How To Set Dimension Style In Autocad

A technical cartoon is incomplete without notation. Notes on a drawing are important to convey design data or analyze intent which tin can't exist portrayed by linework alone. Measuring distances from a scaled, printed drawing is inaccurate. Dimensions allow exact values to exist shown on a drawing which can then exist used for construction.

Dimensioning Objects

Yous can admission the dimensioning tools from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimension console. The required dimension tool can be chosen from the Dimension drop-downward.

Linear

The Linear dimension tool measures horizontal or vertical distances. To create Linear dimensions click the points 1, so 2 to identify the element to exist dimensioned. Click bespeak three to locate the dimension line. The dimension distance volition prove the vertical or horizontal distance depending on whether you movement your cursor in a horizontal or vertical direction when placing indicate 3.

Command line: To start the Linear Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMLIN" and press [Enter].

Aligned

The Aligned dimension tool measures the length along an object.

To create an Aligned dimension click the points one, and so 2 to identify the element to be dimensioned. Click signal 3 to locate the dimension line.

Command line: To starting time the Aligned Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMALI" and press [Enter].

Angular

The Athwart dimension tool measures an angle between two objects.

To create an Angular dimension select object i, and and so object 2 to identify the elements creating the bending. Click signal iii to locate the dimension line.

Command line: To start the Angular Dimension tool from the command line, blazon "DIMANG" and printing [Enter].

Arc Length

The Arc Length dimension tool measures the length of an arc.

To create an Arc Length dimension, select object 1 then click point ii to place the dimension line.

Command line: To get-go the Arc Length Dimension tool from the command line, blazon "DIMARC" and press [Enter].

Radius

The Radius dimension tool measures the radius of an arc or circumvolve.

To create a Radius dimension, select object 1 and then, click betoken 2 to locate the dimension line.

Command line: To start the Radius Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMRAD" and press [Enter].

Bore

The Bore dimension tool measures the diameter of an arc or circle.

To create a Diameter dimension, click object 1 and so, click point 2 to locate the dimension line.

Command line: To starting time the Bore Dimension tool from the command line, blazon "DIMDIA" and press [Enter].

Jogged

The Jogged dimension tool measures the radius of an arc or circle but places the leader line in an culling place (inferred point) to the arc or circles centre point. The jog indicates the dimension line doesn't point to the centre of the circle. This tool can exist used when space is express or the arc radius is big.

To create a Jogged dimension, click on the arc you desire to dimension (signal 1). Click indicate ii to identify the inferred centre point. Click signal 3 to locate the dimension line and text. Click betoken four to locate the jog within the dimension line.

Control line: To first the Jogged Dimension tool from the command line, type "JOG" and press [Enter].

Ordinate

Ordinate dimensions are used to locate the Ten or Y coordinate value of a point. Click signal 1 to identify the point location, click indicate 2 to locate the dimension line. Ordinate dimensions are especially useful for elevations or OS grids which use specific coordinates.

Notation: The ordinate dimension will display the X value if your second point is in a higher place or beneath the offset point. The Y value will be displayed if your second signal is to the side of the first point.

Command line: To showtime the Ordinate Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMORD" and press [Enter].

Quick Dimension

The Quick Dimension tool is used for dimensioning multiple elements.

Quick Dimensions can be added by clicking the Quick Dimension tool from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimensions panel.

Command line: To beginning the Quick Dimension tool from the control line, type "QDIM" and printing [Enter].

Select all the objects you lot wish to dimension (objects 1). Yous tin can either select these i at a time or employ a crossing window choice to select multiple objects.

Click point 2 to locate the dimension line.

Continue

The Continue dimension tool is used to add additional dimensions to a linear, aligned Athwart or Arc length dimension.

Continue but works on an existing Linear or Aligned dimension. It takes the settings and tiptop from the existing dimension called.

Annotation: The direction is based on the extension line clicked. If you select the right side extension line it will start to measure from the right side, if you select the left side extension line, it volition measure from the left side.

You can create a Continue dimension past clicking the Continue tool from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimensions console..

Command line: To showtime the Continue Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMCONT" and press [Enter].

A Continue dimension is created past selecting the already created Linear or Aligned dimension (one) then by clicking the subsequent points (2, three and four).

Baseline

Baseline dimensions will mensurate the altitude from a starting indicate to multiple other points.

Baseline only works on an existing Linear or Aligned dimension. It takes the settings and height from the existing dimension chosen.

Note: The direction is based on the extension line y'all click. If you select the right extension line it will measure from the right side, if you select the left extension line, it will measure from the left side.

You tin can create a Baseline dimension by clicking the Baseline tool from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimensions panel.

Command line: To outset the Baseline Dimension tool from the control line, type "DIMBASE" and press [Enter].

A Baseline dimension is created by selecting the already created Linear or Aligned dimension (1) and so by clicking the subsequent points (2, iii and 4).

Multileader

The Multileader dimension tool creates arrows and text pointing to objects.

To create Multileaders click the Ribbon Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Multileader push button.

Command line: To beginning the Multi Leader tool from the command line, blazon "MLD" and press [Enter].

Click indicate ane to locate the start of your Multileader. Click point ii to locate the end of your Multileader. 3 enter the text y'all wish to display.

To add together additional Leaders to your Multileader click the Add Leader push from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Leaders console.

Click an existing Multileader (ane) to identify what you want to add a Leader to. Click point ii to identify the location of the arrow of the additional Leader line.

Associative Dimensions

When placing dimensions, past default, they are created Associative. An Associative Dimension volition automatically conform if the geometry information technology dimensions is modified.

Dimension associativity is controlled from the AutoCAD Options. To show the AutoCAD options, right click the command line and choose options.

The options dialog box will bear witness. The dimension associativity feature tin can exist constitute on the User Preferences tab by ticking and un-ticking the Make new dimensions associative tickbox.

When this option is ticked (the default setting), Dimensions will exist associated to objects. If the object is modified, the dimension will adjust to match. This is the preferred method of dimensioning because information technology keeps the right dimension value when geometry is edited.

If unticked, the dimension is not associated to any objects. If the geometry is after adjusted, the dimension will remain in its original location and volition need to be modified manually.

Dimension Styles

The appearance of individual dimensions can exist altered using the properties palette but using styles will ensure consistency.

To view the Dimension Style Managing director dialog box, click the Dimension Style button from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimensions panel.

Command line: To open up the Dimension Way Managing director from the control line, type "DDIM" and press [Enter].

The available styles will be listed in the Styles section of the Dimension Style Manager dialog box.

Sub-styles will show linked to a Style. Sub-styles are used where different backdrop for a specific dimension tool are required e.chiliad. a different arrow head for Leaders than the other dimensions in the parent Manner.

Creating Dimension Styles

New dimension styles are created past clicking the New push. The Create New Dimension Style dialog box volition show allowing y'all to enter a New Style Name for your dimension style. You have to choose an existing dimension style as a starting point.

One time the new mode has been created, the New Dimension Way dialog will show with all the backdrop of the starting dimension way.

The tabs across the top of the dialog box control the dissimilar aspects of the dimensions.

The dimension beneath shows which tab is used to modify each function of the dimension.

Lines

The Lines tab controls the appearance of the dimension and extension lines.

The image shows the extension lines and dimension lines

Color controls the colour of the Dimension lines or Extension lines

Linetype controls the linetype of the Dimension lines. There are 2 linetype options in the Extension lines section: Linetype ext line 1 and Linetype ext line two, where the 1 is the starting time extension line placed.

Lineweight controls the lineweight of the Dimension lines or Extension lines.

Baseline Spacing is the space betwixt the text and the dimension line.

Supress Dim Line / Ext Line allows you to remove the dimension or extension lines so they are not shown. This can exist useful when placing dimension or extension lines over other geometry such as grid lines and then the dimension doesn't obscure the dimension line.

Extend beyond dim lines is the altitude the Extension lines extend above and past the Dimension lines

Kickoff from origin is the distance from the object being dimensioned to the start of the Extension lines.

Stock-still length extension lines is the length of dimension lines can be fixed to assist keep the advent of dimensions tidy. To modify the dimension line length, on the Lines tab, tick the Fixed length extension lines option and enter a length for your dimension lines in the Length box. Each new dimension will now have extension lines fixed to the length you specified in the Length box.

Symbols and Arrows

The Symbols and Arrows tab controls the arrow heads at the terminate of the Dimension lines and Eye marks.

Arrowheads controls the arrow head blazon and size of the arrowheads on the end of dimension lines.

Center marks controls the appearance when marker heart points of circles and arcs. Information technology is quite often important to utilise center marks to set out a curved chemical element.

Dimension Break is the size of the break marking when using Jogged dimensions.

Arc Length Symbol controls the location of the arc length dimension symbol. In the example, the symbol is shown Proceeding dimension text.

Radius jog dimension controls the jog angle on Jogged dimensions.

Linear jog dimension controls the jog height factor equally a ratio of the text size for jogged dimensions.

Text

The text tab controls the advent of text. This shouldn't be dislocated with the Master and Secondary Units tabs which control the value of the text.

Text advent controls the mode of text used, the colour and the acme. (For more details on Text and Text Styles, see module 06-Text)

Text Placement controls the location of the text in relation to the Dimension line.

Vertical

Note: The JIS (Japanese Industry Standard) placement isn't shown but is the aforementioned as the Above option.

Horizontal

View direction Controls whether the text is read from left to right or right to left.

Text Alignment controls the rotation of the text: whether it is rotated to the view orientation, whether it aligns with the dimension being created, or whether it follows ISO standard (which maintains all text horizontally).

Fit

The fit options command how the text in a dimension reacts when space is limited and the overall scale of the text.

Fit options controls how the text and arrows relocate around the extension line if there isn't enough space. When dimensioning smaller objects, AutoCAD will relocate the text, arrows or both depending on the selected selection.

Text Placement controls where the text is located when it is reposition by the Fit options.

Scale for dimension features controls dimension calibration in one of ii means: the manual method and the annotative method.

Manual method

On the Fit tab of the Alter Dimension dialog box, enter the scale of your cartoon due east.g. if your drawing volition be scaled one:100, enter a value of "100" in the Use overall scale of box. This will scale the dimension attributes such as text and arrows past 100.

Annotative Method

On the Fit tab of the Modify Dimension dialog box, tick the Annotative option to use the file'due south Note Calibration to scale your dimensions.

Notation Scale

Annotative Dimension Styles are based on the Annotation Scale. Select your Annotation Calibration equally required from the Drafting Settings at the bottom of your application window.

If the Add together Scales button is active, annotative objects volition change size when the Notation Scale drop-down value is changed. The selected Annotation Scale will be assigned to the annotation.

When Annotation Visibility is activated the note will re-size to brandish at the current Notation Calibration, if that calibration is assigned to the object. If the select Annotation Scale has non been assigned, the annotation will remain at its current size. For example, if an annotative dimension is simply assigned to 1:50 and the Notation Calibration is changed to 1:100, the dimension volition remain at 1:50.

When an annotative object is selected, the different scales the annotative object uses are displayed. In the diagram below, an annotative dimension is selected. Its text appears at one:20 and 1:100 scales.

Master Units

These are the units used by the dimensions.

Linear Dimensions is the unit format of distance dimensions. You can apply prefixes and suffixes to bespeak the unit format being used. For instance, if you are dimensioning in millimetres, you would enter a Suffix of "mm".

Measurement scale is the scale that the dimension length will be multiplied by to requite the final dimension value. When dimensioning an object drawn in metres in millimetres, entering a Calibration gene of "g" will give the correct result. i.e. if the object if 5m long, using a Dimension Style with a Calibration gene of m will outcome in a "5000" (5 x 1000) dimension value.

Nix Suppression removes leading and trailing zeros. If a measured value was 100.00, ticking the Trailing option would give a dimension of 100.

Angular Dimensions controls the unit format of angles.

Alternate Units

Yous tin display 2 dissimilar unit values on your dimensions, such every bit metres and feet, past ticking the Display alternate units pick from the Alternate Units tab.

Set a calibration factor from the original units. E.g. If you drew in mm and want to convert to inches, enter a scale cistron of "0.03937" (this is 1 / 25.iv, the calibration factor to convert from mm to inches) in the Multiplier for alt units box.

Note: When using Alternate Units, it is recommended to add a suffix (e.thousand. in, mm) to help analyze which units are being used.

The Placement department controls the location of the Alternate Unit in comparison to the original units.

Moving Dimension Text

To motion dimension text select the dimension to be modified to bear witness the dimension'due south Grips. Click the centre Grip over the text. Motility the text to the required location.

The dimension line will also move to maintain the alignment between the text and the dimension line.

Editing Dimension Text

The value of the dimension text can be modified as required.

Note: It is not recommended to alter the value. If you require a unlike value, the geometry should be amended. Editing dimension text should only be used to add together suffixes, prefixes and if dimensioning "Not to scale" drawings.

To change the text, select the dimension to exist modified. Right-click and cull Properties to testify the Properties palette. From the Text Override field enter a new value to exist displayed.

In the image beneath, annotation the difference betwixt the Measurement (100), the actual dimension value, and the Text override (120 NTS). The dimension is actually 100 long, but has been edited to read "120 NTS".

Using the <> symbols will display the dimension value.

For example, to change a dimension from "500" to "Width = 500", enter the value:

"Width = <>"

To change the dimension value back to the default of but the value, delete whatever Text override value.