SmartPicking

You can specify the location of given geometry. The SmartPick returns the information via symbols. In other words, SmartPick returns feedback information (highlighted geometry or symbols) which you will or will not validate.

This page also shows you how to progressively specify your needs using the blue pointer, Tools Palette, the context menu, Shift key or Ctrl key.

This page discusses:

See Also
What is SmartPick ?

Coordinates

When you move the pointer, H and V corresponding coordinates appear on the screen and also in Sketch tools.

The coordinate at the top is H and the coordinate at the bottom is V.

SmartPicking Somewhere on the Grid

SmartPick displays the SmartPick blue pointer that can be snapped to the grid according the Snap to Point from the Sketch section of the action bar.

This option is also available in the Sketcher settings (see Snap to point in the Customizing section of this guide).

The SmartPick blue pointer is at the grid intersection point and far from the pointer, the Snap to Point is activated:

The SmartPick blue pointer is close to the pointer, the Snap to Point is deactivated:

SmartPicking Using Coordinates

As you move the pointer and try to assign the desired position to the SmartPick pointer, Tools Palette similarly displays the corresponding horizontal and vertical coordinates of the SmartPick blue pointer.

You can use Tools Palette for defining the point coordinates either independently from each others or not.

For example, enter H: 2mm. SmartPick is locked on this value. As you move the pointer the V coordinate appears in Tools Palette.

If you want to reset H or V coordinates you just entered in Tools Palette, (right-click on the background and select the Reset command.

SmartPicking on H and V Axes

As you move the pointer and try to assign the desired position to the SmartPick pointer, a horizontal fictitious blue dotted line appears when V is equal to zero, a vertical fictitious blue dotted line appears when H is equal to zero.





SmartPicking on a Point

When a point is included in the tolerance zone of the SmartPick pointer, SmartPick first snaps to the point and the point-to-point coincidence symbol appears.



This symbol means that snapping suppresses both degrees of freedom available for a point.

SmartPicking at a Curve Extremity Point

When a fictitious curve extremity point is included in the tolerance zone of the SmartPick pointer, SmartPick snaps to the extremity of this curve.

The point-to-point coincidence symbol appears once the point is picked.

Important: By default, all the curves are assigned fictitious extremity points. This is why, SmartPick detects first point-to-point coincidence with the curve existing end point. Care that in this case only the extremity point is highlighted whereas in the previous case the whole line is highlighted.



You can also right-click and select the Nearest End Point while going over any curve type element with the pointer, and detect first point-to-point coincidence with the curve existing end point.

SmartPicking at the Midpoint of a Line

When the midpoint of a line is included in the tolerance zone of the SmartPick pointer, SmartPick snaps to the midpoint of this line.

The point-to-point coincidence symbol appears once the midpoint is picked and the line is highlighted.

To do this, you can also right-click and select the Midpoint.

SmartPicking at the Center of a Circle

When the fictitious center of a circle is included in the tolerance zone of the SmartPick pointer, SmartPick snaps at the center of this circle.

The point-to-point coincidence symbol appears once the circle center is picked and the circle is highlighted. To do this, you can also right-click the circle and select the Concentric.

Important: By default, circles are created with a center point. As a result, SmartPick detects first point-to-point coincidence.

SmartPicking All Over a Curve

When a curve is included in the tolerance zone of the SmartPick pointer, SmartPick automatically snaps to the curve which is then highlighted.

The curve coincidence symbol appears as you go all over the curve with the pointer. This symbol means the point is snapped and that there is still one degree of freedom left, except when two curves are detected at the same time.

This is also true in the case of curves that can be extrapolated, (segments, arcs of circles, re-limited splines or conic curves). SmartPick will snap to these curves on the condition that they are included in the tolerance zone of the SmartPick pointer.

For this, select Support lines and circles (For more information, see Sketcher User's Guide :Customizing: SmartPick options).



Detecting a coincidence using the Ctrl key

  1. Go over the element to be made coincident. For example, a line.

  2. Press and hold down the Ctrl key. The SmartPick pointer remains positioned on the picked element.

  3. Move the pointer wherever you want.

SmartPicking at the Intersection Point of Two Curves

When the intersection point of two curves is included in the tolerance zone of the SmartPick pointer, both curve-type elements are highlighted.

The coincidence symbol appears and the SmartPick pointer snaps to the intersection.





This type of detection illustrates SmartPick main functionality: combined detection. In fact, when two snappings can possibly be performed, SmartPick aims at satisfying both of them by trying to snap them at the same time. This smart behavior is a global behavior and is valid for any kind of detection recognized by SmartPick.

Detecting an Intersection Using the Ctrl Key

  1. Go over the element to be made coincident. For example, a line. The coincidence symbol appears to indicate that SmartPick snaps over the line.

  2. Press the Ctrl key. SmartPick automatically remains snapped whatever the position you assign to the pointer.

  3. As you press the Ctrl key, go over the second element to be intersected with the element already picked using the pointer. When SmartPick detects that the second line can possibly be snapped to, SmartPick tries to combine both snappings detected thanks to the Ctrl key. In this particular case, SmartPick snaps at the intersection of both lines.

On Fictitious Perpendicular Line Through Line End Point

If the tolerance zone of the SmartPick pointer goes over a fictitious perpendicular line that goes through the extremity point of a line, SmartPick snaps to remain on this fictitious perpendicular line.

Make sure you selected the Alignment (For more information, see Sketcher User's Guide :Customizing: SmartPick options). You will thus automatically detect the different elements along which the sketch is aligned.

SmartPicking at a Vertical/Horizontal Position

If the tolerance zone of the SmartPick pointer crosses a fictitious horizontal line that would go through a point, SmartPick snaps to remain horizontal to this point.



In this case, no constraint is created.

Make sure you selected the Alignment (For more information, see Sketcher User's Guide :Customizing: SmartPick options). You will thus automatically detect the different elements along which the sketch is aligned.