Guide to Generating Drawings
Guide to Generating Drawings
Guide to Generating Drawings

Linear Dimensioning

Use it!

Used to dimension the linear distance between two points (length).

Linear Dimensioning tool setting window

  

Expanded Linear Dimensioning tool setting window

  
Tool SettingEffect
Style

Displays the active dimension style, which is set on the Dimension Styles dialog box. The option menu lets you select other available dimension styles.

If you change a tool setting from the default, the setting is highlighted in blue, and an asterisk appears next to the Style name.

Magnifying glass icon

Opens the Dimension Styles dialog box, which is used to control settings for dimensioning.

Restore Style

Restores the tool settings to the defaults set for this style on the Dimension Styles dialog box.

Alignment

Determines the axis along which the dimension is aligned.

Location

Controls the location of dimension text:

  • Automatic — Dimension text is automatically placed according to the Justification setting.

  • Semi-Automatic — Dimension text is automatically placed according to the Justification setting if the text fits between the extension lines. If the text does not fit, you position the text in response to a prompt.

  • Manual — You position dimension text in response to a prompt.

Key-in: DIMENSION PLACEMENT [AUTO | MANUAL | SEMIAUTO]

Dim Offset

Sets a standard offset for the placement of a dimension.

Select Multiple Elements

If on, multiple elements can be selected for dimensioning by drawing a line through the elements. Enter data points for the start and end of the line. To continue dimensioning, hold the <Ctrl> key, and enter data points for the start and end of the next segment of the line. The <Ctrl> key lets you continue dimensioning without selecting intermediate elements.

Linear Size

Sets the mode to the Linear Size tool, which is used to dimension the linear distance between two points (length). Each dimension (except the first) is computed from the endpoint of the previous dimension. Dimensions are placed in line (chained).

Linear Stacked

Sets the mode to the Linear Stacked tool, which is used to dimension the linear distance from an origin. The dimensions are stacked.

Linear Single

Sets the mode to the Linear Single tool, which is used to dimension the linear distance from an origin. The dimensions are placed in line (chained).

Annotation Scale Lock icon

Sets the Annotation Scale Lock. When this lock is on, the annotation scale is applied to any text that is placed in the model.

The annotation scale is set in the Model Properties dialog box. It defines the scale for text and dimensioning in the model, to allow for scaling back to normal size when printing.

Start Extension

If on, sets the optional terminator for the beginning of dimension lines.

Key-in: DIMENSION TERMINATOR LEFT [OFF | ARROW | DOT | ORIGIN | STROKE]

End Extension

If on, sets the optional terminator for the end of dimension lines.

Key-in: DIMENSION TERMINATOR RIGHT [OFF | ARROW | DOT | ORIGIN | STROKE]

First Terminator

If on, sets the optional terminator for the beginning of the first dimension line.

Key-in: DIMENSION TERMINATOR FIRST [OFF | ARROW | DOT | ORIGIN | STROKE]

Joint Terminator

If on and the mode is Linear Size or Linear Single, sets the optional terminator at the intersection of the left and right terminators (at internal extension lines), or at the intersection of an extension line and a dimension line (to replace two arrows pointing toward each other).

Key-in: DIMENSION TERMINATOR JOINT [OFF | ARROW | DOT | ORIGIN | STROKE]

Text Alignment

If the mode is Dimension Element or Dimension Size Perpendicular to Points, sets the orientation of dimension text:

  • Standard
    • — All dimension text is placed along the dimension line.
  • Vertical
    • — All dimension text is placed vertical to the dimension line.
  • Mixed
    • — All dimension text is placed vertically only if it does not fit along the dimension line.

Key-in: DIMENSION VERTICAL [OFF | MIXED | ON]

Text Frame

If on, controls the framing of dimension text:

  • Box
    • — Places dimension in a box. Sometimes used to designate a reference dimension.
  • Capsule
    • — Places dimension in a capsule. Typically used to designate a dimension for quality control.

Key-in: DIMENSION TEXT BOX [OFF | ON | TOGGLE]


or

Key-in: DIMENSION TEXT CAPSULE [OFF | ON | TOGGLE]

Prefix Text

If on, sets the optional symbol for placement before dimension text.

Key-in: DIMENSION PRE [OFF | DIAMETER | RADIUS | SQUARE]

Suffix Text

If on, set the optional symbol for placement after dimension text.

Key-in: DIMENSION POST [OFF | DIAMETER | RADIUS | SQUARE]

Association

  • If on, snapping a tentative point to the element being dimensioned causes an association point to be created.

  • If off, no associations are created.

To dimension the distance between two points
  1. Select the Linear Dimensioning tool.

  2. Enter a data point (S) to define the origin.

  3. Enter a data point (E) to define the endpoint of the dimension.
    As the cursor moves, the dynamic dimension displays.

  4. Enter a data point (X) to define the length of the extension line (the offset distance from the origin to the dimension line).
    If     Alignment is set to Drawing or View, this data point also defines the dimension axis.

    Linear Dimension

      

To create a linear dimension by selecting multiple elements
  1. Select the Linear Dimensioning tool.

  2. Click on the Select Multiple Elements icon.

  3. Enter a data point to start the selection line over the elements to be dimensioned (A).

  4. Enter a data point to end the selection line (B).

  5. Press and hold down the <Ctrl> key.

  6. Enter a data point to start the selection line over another set of elements (C).

  7. Enter a data point to end the selection line (D).
    Repeat step 5–7 for each additional element you wish to include in the linear dimension.

  8. Enter a data point to place the dimensions (E).

    Linear dimensioning on multiple elements

      

Key-in: DIMCREATE LINEAR SIZE