How to Remove Hide Constraint Bar in AutoCAD?

Understanding Constraints in AutoCAD: Hiding the Constraint Bar

Constraints play an essential role in the design process within AutoCAD. However, there are times when the visibility of the constraint bar can be more of a distraction than an aid. If you’re looking to hide or remove the constraint bar in AutoCAD, follow these detailed steps.

Accessing the Parametric Tab

1. Locate the Parametric Tab: Begin by ensuring that the Parametric tab is visible. This tab contains various tools related to constraints and geometric parameters.

2. Find the Geometric Panel: Under the Parametric tab, locate the Geometric panel. This panel includes controls relevant to the constraints applied to your objects.

Hiding Constraints

1. Select Constrained Objects: Click to select the objects that currently have constraints applied. You can hold down the Shift key to multi-select multiple objects.

2. Identify the Show/Hide Option: Within the Geometric panel, look for an icon or button labeled "Show/Hide." This option allows you to manage the visibility of the constraints on selected objects.

3. Choose Hide: Click on the hide option. This action will remove the visual representation of the constraints from your selected objects without deleting the constraints themselves.

Disabling Constraint Display Globally

If you wish to turn off the constraint display for all objects in your AutoCAD environment, you can modify the global settings.

1. Open the Command Line: Press the command line area at the bottom of your interface.

2. Enter the Command: Type CONSTRAINTSETTINGS and press Enter. This command opens the settings for constraints.

3. Navigate to the Geometric Tab: Within the Constraint Settings dialog box, go to the Geometric tab. Here, you can manage various constraint-related options.

4. Uncheck the Infer Geometric Constraints Option: Look for the checkbox labeled “Infer geometric constraints.” Uncheck this box to prevent AutoCAD from displaying any geometric constraints by default.

5. Apply Changes: Click OK to employ the changes and close the dialog box.

Verifying Constraint Bar Visibility

To ensure that the changes have taken effect, perform the following checks:

1. Inspect Your Drawing Area: Look closely at your drawing area. The constraints should no longer be visible on the objects you selected or any new objects you create.

2. Use the Show Option If Necessary: If you ever need to display the constraints again, simply click the "Show" option in the Geometric panel to toggle visibility back on.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I permanently delete constraints instead of just hiding them?
Yes, if you choose to delete a constraint instead of hiding it, select the constrained object, go to the Tools menu, then navigate to Parametric, and select Delete Constraint.

2. How do I restore visibility for a hidden constraint?
If you’ve hidden a constraint and want it back, select the affected object, go to the Parametric tab, and choose to Show the constraints again.

3. How can I prevent new constraints from being applied?
To avoid having new constraints applied automatically, go to the command line, type CONSTRAINTINFER, and set its value to 0. This adjustment stops AutoCAD from inferring constraints while you work.