Sketch Ink CommandManager

The Pen Tools are available on touch-enabled devices.

Pen Activates the pen or stylus for creating sketches to quickly generate concepts within the software. You can then use the shape recognition tools to trace the sketch and generate real sketch entities, from which you can create solid or surface geometry. You can use the Pen tool to customize shape elements like Color and Thickness. In this mode, you can use ink strokes to draw your ideas on a sketch plane. The strokes do not impact your model and can be suppressed. You can also go back, select these strokes, and convert them to sketch entities later with the context menu.
Eraser Deletes full ink strokes only. You cannot delete partial strokes. Select Eraser and click any stroke to delete it. It will not delete sketch entities created with a sketch tool. For example, you enable the Line tool and try to use the Eraser tool, you will not be able to use it.
Auto Shape Converts strokes into the nearest recognizable shape using a tolerance limit. These shapes include Line, Point, 3 Point Arc, Circle, Corner Rectangle, Ellipse, and Polygon.
Auto Sketch Entities

Converts strokes into the nearest recognizable sketch entity shape. The software analyzes your strokes and converts your pen strokes into SOLIDWORKS sketch entities automatically. There is no need to preselect the kind of entity you want to draw.
Convert to Ellipse Converts ink strokes into ellipse sketch entities when you sketch ellipses or slots. Click Convert to Slot on the shortcut menu to switch the shape from an ellipse to a slot.
Convert to Slot Converts ink strokes into slot sketch entities when you sketch ellipses or slots. Click Convert to Ellipse on the shortcut menu to switch the shape from a slot to an ellipse.
Convert to composite shape Approximates ink strokes as lines and arcs.
Convert to spline Converts the lines and arcs of ink strokes into splines.


Ruler Helps you create straight lines. When you sketch strokes close to the straight edge, they snap to the edge of the ruler. You can access this tool from the Sketch Ink flyout menu.
Protractor Helps you create lines at an angle. When you draw a pen stroke along the Protractor edge, it is constrained to that edge only. You can access this tool from the Sketch Ink flyout menu.
Select tool Helps you quickly select and drag items. Click the barrel button to switch between Pen and Select modes.
Ink with Touch Allows you to draw sketches on the screen with your finger.
Auto Spline Allows you to interpret strokes as splines only and not an automatic selection between composite shapes and splines.

Dimensions

You can use only one tool at a time. The Pen, Eraser, and Select tools use mutually exclusive modes. To dimension a previously sketched line, select it and write the dimension in the graphics area.

You can only use the Pen, Eraser, or Select at a time as they are mutually exclusive modes.