SW 2025 - Unable to enter text within a geometric tolerance (old behavior still present?)

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1

Hello everyone,

I am currently experiencing a limitation on SolidWorks 2025 regarding geometric tolerances (tolerance frameworks / FTF).

Background:

In recent versions of SolidWorks, when creating a geometric tolerance:

  • The tolerance field (2nd box) is strictly numeric

  • it is impossible to enter text

  • It is also impossible to leave the box empty

However, in some cases (especially in a BTS CPI pedagogical context), I need to indicate designations such as:

  • ITF1

  • IT01

  • etc.

This information is not numerical values, but specific indications.

What I found (very interesting):

After several tests:

  • I opened an old drawing (dating from around 2010)

  • This drawing contains tolerances with text (e.g. ITF1 directly in the frame)

  • By copying one of these tolerances into SolidWorks 2025:

    I access an old tolerance menu

    and it is still possible to enter free text in the boxes

Problem:

  • This behavior seems to be a legacy mode (old system retained)

  • It is not possible to create this type of tolerance from scratch

  • The only current solution is:

    • Copy an old existing tolerance

    • then modify it

This operation is clearly impractical and unsustainable on a daily basis

My questions:

  • Is there an option to reactivate the old behavior?

  • Is this change (post SW 2021) voluntary and definitive?

  • Is there a specific method for integrating this type of information into a tolerance framework?

  • Can I force the use of the old tolerance editor?

Illustrations:

I enclose:

  • An example of what I want to achieve

  • the current menu (SW 2025)

  • the old menu accessible via copy

Old drawing and menu:
{1E8FD82A-ECE7-48FB-A735-4B9BDCCA2FFD}

New menu:
{B69ABBBE-2955-4B41-9F71-5BF7E07809F1}

Objective:

Be able to integrate designations such as " ITF1 " directly into the tolerance framework, without going through workarounds (external notes, text overlay, etc.).

Thank you in advance for your feedback :+1:

2

Hello;

I think you have to use the " Add a reference " function to be able to take control of the text to be edited:

or look at the settings available in " Tools > Options > Document Properties > Annotations > Geometric Tolerances "

3

Hello

In 2022 I have the same problem.
If this does not correspond to a normative possibility, he does not offer it to you.
You have options see below that might be right for you.
image

image

There is the option to create a block. For the hopefuls the creation of symbol with inputs

1 Like
4

Thank you for your answer. Here are the results obtained after my tests:
I can indeed write text in the new references, which is normal since the reference is often a letter A, B etc...
But I can't remove the tolerance value box, and this is where I'd like to be able to write text.
For the options in the document properties, I couldn't find anything about my problem.
Here's what I can do with the proposed solutions:
{4D5DFAE5-3905-4C8D-8DB6-EB2D9507B919}

5

Thank you for your indications.
However, I want to put text in the tolerance value, and not next to the boxes or below etc...