How To Turn Off Geometric Constraints In AutoCAD?

Understanding Geometric Constraints in AutoCAD

Geometric constraints in AutoCAD establish specific relationships between objects, ensuring they maintain certain characteristics relative to one another. While these constraints can enhance precision in your designs, there may be instances where you want to disable them for better flexibility or to simplify your drawing process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Turning Off Geometric Constraints in AutoCAD

1. Access Command Line:
   Begin by opening your AutoCAD interface and positioning your cursor in the command line area at the bottom of the screen. This is where you can input commands directly.

2. Disable Constraint Inference:

   • Type CONSTRAINTINFER into the command line.
   • Press Enter.
   • Set the value to 0. This action will deactivate the automatic inference of geometric constraints while you are drawing.

3. Adjust Constraint Settings:

   • Open the command line again and type CONSTRAINTSETTINGS. Press Enter.
   • A dialog box will appear with several tabs. Click on the Geometric tab.
   • Look for the option labeled “Infer geometric constraints” and uncheck the box next to it. This will prevent AutoCAD from automatically applying geometric constraints to new objects in the future.

4. Hiding Existing Constraints:
   If there are already geometric constraints applied to objects in your drawing and you wish to hide them:

   • Navigate to the Parametric tab.
   • Find the Geometric panel and click on Show/Hide.
   • Select the objects that have the constraints.
   • Press Enter.
   • A menu will appear with options to Show, Hide, or Reset the constraints. Choose Hide to remove the visibility of the constraints without deleting them.
5. Verifying Changes:
   After performing the above steps, ensure that the constraints are no longer inferred by creating new geometries. When you draw or modify objects, there should be no auto-applied geometric relationships in the new parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What happens if I want to use geometric constraints again?
To re-enable geometric constraints, follow the same steps, but set CONSTRAINTINFER to 1 and check the option in the CONSTRAINTSETTINGS dialog box.

Q2: Can I delete the constraints instead of just hiding them?
Yes, you can delete constraints by selecting the constrained objects, right-clicking, and choosing the option to delete constraints from the context menu.

Q3: Will turning off constraints affect my already existing designs?
No, turning off constraints will not alter existing designs. However, it will stop new constraints from being added automatically to any new lines or shapes you draw after making these adjustments.