dimensions should be editable controls rather than just measurements

[structurednewstore-rgb]

I really like where Layerling is going, especially as a more approachable alternative to traditional CAD. One thing I think would make it dramatically more useful is a better workflow for dimensioning and editing geometry. Done right, and this wil be a powerful tool

This is something that has always frustrated me with Tinkercad as well. The ruler system works, but it still requires a lot of dragging, positioning, looking at X/Y coordinates, and sometimes doing the math yourself.

What I'd love is something closer to a simplified combination of SketchUp's Tape Measure and Onshape's dimensioning tools.

For example, if I place a cylinder that I want to use as a hole, I should be able to click its center, click the edge of another object, and type 20 mm. The cylinder would then move so its center is exactly 20 mm from that edge.

But I think the same concept should go further than just positioning objects.

If I draw or create a line, I should be able to click that line, see its dimension, type 50 mm, and the line becomes exactly 50 mm long. If I want that line 10 mm from another edge, I should be able to dimension that relationship and type 10 mm.

Same idea with angles, circles, holes, rectangles, offsets, etc. Rather than constantly dragging geometry until it looks right, I could simply select the geometry or the relationship I care about and type the dimension I want.

So instead of Layerling only telling me:

"This object is at X = 47.3 mm."

I could tell Layerling:

"Make this line 50 mm long."
"Make this hole 20 mm from this edge."
"Make these two edges 12 mm apart."
"Make this angle 45°."

And ideally, once that dimension is created, I could click the dimension later, type a different number, and the geometry would update.

That's the workflow I think is missing from Tinkercad-style modeling. I don't necessarily want all the complexity of full parametric CAD. I just want dimensions to be editable controls rather than measurements I have to work around.

To me, that would be a huge step forward for Layerling: keep the simplicity and accessibility of Tinkercad, but add a lightweight version of the dimension-driven workflow that makes SketchUp and Onshape so much easier for precise work.

[henmedia]

Thank you for the detailed idea. Part of it already works today, so here is what there is, and then where the limit is.

Typing a distance instead of dragging: The corner ruler (the camera tools, ruler icon) shows the distances of your selection from its corner as fields you can type into. Select your cylinder, put the ruler's corner on the edge of the other object (it snaps to corners and edges), switch the handle to "midpoint", and type 20 mm: the cylinder moves so its centre is exactly 20 mm from that edge. The ruler body shows the size of each shape in its band the same way, and "Distance to the origin" in the settings shows the two distances to the axes.

A line of exactly 50 mm: In a sketch, click a straight line, then click its length pill and type the length. The start point stays where it is, the lines at the other end follow, and Alt+Enter grows it to both sides.

The limit: Each typed dimension is a one-time move. layerling does not remember "this hole is 20 mm from that edge", so if you later change the other shape, the hole does not follow, and you cannot click an old dimension and change it again. Angles in a sketch are not typeable yet either. Stored dimensions that drive the geometry need a constraint solver, which is the heavy part of full parametric CAD. layerling is meant to stay simple, like Tinkercad, and not to become a full CAD program, so I do not plan to go there.

Does the typed one-time distance get you most of the way, or is the stored relationship the part you really need? Which cases do you run into most: placing holes, sizing lines, or angles?

[structurednewstore-rgb]

That explanation helps a lot, and I think it actually clarifies what I'm looking for. I don't necessarily need the full stored relationship/constraint solver where changing one object automatically updates everything connected to it. I understand how that starts pushing Layerling toward full parametric CAD, which probably isn't the goal.

I think what I'm really missing is construction geometry — construction lines, reference points, centerlines, intersections, etc. — that I can work off of and align things to.

For example, let me create a construction line 20 mm from the left edge of an object and another 35 mm from the bottom. Now I have an intersection I can snap the center of my cylinder/hole to.

Or let me establish a centerline between two edges and snap something to it.

Or create a reference point a specific distance from an edge and then use that point for placement/alignment.

Those construction lines or points wouldn't need to be part of the actual solid or print. They're just persistent layout references that stay visible while I'm working.

That's much closer to how I think when laying something out physically. If I'm building something in the shop, I don't usually calculate everything from one global origin. I measure 2" off this edge, draw a pencil line, measure 3" from another edge, draw another line, and now I have a reference/intersection to work from.

Your movable ruler sounds like it can accomplish a lot of this already, and I probably need to play with that workflow more. But I think persistent construction lines and points that the ruler can create or position, and that other geometry can snap/align to, would make the whole system much more intuitive.

So for me the priority probably isn't "remember that this hole must always remain 20 mm from this edge." It's more:

Give me easy ways to establish precise reference geometry and then build/position things from those references.

That could potentially provide a lot of the usability of CAD dimensioning without needing the constraint solver or full parametric complexity.

For the cases I run into most, it's probably placing holes and features relative to existing geometry, finding centers, creating offsets, and aligning things to reference locations. Line sizing is useful too, but it sounds like you already have a pretty good solution for that. again, i primarily use onshape, but s you differentiate yourself, this could be the gold standard. btw just shot over 25usd. will continue to support. this could be great

[henmedia]

Thank you, and thank you for the support, I really appreciate it.

That is a much clearer picture, and it fits layerling better than stored dimensions: persistent guide lines and points that are not part of the solid, that stay visible while you work, and that other things snap to. No solver, no dependencies between shapes, just marks like the pencil lines in your shop.

Today there is only a partial answer. The corner ruler snaps to corners and edges and lets you type a distance, but it is not saved and there is only one of it, and nothing snaps to it afterwards. A workaround: put a thin helper shape (a very flat box, say) at the typed position, use it to align or snap to, and delete it when you are done. It works, but it is clumsy.

I will note this as an idea. I cannot promise it or give a date, but it is a good fit for the "simple, but precise" direction. If you like, tell me how you would want to create a guide line: type a distance from a chosen edge, or click an edge and drag? And should a point be the crossing of two lines, or placed on its own? That will help to keep it small if we do it.

[structurednewstore-rgb]

I think the center and geometric reference points are very important, and I wouldn't limit points to just the crossing of two guide lines.

I'd keep the whole system based on a few very simple references that already exist in the geometry:

Edges, centers, corners, midpoints, and points.

For example, select a face or object and Layerling could recognize its outside edges and center. From there I could:

Create a guide directly through the center.

Create a guide a typed distance from an outside edge.

Create a point at the center.

Create a point at a midpoint or corner.

Create a point a typed distance from an edge or another point.

Snap objects to those guides and points.

Use the intersection of two guides as an automatic snap point.

The center is especially important because so many things are located from centerlines: holes, cylinders, circles, symmetrical features, etc. Being able to immediately establish the center of an object or face gives you a very useful reference without doing any calculations.

I also think a geometric point is valuable on its own. Sometimes I don't need an entire construction line running across the workspace. I just need to say, essentially, "give me a point here, 20 mm from this edge and 30 mm from that edge," and then snap the center of my hole to it.

So maybe the basic concept is:

Existing geometry → choose edge / center / corner / midpoint → create guide or point → optionally type an offset → snap to it.

That still seems very much in keeping with Layerling's simplicity. There are no constraints or dependencies to solve. You're just giving the user better reference marks to build from — basically the digital equivalent of pencil lines, center marks, and layout points in a shop.

[henmedia]

That is very clear, thank you. I will keep the whole thing on a few simple references that already exist in the geometry, as you describe: from an object or face you pick an edge, centre, corner or midpoint, make a point from it, optionally type an offset, and other things snap to it. A point can stand on its own, without a line running across the workspace. No constraints, nothing that has to be solved, just pencil marks.

The centre is clearly the most important one, so I am starting with points: made from a centre, a corner or an edge midpoint, with a typed offset, that things snap to and that are saved with the design. I cannot give a date, but there will be something to try, and I will say here when there is.

The guide lines and the crossing of two guides as a snap point I will keep in mind. If someone else who works on layerling here wants to pick that up, it would be very welcome too.

And thank you again for the support.

[henmedia]

The first step is out in 1.42.0: reference points. Right-click a body and choose "Mark the centre", "Mark the corners" or "Mark the edge middles". The points sit on the top face, nothing prints them, and a shape you drag snaps to them with its edges and centre. You can drag a point or click it and type its coordinates, and they are saved with the design.

A limit for now: there is no field for "20 mm from this edge" yet. Put a point on the edge middle or a corner and type the coordinate you want. For a rotated body the marks use its axis-parallel box. Guide lines are not part of it.