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

Modifying a Dimension Element

The modifications covered here can be performed only on dimension elements; they do not work on dimensions that are placed as primitive elements.

The Change Dimension tool is used to change the symbology of a dimension element to the active settings.

The Drop Element tool or the Drop Dimension Element tool in the Drop tool box is used to convert a dimension element to individual elements.

Working with extension lines

The points that determine what a dimension element is dimensioning can be thought of as the vertices of the dimension element. As explained in the next two procedures, you can add and delete these points with the Insert Vertex and Delete Vertex tools.

A dimension element must have at least two points or vertices, just as a line must have two end points or vertices. Therefore, you cannot delete one of the extension lines of a dimension with only two extension lines.

To add an extension line to a dimension element
  1. In the Misc(ellaneous) Dimensions tool box, select the Insert Vertex tool.

  2. Identify the dimension element.

  3. Enter a data point at the location at which you want the extension line.

  4. Accept the new extension line.

    Inserting an extension line

      

To remove an extension line from a dimension element
  1. In the Misc(ellaneous) Dimensions tool box, select the Delete Vertex tool.

  2. Identify the extension line.

  3. Accept the deletion of the extension line.

To move an extension line
  1. In the Modify tool box, select the Modify Element tool.

  2. Identify the extension line.
    The extension line dynamically displays as you move the pointer.

  3. Enter a data point to position the extension line.

  4. Reset to finish.

To modify the length of an extension line
  1. In the Modify tool box, select the Modify Element tool.

  2. Identify the extension line.
    The extension lines dynamically display as you move the pointer.

  3. Enter a data point to define the new extension line length.

Working with dimension text

To move dimension text
  1. In the Modify tool box, select the Modify Element tool.

  2. Identify the dimension text.
    The dimension text dynamically displays as you move the pointer.

  3. Enter a data point to position the dimension text.

  4. Reset to finish.

Text can be modified only along the axis on which it was placed.
To edit text in a dimension element
  1. In the Text tool box, select the Edit Text tool.

  2. Identify the dimension text.
    The     Text Editor window opens. All text that is generated from the geometry of the element(s) dimensioned is represented by an asterisk (*).

  3. Edit the dimension text.
    Text placed before the asterisk precedes (and text placed after the asterisk follows) the text that is generated from the geometry of the element(s) dimensioned.

  4. Enter a data point to apply the change.

You can delete the asterisk when editing dimension text. To restore the text that is automatically generated from the geometry of the dimensioned element, edit the dimension's text again and insert an asterisk.

Text entered in the Text Editor window is not associative — it does not change when the dimension element is modified.

If the Text Editor Style preference (Workspace > Preferences, Text category) is set to Dialog Box, the Dimension Text dialog box opens rather than the Text Editor window.