# Feature Request: distance constraint

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089>\
**Category:** Feature requests\
**Created:** [September 24, 2023, 12:48pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089 "2023-09-24T12:48:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alexkrush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@alexkrush](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/alexkrush)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2023, 12:48pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089/1 "2023-09-24T12:48:49Z")

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When designing a sketch, I want to constrain lines to each other. In Fusion, this is achieved with a distance constraint. In Shapr3D it seems like the only way to do this is to add an extra construction line between the two lines you want to constrain and constrain that line. This adds an unnecessary extra step and is frustrating

Example: draw a rectangle that is 40mm x 60mm. Draw a vertical line inside. Constrain the vertical line exactly 10mm from the right wall of the rectangle. You can’t without drawing another horizontal line

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Gy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/peter_gy/32/9251_2.png) [@Peter\_Gy](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Peter_Gy)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089/2 "2023-09-24T13:01:15Z")

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You _can_ constraint two parallel lines to a given distance without a construction line: just select both of them and set a value of the dimension that appears or press the lock icon to fix the current value:

If it does not work, it’s most likely that the lines are not parallel.

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**Author:** ![alexkrush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@alexkrush](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/alexkrush)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089/3 "2023-09-24T13:26:37Z")

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Ahh. That makes sense. I was looking for it in the constraint panel. I am coming from fusion360 so that’s why I didn’t expect to highlight both lines

Ah, and I see the same can be done for points and angles if the lines aren’t parallel. Great!

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**Author:** ![alexkrush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@alexkrush](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/alexkrush)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089/4 "2023-09-25T14:12:47Z")

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Hey Peter, in practicing the distance constraint (and trying out the macOS version), I’ve found it to be a bit clumsy to actually set the value. In the video you’ll see two issues:

1. I find it very difficult to find the text box to enter the distance in. If I was using the distance constraint tool in fusion, I would click the line or lines I wanted to constrain, and just start typing the value in. But here, I have to hold shift (which I’m ok with) select both, and then click a 3rd time while scanning to find the text box. When setting all four edge constraints for this inset rectangle, it becomes a lot of overhead
2. I wasn’t able to type on the keyboard. This seemed to stop working after bit. not sure why but I won’t fault this feature for this bug  

[https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/3/3/33cf5650f469ddeb0a1d22fd2793b7560b63f550.mp4](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/3/3/33cf5650f469ddeb0a1d22fd2793b7560b63f550.mp4)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![alexkrush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@alexkrush](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/alexkrush)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 2:36pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089/5 "2023-09-25T14:36:02Z")

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actually, on point 2… it is very consistently happening where most of my keyboard input isn’t being accepted (it’s making the error ping sound)

how do I best file a bug report that would be helpful for tracking this down?

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**Author:** ![Istvan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/istvan/32/23668_2.png) [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 3:05pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089/6 "2023-09-25T15:05:04Z")

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> [@alexkrush](#):
>
> and then click a 3rd time while scanning to find the text box

You don’t need to click it. Just press tab and start typing.

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Gy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/peter_gy/32/9251_2.png) [@Peter\_Gy](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Peter_Gy)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089/7 "2023-09-25T15:14:50Z")

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> [@alexkrush](#):
>
> how do I best file a bug report that would be helpful for tracking this down?

The most useful is to enable both options for “Tutorial mode” in Preferences and record a video of when it happens. The ideal would be a stable reproduction from a blank workspace. It’d be also great to have your exact OS and system version.

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**Author:** ![alexkrush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@alexkrush](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/alexkrush)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089/8 "2023-09-25T16:23:44Z")

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Thanks, I discovered the tab trick not too long after (on a different laptop where the keyboard input works) and that is definitely more usable

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**Author:** ![alexkrush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@alexkrush](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/alexkrush)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-distance-constraint/28089/9 "2023-09-25T16:26:01Z")

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ah, so there’s no “report a bug” button I can press in the app that would provide diagnostics / system information? And damn… feature request: hot enable/disable of tutorial mode without having to restart the app

The laptop with the issue is running a version of macOS 14.0 so perhaps it would be worth testing on a developer beta if you’re not already (I’m not sure if I’m on the latest at the moment)