Direct Edit allows you to make quick edits to existing solids. You can adjust size, shape, and/or location of model features by directly manipulating the geometry. Direct Edit can help you edit models with complex histories. 
Use Direct Edit when you want to:
- Quickly modify a complex model which you may not have created originally.
- Modify imported base parts while preserving the original model.
- Easily modify only what you choose while avoiding unintended changes due to complex relationships.
- Rapidly explore design alternatives.
For example, Direct Edit can be useful for:
- Changing imported base solid data.
- Capturing 'as built' changes as a single feature.
- Exploring re-design possibilities without committing to them. You can explore re-designing parts in the context of the parent assembly, and align geometry on the active part with geometry from other parts (non-associative).
- Quickly and precisely making a change to parametric/feature part geometry and avoid:
- Deciding what features/sketches need to be changed.
- Rolling back the model and losing context of features added after the feature to be edited.
- Redefining the feature history in order to make the change you want to make (for example, edit a patterned or mirrored feature).
- Making a change you did not want that impacts dependencies while making a change that you wanted.
You can review the Direct Edit changes later and choose whether or not to keep, delete, or apply the edits to the parametric feature history.