The preferences for the 
Sketcher Workbench can be found in the Preferences Editor. In the menu select Edit → Preferences... and then Sketcher. This group is only available if the Sketcher Workbench has been loaded in the current FreeCAD session.
There are four pages: General, Grid, Display and Appearance.
Some advanced preferences can only be changed in the Parameter editor. See Fine-tuning.
This page has been updated for version 1.0.
In {{VersionMinus|0.21}} the Appearance page is labeled "Colors".
On this page you can specify the following:
+++ | Name | Description | +===========================================================+=============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================+ | | If checked, the sketcher dialog will show the section Advanced solver control to adjust solver settings. | | Show section 'Advanced solver control' | | | | | +++ | | If checked, a special solver algorithm will be used while dragging sketch elements. This avoids that the sketch flips around while dragging. It is an improvement for most cases, however for complex sketches this option can increase the time to solve the sketch. | | Improve solving while dragging | | | | | +++ | | If checked, new constraints that are redundant are automatically removed. | | Auto remove redundants | | | | | +++ | | If checked, the Esc key can trigger exiting sketch edit mode. The option to disable this may be useful for users who are used to pressing Esc as part of their workflow in other CAD solutions but don't necessarily want to exit a sketch. | | Esc can leave sketch edit mode | | | | | +++ | | If checked, the shaded view is disabled when entering sketch edit mode. | | Disable shading in edit mode | | | | | +++ | | If checked, you will be informed with a dialog about constraint substitutions. For example if the endpoints of two arcs are connected with the coincident constraint and you reconnect the arcs using the tangent constraint, the coincidence constraint will be substituted by the tangent constraint and you will get a popup dialog telling you this. | | Notify automatic constraint substitutions | | | | | +++ | | If checked, the Coincident constraint tool and PointOnObject constraint tool are unified in a single tool. | | Unify Coincident and PointOnObject | | | | | | (v1.0) | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | If checked, the Automatic horizontal/vertical constraint tool is added to the toolbar (it is always available in the menu and through its shortcut), and the Horizontal constraint tool and Vertical constraint tool are grouped below it in a dropdown. | | Auto tool for Horizontal/Vertical | | | | | | (v1.0) | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | If checked, external geometry is always added as reference geometry regardless of the current construction mode. | | Always add external geometry as reference | | | | | | (v1.1) | | +++ | | Specifies the dimensional constraint tools for the toolbar (all dimensional tools are always available in the menu and through their shortcuts). The options are: | | Dimensioning constraints | | | | - | | (v1.0) | Single tool | | | | | | : A combined Dimension tool for all dimensional constraints. The separate tools are grouped below it in a dropdown. | | | | | | - | | | Separated tools | | | | | | : Only the separate tools. | | | | | | - | | | Both | | | | | | : Both the combined Dimension tool and the separated tools. | | | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | Specifies how the combined Dimension tool handles circles and arcs. The options are: | | Dimension tool diameter/radius mode | | | | - | | (v1.0) | Auto | | | | | | : First apply a radius dimension to arcs and a diameter dimension to circles. Before picking the point that will position the dimension, it is possible to switch with the M key. | | | | | | - | | | Diameter | | | | | | : Always first apply a diameter dimension. Idem. | | | | | | - | | | Radius | | | | | | : Always first apply a radius dimension. Idem. | +++ | | Specifies the visibility mode for the On-View-Parameters. The options are: | | On-View-Parameters | | | | - | | (v1.0) | None | | | | | | : On-View-Parameters are completely disabled. | | | | | | - | | | Dimensions only | | | | | | : Only dimensional On-View-Parameters are enabled. They are the most useful. For example the radius of a circle. | | | | | | - | | | Position and dimensions | | | | | | : Both positional and dimensional On-View-Parameters are enabled. Positional parameters are the position of the cursor. For example for the center of a circle. | +++
On this page you can specify the following:
+++ | Name | Description | +======================================+======================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================+ | | If checked, a grid will be shown while the sketch is in edit mode. Used for new sketches. Is stored in the Show Grid property of sketches. | | Grid | | | | | +++ | | If checked, grid spacing is automatically adapted based on the view dimensions. Used for new sketches. Is stored in the Grid Auto property of sketches. | | Grid Auto Spacing | | | | | +++ | | The distance between two subsequent grid lines. Used as a base value if Grid Auto Spacing is enabled. Used for new sketches. Is stored in the Grid Size property of sketches. | | Grid spacing | | | | | +++ | | The grid spacing threshold in pixels. Only used if Grid Auto Spacing is enabled. If the onscreen spacing is smaller than this value, physical grid spacing is multiplied by the Major grid lines every value. If the onscreen spacing is larger than the threshold value times the every value, physical grid spacing is divided by the every value. If the every value is set to 1, 10 is used instead in these calculations. | | Pixel size threshold | | | | | +++ | | For minor grid lines you can specify: | | Minor grid lines | | | | - | | | Line pattern | | | | | | | | | - | | | Line width | | | | | | | | | - | | | Line color | | | | +++ | | For major grid lines you can specify: | | Major grid lines | | | | - | | | Major grid lines every | | | | | | : The number of squares between major grid lines. Set to 1 to disable major grid lines. | | | | | | - | | | Line pattern | | | | | | | | | - | | | Line width | | | | | | | | | - | | | Line color | | | | +++
On this page you can specify the following:
+++ | Name | Description | +=======================================================================+===================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================+ | | The font size used for the labels and constraints in the sketch. | | Font size | | | | | +++ | | The 3D view is scaled based on this factor. | | View scale ratio | | | | | | (v0.21) | | +++ | | Curves are approximated by polygon segments for visualization. This value defines the number of segments. The lower limit is 50 segments. Higher values refine the visualization but can lead to longer calculation times, especially for B-splines. | | Segments per geometry | | | | | +++ | | If checked, a dialog will pop up to input a value for new dimensional constraints. | | Ask for value after creating a dimensional constraint | | | | | +++ | | If checked, geometry creation tools will remain active after creating an element. You can leave a tool any time by right-clicking in the sketch. | | Geometry creation "Continue Mode" | | | | | +++ | | If checked, constraint creation tools will remain active after creating a constraint. You can leave a tool any time by right-clicking in the sketch. | | Constraint creation "Continue Mode" | | | | | +++ | | If checked, the length unit from the selected unit system is used but not displayed in sketch constraints. Only for supported unit systems. | | Hide base length units for supported unit systems | | | | | +++ | | If checked, cursor coordinates are displayed beside the cursor while editing a sketch. | | Show coordinates beside cursor while editing | | | | | | (v0.21) | | +++ | | If checked, cursor coordinates will use the system decimals setting instead of the short form. | | Use system decimals setting for cursor coordinates | | | | | | (v0.21) | | +++ | | If checked, the names of dimensional constraints (if available) are displayed using the given format: | | Show dimensional constraint name with format | | | | - | | (v0.21) | %N | | | | | | : Parameter name. | | | | | | - | | | %V | | | | | | : Dimension value. | +++ | | If checked, all objects that depend on the sketch will be hidden when the sketch is opened. Note that this may have no effect if the Show objects used for external geometry and/or Show objects that the sketch is attached to options are selected. | | Hide all objects that depend on the sketch | | | | | +++ | | If checked, hidden objects used for external geometry will be shown when the sketch is opened. | | Show objects used for external geometry | | | | | +++ | | If checked, hidden objects the sketch is attached to will be shown when the sketch is opened. | | Show objects that the sketch is attached to | | | | | +++ | | If checked, the camera position is moved back to where it was before the sketch was opened. | | Restore camera position after editing | | | | | +++ | | If checked, camera mode will be forced to orthographic when the sketch is opened. Camera mode will be restored when leaving edit mode. This preference is only available if Restore camera position after editing is activated. | | Force orthographic camera when entering edit | | | | | +++ | | If checked, the sketch will open with 'Section View' active. | | Open sketch in Section View mode | | | | | +++ | | If pressed, the Visibility automation settings will be applied to existing sketches too. Otherwise they will only be used for new sketches. | | Apply to existing sketches | | | | | +++
Unless otherwise stated these preferences are only used while a sketch is in edit mode.
On this page you can specify the following:
+++ | Name | Description | +=================================================+===========================================================================================================================================================================================================================+ | | The color used for sketch elements while they are being created. | | Creating line | | | | | +++ | | The color used for the coordinates displayed while creating sketch elements. | | Coordinate text | | | | | +++ | | The color used for the crosshair cursor displayed while creating sketch elements. | | Cursor crosshair | | | | | +++ | | The colors used for constrained and unconstrained normal geometry. The line pattern and line width can also be specified. | | Geometry | | | | | | (v1.0) | | +++ | | The colors used for constrained and unconstrained construction geometry. (v1.0) : The line pattern and line width can also be specified. | | Construction geometry | | | | | +++ | | The colors used for constrained and unconstrained internal alignment edges. (v1.0) : The line pattern and line width can also be specified. | | Internal alignment edge | | | | | +++ | | The color used for external geometry. (v1.0) : The line pattern and line width can also be specified. | | External geometry | | | | | +++ | | The color used for a fully constrained sketch. | | Fully constrained Sketch | | | | | +++ | | The color used for an invalid sketch. | | Invalid Sketch | | | | | +++ | | The color used for driving geometric constraints. | | Constraint symbols | | | | | +++ | | The color used for driving dimensional constraints. | | Dimensional constraint | | | | | +++ | | The color used for reference dimensional constraints. | | Reference constraint | | | | | +++ | | The color used for expression dependent dimensional constraints. | | Expression dependent constraint | | | | | +++ | | The color used for deactivated constraints. | | Deactivated constraint | | | | | +++ | | The color used for vertices (points) when not in edit mode. | | Colors outside Sketcher: Vertex | | | | | +++ | | The color used for edges when not in edit mode. | | Colors outside Sketcher: Edge | | | | | +++
The colors for selections while a sketch is in edit mode are controlled by the global settings Enable preselection highlighting and Enable selection highlighting, see the Preferences Editor.
The size of the vertices in edit mode is controlled by the Marker size setting.
There is another preference that has an influence on sketches. If the Transparent objects preference on the Display → 3D View tab is set to {{Value|Backface pass}}, arrowheads on one end of sketch dimensions are hidden on some systems. When viewed from the rear the dimension value can then also be hidden. Versions 0.19 to 0.21 (except Link branch) are affected. In versions 0.19 and 0.20 the effect only occurs if Show grid is deactivated in the Edit controls section of the Task panel as shown below.
See forum topic.
Front view, grid enabled and grid disabled
Rear view, grid enabled and grid disabled hiding arrowheads on the opposite end as well as the dimension value
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