Edge of Viewport & Dimension Snapping
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So as a habit I typically resize all viewports very closely to the edge of the model/part I wish to display.
Lately, and perhaps this has always been this way, I have noticed when dimensioning near the edge of the viewport the “snap” selection seems to prefer the viewport edge/corner over the “target” in model/part.......especially when near corners of the viewport.
I realize I can enlarge the viewport and lock it.
But my purpose of sizing viewport tight is so I don’t have to lock them...and locked viewports do not auto update.Now from memory, I do think that if snap is disabled and you decide to dimension anything the snap function “self enables” (I could be wrong about this)
So......I wonder if it is a problem others are experiencing.......and if so.....there was a way to disable the “snap” capability for the viewport edges ONLY when dimension tool is selected. (Similar to how snap enables when dimension tool is selected.
Hopefully this is clearly stated.
Charlie
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Like you I tend to make my viewports fit pretty tightly around the model. I haven't noticed the Dimension tool trying to snap to the edges of the viewport, though. I keep Object snapping on and Grid snapping off. I don't tend to lock viewports but I will lock the viewport layer(s) when I'm working but that's to prevent me moving viewports when I don't want to move them.
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@dave r said:
I haven't noticed the Dimension tool trying to snap to the edges of the viewport, though.
Thanks Dave, I should have also mentioned that I do not have any stroke applied, or have snap enabled for grid.
I do find it curious that the dimension tool would even snap to the edges of the viewport though....that is to say I cant think of a reason to need that to happen.Other:
I did notice something curious that I need to revisit....I had a large scale detail I was working on and copied the viewport to “split” it so I could show each end of the detail. (W/break lines)
After annotation/dimensioning etc. I decided to pull a model dimension across the two separate viewports (across the break lines)and anticipating having to edit the text to the actual dimension. ( in this case 9’-7” O.C.)
Oddly enough the dimension was correct
.......my guess is the persistent i.d.’s allowed this??? 
@dave r said:
I don't tend to lock viewports but I will lock the viewport layer(s) when I'm working but that's to prevent me moving viewports when I don't want to move them.
I’ll have to give this a try, assuming that the viewports will auto update.
Best regards,
Charlie -
@charlie__v said:
@dave r said:
I haven't noticed the Dimension tool trying to snap to the edges of the viewport, though.
Thanks Dave, I should have also mentioned that I do not have any stroke applied, or have snap enabled for grid.
I do find it curious that the dimension tool would even snap to the edges of the viewport though....that is to say I cant think of a reason to need that to happen.I can think of one reason to be able to snap a dimension to the edge of a viewport: if the part runs out of the viewport and you want to dimension to that point. But I don't imagine that's all that frequently used.
@charlie__v said:
Other:
I did notice something curious that I need to revisit....I had a large scale detail I was working on and copied the viewport to “split” it so I could show each end of the detail. (W/break lines)
After annotation/dimensioning etc. I decided to pull a model dimension across the two separate viewports (across the break lines)and anticipating having to edit the text to the actual dimension. ( in this case 9’-7” O.C.)
Oddly enough the dimension was correct .......my guess is the persistent i.d.’s allowed this??? Indeed this is a new feature with LO2018 and the Persistent IDs do make it possible. It works very well and is one more thing that makes my work in LayOut even easier.
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@dave r said:
I can think of one reason to be able to snap a dimension to the edge of a viewport: if the part runs out of the viewport and you want to dimension to that point. But I don't imagine that's all that frequently used.
Touché
@dave r said:
Indeed this is a new feature with LO2018 and the Persistent IDs do make it possible. It works very well and is one more thing that makes my work in LayOut even easier.
Very cool......and now I suppose I wont be so bothered when i get a warning something needs fixing in SU and a persistent I’d has been fixed.
Charlie
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Charlie, I agree with you 100%. The snapping to the viewport instead of geometry is definitely worse in 2018 and a source of great frustration for me. I, too, make my viewports tight to geometry and dimensioning is requiring much more zooming in than it used to.
Hopefully the developers can de-tune the viewport snaps in next version...
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I love the viewport snapping but I agree that it should not have higher priority over model geometry.
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Have you guys tried putting the viewports on their own layer and then locking the layer? This should still allow you to dimension but it not select the edges of the viewport. Just an idea....Mick
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I was working on a new LO project yesterday and noticed this happening once in awhile. Not every time, though. When I zoom in closer to the viewport it seems to be less of a problem.
Mick, I have viewports on different layers than the dimensions in all of my templates and the viewport layers are locked while dimensions are being placed. This makes no difference when the viewport edges is very close to the corner on the model.
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Sorta glad to hear others have concerns about this.
One bit of info I can add to this is:
If you are not keenly aware of “in model dimensions”, I could easily see someone setting an incorrect dimension and not even knowing it is wrong because the dimension tool really referenced the edge of the viewport and not the model geometry.
Since it doesn’t throw erroneous dimension.....IOW dimension to edge of viewport seems to maintain set scale of model viewport. (Wish I knew of safe .gif recorder so I could upload demonstration)Charlie
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