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References and Dimensions with Library Features

When you open a part saved as a library feature, the SOLIDWORKS application adds a References and a Dimensions folder in the FeatureManager design tree under the library feature.

The References folder lists the references that you need to specify when inserting a library feature.

All library features include at least one reference, the Placement Plane FM_reference_lib_feat.gif. Other references are added when you create the library feature.

When creating these references, you can:
  • Dimension library feature entities to the base feature.
  • Add relations (for example between the sketch origin and a library feature entity).
Library features with face references such as fillets do not need reference dimensions.

The Dimensions folder lists the dimensions that belong to features marked as library features.

Renaming a Reference

To rename a reference:

  1. In the FeatureManager design tree, select the named reference FM_reference_lib_feat.gif in the References folder.
  2. Click-pause-click the reference name.
  3. Type the new name.
  4. Save any changes you make to the reference.
You can also position a library feature without references other than the Placement Plane FM_reference_lib_feat.gif, by dimensioning the library feature sketch to the part.

Editing Dimension Names

To edit dimension names:

  1. Select a dimension FM_dimension.gif in the Dimensions folder or the two subfolders: Locating Dimensions and Internal Dimensions.
  2. Click-pause-click the dimension name (for example D1 in D1@Extrude2).
  3. Type a new name.
  4. Save any changes you make to the dimension.

Marking Dimensions as Locating Dimensions

You can specify a dimension as a Locating Dimension. A Locating Dimension allows you to edit the placement of library feature after positioning the feature using References.

To mark dimensions as locating dimensions:

  1. Select the dimension from the Dimension folder.
  2. Drag the dimension to the Locating Dimensions folder.
  3. Save any changes you make to the dimension.

Marking Dimensions as Internal Dimensions

Mark a dimension as an Internal Dimension to prevent it from appearing in the Library Feature PropertyManager when you insert the library feature into a part.

This reduces the clutter of unnecessary dimensions in the PropertyManager and helps to avoid accidental changes to the dimension.

To mark dimensions as internal dimensions:

  1. Select the dimension from the Dimension folder.
  2. Drag the dimension to the Internal Dimensions folder.
  3. Save any changes you make to the dimension.


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