Where is an equation used?

I'm probably missing something simple, but, is there any easy way to
find out where an equation is used within a part similar to the child/
parent for a feature? SW adds equations (well, actually links)
whenever certain tools are used and doesn't seem to delete them when
the feature is deleted. Makes for a messy file. For example, use a
sketch chamfer in an extrusion, delete the extrusion, and a link is
left for each chamfer. I'd like to clean up my files, but opening
each sketch and searching for the linked dimensions to see if they
still exist is hit and miss at best and the worst part is, if you
delete and equation or link that is in use, SW doesn't complain or
warn you, just breaks the link and the feature that you expect to
update doesn't.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

 

TOOLS/EQUATIONS

 

Ok, I must be slow. How does this show where an equation or link is
used?

 

I know that if you have an equation driving a dimension then that
dimension will have a Sigma symbol next to it and you won't be able to
edit that dimension.

If you go to Tools > Equations then you can see which dimensions (or
other) are being driven. It will tell you something like this:

"D2@Sketch10" = "D1@Sketch10" * 2

Now you can go find Sketch10 and then the D2 dimension.

I don't quite understand the sketch chamfer on an extrude. I tried
both a sketch chamfer and feature chamfer and couldn't find an
equation or link being used anywhere.

Steve O

 

.....

This is what I did. Open a new part. Create a 2D sketch of a
rectangle (size is unimportant). Go to 'Tools', 'Sketch Tools',
Chamfer'. Put a chamfer on any corner. Close the sketch. Go to
'Tools', 'Equations'. You should see a linked dimension like
"D1"=0.393701in. My question is, if you have a large file (say 1000+
features), how do you know where the link/equation is used?

 

I see what you mean. It actually appears to be a bug, or, at the least,
inconsistant ( with the rest of SW ) behavior. As a work around..... you
can select each linked equation and attempt to delete it. If its currently
in use, you'll get a bitch box stating so. If its not, it will delete. A
bit time consuming, but does clean up your file.

 

Ed - upgrade to 2007 and you won't see that anymore. I just tried it
in 06 and got the same goofy equation you did. 2007 doesn't do that.

Steve O