Circular Reference Warnings

SOLIDWORKS identifies circular references, highlights the equations in red, and displays a warning.

For example, the following equations include a circular reference. The changes in the first equation cause changes in the second equation, which cause further changes in the third and first equation, creating an infinite loop. SOLIDWORKS detects the circular reference and displays the text of the equations in red.

“D1@Sketch1@part_outside.Part” = “D2@Sketch1@part_inside.Part” + 2
“D2@Sketch1@part_inside.Part” = “Side” - 6
“Side” = “D1@Sketch1@part_outside.Part” * .5

SOLIDWORKS also identifies potential circular references, highlights the equations in yellow, and displays a warning . Potential circular references occur when a reference dimension or driven dimension might depend on a dimension defined earlier in the FeatureManager design tree.

Controlling the Display of Messages for Circular References

You can control the display of messages about circular references and potential circular references caused by equations.

  1. Click Options (Standard Toolbar) or click Tools > Options.
  2. On the System Options tab, click Messages/Errors/Warnings.
  3. For Display circular references in equations, select to display the error messages:
    • Everywhere
    • In equation dialog only
    • Never
  4. For Display potential circular references in equations, select to display the warning messages:
    • Everywhere
    • In equation dialog only
    • Never