offset new sketch

[freedman]

For me preferred as :
It´s easier to distinct, an offset sketch has it´s magic hidden in the properties, whilst a datum plane is visible, can be named and can carry more than one sketch.Even if just being a parallel offset.

Perfectly stated.

I've had a few models blow up because of big changes to early features and without datum planes to keep me organized I would have had to start over. If you name the planes as you go, the model reads like a book. I can read down the tree and know that all features after a datum plane are attached to that plane, until I see the next datum plane. I always append the name: DatumPlane001_rear_screw_face, named this way you can reference the internal naming. As far as I know the only structure we can add to the tree is datum planes.

[NormandC]

I fully agree if more than one sketch or other feature uses the DatumPlane. However, I'm not yet convinced, that a DatumPlane is better than e.g. using an expression; but I'm willing to learn.

I'm not saying that datum planes are always better, but have you taken the time to read the tutorial I linked? In the screenshot shown here, external geometry is created from the datum plane so that a horizontal distance constraint of 7mm can be set to it. Try that using expressions, you'll need a pretty tiresome formula. Here, clearly the datum plane option is easier. As Harry and freedman replied, datum planes are easy to find in the tree and to edit.

[openBrain]

Begins to look like discussions such as "What's the best between GUI & CLI tools ?"
Probably the best is to be aware of both, know their pros & cons, and choose the most appropriate according the situation.

[chrisb]

I'm afraid you got me wrong. I'm not at all against using DatumPlanes, I love them and I sure would not want to do the bearing without them. I'm just looking for arguments pro and con for using DatumPlanes for sketches that are offset rather trivially from a principal plane.

[jakob]

Is datumplane a new feature in 0.17?
That trick was what I was needed to demostrate simple freecad features for my beginner course.
The other trick didnt work it crashed.

[openBrain]

Yes, as mentioned in the wiki documentation.

[NormandC]

The other trick didnt work it crashed.

What other trick?

It would be useful to report it if it's reproducible.

[jakob]

When I did two sketches and changed the properties for one of the sketch.