Inserting Temporary Points, Axes, and Planes

You can create temporary points, axes, and planes while working with other tools. Temporary objects can be used to dimension to and create other objects. For example, you can use them to create a ruler dimension, or anchor the Move handle on them.

To clear a temporary object, select the object and press Delete. A temporary object also disappears when you click in an empty space with the Selection tool or create another temporary object.

Alt+Shift+click	2D Example	3D Example
A point	For curves: A tangent line and a perpendicular plane.	For solids: A plane that is normal to the view direction (or parallel to the plane of the screen).
Two points	2D: A midpoint between two points and a bisecting line.	3D: A midpoint between two points and a bisecting line.
Three points	Not applicable in 2D	A plane.
Two parallel lines or edges	A line midway between two lines (2D).	A line midway between two edges and planes that intersect the edges and the line (3D).
Two parallel planes	Not applicable in 2D	A plane midway between two planes.
Two non-parallel lines, edges, or axes	Two bisector lines and the intersection point (2D).	An axis between the two points at the closest approach between each other, and a point and a midplane at the middle distance along that axis (3D).
Two non-parallel planes	Not applicable in 2D	Two bisecting planes and the edge where the planes intersect.
Three planes	Not applicable in 2D	The point where the three planes intersect
An arc	2D: A circle that completes the arc.	3D: A circle that completes the arc.
A conical face and its axis	Not applicable in 2D	The point where the conical face would come to a point.
Ellipse	2D: The major and minor foci.	3D: The major and minor foci.
A line or edge and a point that is not in line with the line or edge	Axis from the point normal to the edge and a second axis parallel to the edge through the point.	Axis from the point normal to the edge and a second axis parallel to the edge through the point.
An axis and an intersecting face or surface	Not applicable in 2D	The point at the intersection of the axis and the plane of the face.
A curve and an intersecting face or surface	Not applicable in 2D	The points where the face would intersect the curve, and the axes that pass through the points, are tangent to the curve, and are on the same plane as the curve. One point and axis are created if the face would only intersect the curve at one point.
A point and a face or surface	Not applicable in 2D	Plane that is tangent to the face and a point that is normal to the axis from the face to the point.
A point and a line or edge	2D and 3D produce the same result, shown on the right.	A plane through the line or edge, or a plane that is normal to the plane that goes through the point. If a line is chosen at a particular point, then that location on the line can also be used as a point reference.
A line or edge and a planar face	Not applicable in 2D	Planes that are perpendicular to the face and go through the line or edge.