Part Modeling > Datum Features > Datum Planes > About the Datum Plane User Interface
  
About the Datum Plane User Interface
The Datum Plane user interface consists of the Datum Plane dialog box, shortcut menus, and handles. Click Model > Plane to open the Datum Plane dialog box.
Datum Plane Dialog Box
The Datum Plane dialog box contains the following tabs:
Placement
References collector—Places a new datum plane by referencing existing planes, surfaces, edges, points, coordinate systems, axes, vertices, sketch-based features, facet faces, facet edges, facet vertices, curves, sketches, and channels. Intent objects, datum coordinate systems, or non-cylindrical surfaces can also be selected.
Constraint list—Sets the constraint for each reference. Located in the References collector next to each reference.
Through—Places the new datum plane through the selected reference. When you select a datum coordinate system as the placement reference, the Plane list appears:
XY—Places the datum plane through the xy-plane
YZ—Places the datum plane through the yz-plane and is the default
ZX—Places the datum plane through the zx-plane
Offset—Places the datum plane at an offset from the selected reference. It is the default constraint type when you select a datum coordinate system as the placement reference.
Translation or Rotation value box—Sets an offset value for the new datum plane, depending on the references you have selected.
Parallel—Places the new datum parallel to the selected reference.
Normal—Places the new datum plane normal to the selected reference.
Midplane—Places the new datum plane half way between two parallel references, or places it to bisect the angle formed by two nonparallel references.
Bisector1—Places the new datum plane to bisect the α angle formed by the two references.
Bisector2—Places the new datum plane to bisect the (180° - α) angle formed by the two references.
Tangent—Places the new datum plane tangent to the selected reference. The Tangent constraint is added to the newly created datum plane when the datum plane is tangent to a non-cylindrical surface and passes through a datum point, vertex, or an endpoint of an edge that is selected as a reference.
Section list—Specifies the section of a sketch-based feature through which the datum plane passes.
Display
Flip—Flips the normal direction of the datum plane.
Adjust outline check box—Adjusts the size of the datum plane's outline to a specified size or to a selected reference.
Size—Adjusts the datum plane outline display size to specified values.
Width—Specifies a width value for the datum plane outline display.
Height—Specifies a height value for the datum plane outline display.
 
* When you redefine a legacy datum plane that uses the radius as the outline dimension, the radius dimension is changed to the height and width values of the displayed outline of the legacy datum plane.
Lock aspect ratio check box—Maintains the proportion between the height and the width of the datum plane outline display.
Reference—Sizes the datum plane to a reference such as a part, feature, edge, axis, or surface.
Fit Outline reference collector—Displays the selected reference to which the datum plane is sized.
Properties
Name box—Sets a name for a feature.
—Displays detailed component information in a browser.
Shortcut Menus
Right-click the graphics window when the Datum Plane dialog box is open to access shortcut menu commands.
Flip Normal direction—Flips the normal direction of the datum plane.
Clear—Clears the active collector.
Switch to Offset—Available when you snap an offset drag handle to a specific location. Unsnaps an already snapped handle and changes the constraint from Parallel to Offset by removing the Through constraint. Maintains the location of the datum plane and displays the offset handle.
Right-click the graphics window after you select the Adjust outline check box on the Display tab, and Reference is selected, to access shortcut menu commands.
Placement References—Activates the References collector where you specify the placement references to which the datum plane is constrained.
Fit Outline—Activates the Fit Outline reference collector on the Display tab where you specify the reference to which the datum plane display outline is sized.
 
* This option is available only when you select the Adjust outline check box on the Display tab, and select Reference from the menu.
Right-click a collector to access shortcut menu commands.
Remove—Clears the selected reference.
Information—Displays information about the selected reference in a browser or the Information window.
Handles
The following types of handles are displayed:
Two-Dimension Outline Handle—Located at each corner of the datum plane currently being created or redefined. Available after you select the Adjust outline check box is and Size is selected on the Display tab. Move any one of the handles to resize the datum plane outline display.
Offset Handle—Displayed after you select Offset on the Placement tab and you select datum planes or planar surfaces as references for the creation of datum planes. Use the offset handle to manually translate the datum plane to the required offset distance, snap the handle to a point, linear edge, axis, or curve, and unsnap the handle that is snapped to a location.
The offset handle is automatically locked when you add a relation to drive the Offset dimension.