not only [Sketch] - FC becomes unresponsive while performing calculations

[uwestoehr]

I have been thinking about this particular case lately. There could be an "option" to use a "block" constraint alike concept here....
Do you think this would be useful?

Yes, that would be super helpful! For example today I drew a meander structure (fancy, with splines etc.), so I got quickly > 800 constraints and now adding further line/arcs, takes longer and longer.
However, what about having an option to turn off the solver completely via an option? Then, with the blocked solver one could add all the arcs one needs, and constrain them and when the sketch is basically ready one could unblock and let the solver work.

[abdullah]

So the question is: Should we have a powerful tool, but rather recommend not to use it, or should we have a tool which rather enforces certain limits because we would recommend anyway to stay within them? To put it differently: is it worth investing time to implement something which we recommend not to use?

Thanks for the detailed answer.

The thing is that I know you are right. There is just sometimes this non-standard use where it might help. I will reflect on it.

[abdullah]

However, what about having an option to turn off the solver completely via an option? Then, with the blocked solver one could add all the arcs one needs, and constrain them and when the sketch is basically ready one could unblock and let the solver work.

Disabling the solver is a very bad idea. Rather shows the levels of existence one might be willing to accept out of desperation. Resist it, there is always a better solution. Bombing the solve to oblivion is not what we want

Imagine a sketcher where nothing will move, no dragging of elements, no moving to meet constraints, no updating of DoF, no informing of redundancies and conflicting constraints... It is bad yes. No imagine that because you inserted some redundants and conflictings, the detection no longer works properly. Imagine that the sketcher does not do what you do because of this and you cannot figure it out. Imagine you are being tempted to throw your computer through the window and you are only not doing it because you think of its cost. A sketcher without solver is like making a pizza without dough...

[uwestoehr]

Imagine a sketcher where nothing will move, no dragging of elements, no moving to meet constraints, no updating of DoF, no informing of redundancies and conflicting constraints...

Exactly this was my idea. You turn off the solver to place your elements there without a solver stepping in. After you are finished with your element additions, you turn the solver on again, can then move, set constraints etc.

In my use case I could this way draw the meander structure, then turn on the solver, to get it ready with all constraints. Then I turn off the solver again to add the elements I need for electrical connector paths etc.. Then I turn on the solver again...

[user1234]

You turn off the solver to place your elements there without a solver stepping in.

I worked years with a CAD with a sketcher without solver. Believe me, this no fun.

After you are finished with your element additions, you turn the solver on again, can then move, set constraints etc.

Do not forget that horizontal, vertical, coincidences and tangents are also a constraints.


Greetings (from an user, who suffered was annoyed years without a solver in a sketcher)
user1234

edit: replaced word

[abdullah]

Greetings (from an user, who suffered years without a solver in a sketcher)

My condolences for the part of you that surely died over those years.

[user1234]

OK, that was an incorrect word, annoyed is more correct, sorry for that.

Greetings
user1234

[uwestoehr]

I worked years with a CAD with a sketcher without solver. Believe me, this no fun.

I am aware of this. but it is only for some minutes and of course only when the user purposely turned it off.

For me the question is if a turnoff for some minutes to place the desired elements really does what I expect from it - save time in complex sketches. If not, then of course this is not sensible.

[user1234]

minutes to place the desired elements

I know what you mean, but also you must expect, that when you turn off the solver, all you drag will be fragmented, coincidences on rectangles also. And when you turn on the solver, the result can extremely vary from you expectations since the solver solves everything listed one after another.

I only can guess what at the end you what to achieve. I think something like this?

0.webm

(261.05 KiB) Downloaded 47 times

This is a function what is implemented in DraftArray, but is missing in PartDesignPattern. Not that i want you to drag in something! Only a pure guess.

Greetings
user1234

[chrisb]

I see that such turn off may be intriguing, but I'm afraid that it will require much more than just switching the solver off and on: We have seen here sketches from people who ignored the solver messages, or at least the advice to react immediately if an error occurs. This caused sketches to become compleetely out of whack, where even removing offending constraints didn't help.
If such a feature is added, it will be used far beyond what you are planning now to do, and we may well have a constant number of help requests and false bug reports here, where unsolved, conflicting or redundant sets of constraints cannot be fixed.