Maintaining External References to Derived Sketches (2025 SP1)

When you use Save As Copy and Continue to copy a part, external references to a derived sketch in the copied part are maintained.

The external references are maintained when you use Microsoft® File Explorer to copy a part with a derived sketch.

To maintain external references to derived sketches:
  1. Open a model that contains two parts.

    In this example, Part 1 shows in the graphics area.

  2. Create a derived sketch.
    1. Right-click Part 2 and click Edit Part .
    2. Press Ctrl and select a sketch from Part 1 and a plane from Part 2.

    3. Click Insert > Derived Sketch.
    4. Exit the edit-in-context mode by clicking in the confirmation corner.
    5. Click File > Save All.
      Part 2 has a derived sketch from Part 1.

  3. Create a copy of the part that has the derived sketch.
    1. Right-click Part 2 and click Edit Part .
    2. Click File > Save As > Save as Copy and Continue.
    3. Save the new part as Part 3.
    4. Exit the edit-in-context mode.
  4. Insert the new part into the model.
    1. Click Insert > Component > Existing Part/Assembly.
    2. In the dialog box, select Part 3 and add the part.

      Part 2 and Part 3 have the derived sketch.

  5. Update the first part.
    1. For Part 1, right-click the sketch and click Edit Sketch .
    2. Modify a dimension.
      A dimension in Part 1 changed from 200mm to 170mm.

    3. Exit the edit-in-context mode.

      Part 3 uses the updated dimension and the derived sketch remains defined.