that I needed to measure between 2 edges to iterate and get my result. So, the genius that I am, I said, hey SW allows me to open two windows, I'll just zoom in to each edge in 2 different windows and measure between them...It doesn't work...WHY?

Well, for instance because the measures would have no starting point from one model to the other, unless it used the origin as a reference but then again I'm pretty sure that would cause issues. So if you were to measure from a part to an assembly, the desired measure might not be the one you'd actually get.

I don't know why you can't measure between 2 windows with the same part.

But you CAN measure between two viewports.

AlexLachance wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:42 am Well, for instance because the measures would have no starting point from one model to the other, unless it used the origin as a reference but then again I'm pretty sure that would cause issues. So if you were to measure from a part to an assembly, the desired measure might not be the one you'd actually get.

He means using the "New Window" command under the Window drop down. It opens a new window of the same part. Not a different part.

DanPihlaja wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:43 am I don't know why you can't measure between 2 windows with the same part.

But you CAN measure between two viewports.

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No, YOU can, I can't.
I didn't try "Viewports" I was using a new "Window". I guess I was doing it wrong. I hardly ever have this need and didn't try the viewport...Still it should work for new Window, IMO.

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a shot.

Thanks again @DanPihlaja, Viewports work.

mattpeneguy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 11:47 am No, YOU can, I can't.
I didn't try "Viewports" I was using a new "Window". I guess I was doing it wrong. I hardly ever have this need and didn't try the viewport...Still it should work for new Window, IMO.

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a shot.

I guess what I meant to say was "I don't know why it is impossible to measure between 2 windows....because I can't either."

DanPihlaja wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:15 pm I guess what I meant to say was "I don't know why it is impossible to measure between 2 windows....because I can't either."

I wish Jim or someone was still around that could jump in and tell us the reason for having viewports vs. windows and which you'd use when.

My guess is a new window is a new instance, where a new viewport is just a new display of the same instance.