Is it the tutorial or the software that sucks, or is it just me?

[Quinoje]

I’ve run through this basic tutorial “Model a Bracket Mount” multiple times and can’t get things to behave or match.

1. Dimension lines disappear, even though I have “always show dimensions” on.
2. Setting the distance between center of hole and edge of rectangle keeps rotating the drawing.

[drivebydesign]

Most of the time it’s a combination of both , but sometimes knowledge is key. Don’t fret, it will grow intuitive over time.

Perhaps you can try starting by defining distances to the axis (X, Y, Z) and turning your lines green by that (which means, they have a defined starting point, angle and length) and thus make them immovable. Also check out whether you selected to anchor your measures/constraints first or second, which changes how the respective points/lines behave to each other. When second is selected, e.g. distances are measured from the SECOND click, if first is selected TOWARDS the second click.