Some dependent features can be deleted, others can be left "floating" without a parent feature, and some can lose optional constraints.
The deletion of a feature can affect features that are geometrically dependent on it.
The following features are automatically deleted:
- Dependent placed features (those features without sketches, such as chamfers and fillets).
- In-line work features when you delete a work feature.
- Nested work features when you delete a 3D sketch.
Suppressed features
You can drag features below the End of Part marker to exclude them temporarily from processing. For example, drag a fillet below the marker when creating a large pattern, and then drag the fillet back after the pattern is generated.
Tip: Press the Escape key to abort an erroneous reposition while in process. A message will display when the cancellation is complete.
Features below the marker can be individually suppressed, unsuppressed, or deleted all at once.
Conditional suppression is useful for custom iParts, for example. You can create different part configurations with different feature suppression status.
When you edit a suppress constraint:
Preview is not available for the suppressed constraint.
Examples of dependent features
- Finish feature, such as a fillet and chamfer dependent on an edge.
- Face draft dependent on a feature face and an edge.
- Hole dependent on a point sketch, vertices, endpoint, or intersection.
- Pattern feature dependent on a face.
- Extrusion dependent on a face.
- Revolved feature dependent on an axis.
- Loft feature dependent on a work plane.
Behavior of dependent features
Before a feature is deleted, the dependent features to delete are highlighted in the graphics window and in the browser. You can decide how you want to handle the features and sketches that are selected for deletion. The behavior of the feature and its dependents is as follows:
- Dependent features are suppressed when the parent feature is dragged below the End of Part marker.
- Features with no dependencies are deleted.
- Dependent features can be deleted or retained for later use. The default choice is Delete, but you can select the check box to retain the feature. Use geometric or dimensional constraints to reposition the feature.
- Sketches used by deleted features can be deleted or retained. The default choice is Delete, but you can select the check box to retain the sketch. Reattach the sketch to a sketch plane.
You can usually retain a dependent feature if it is related to the feature you want to delete by a constraint or dimension. If the feature is dependent on a planar face or work feature, it can be retained, but is tagged in the browser by a special icon.
If you retain a dependent feature, it can contain unresolved geometry (such as projected geometry from the deleted feature). The feature is unresolved until you edit it to remove extraneous geometry or constrain it to stabilize its shape and size.