Setting Up the Dimension s Appearance
Setting Up the Dimension's Appearance
The default dimensions created by AutoCAD are generic and do not conform to any particular drafting standard. They work fine in a pinch if you just need to create a descriptive, technical drawing. If you're an architect or mechanical drafter, you'll want to change the style to follow the standards of the industry in which you are working. Or perhaps you just want to change the style a little to conform to your particular office's way of doing things.
You can add dimensions using the default settings and then change each dimension so that it appears correctly for your application, but that is extremely time-consuming. Instead, you can use dimension styles to set up the appearance of your dimensions before-hand. Once you create a style, you only have to make the style the default and then start dimensioning.
Creating a Dimension Style
Dimension styles are like text styles. They determine the font, size of dimension arrows, and configuration of your dimensions. You might set up a dimension style for special types of arrows or to position the dimension text above the dimension line as in an architectural drawing. You can set up multiple dimension styles for different situations.
Here's how to set them up:
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Choose Format è Dimension Style or enter d↲ at the command prompt to open the Dimension Style Manager dialog box.
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Select Standard from the Styles list (see Figure 10.24). Metric users should select ISO-25.
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Click New to open the Create New Dimension Style dialog box (see Figure 10.25).
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With the Copy Of Standard or ISO-25 name highlighted in the New Style Name input box, enter a new name for your style. You might also simply leave the name as Copy Of Standard or ISO-25 if that works for you. If you are working with others on a project, check to make sure your dimension style name conforms to any standards that other members of the team might be using.
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Click Continue to open the New Dimension Style dialog box, as shown in Figure 10.26.
Figure 10.24: The Dimension Style Manager dialog box with the Standard style selected
Figure 10.25: The Create New Dimension Style dialog box
Figure 10.26: The New Dimension Style dialog box
You're now ready to set up your style's appearance. The New Dimension Style dialog box has several tabs, each of which controls a different aspect of the dimension's appearance.
Since dimensions have so many variables, you might find the number of settings overwhelming. Before you jump in and try to set up a dimension style, skim the introductory paragraph for each tab description given next. You might find that you need to change only a few settings for your style.
Setting Up the Dimension Graphics
The options in the Lines tab (refer to the earlier Figure 10.26) and the Symbols And Arrows tab (see Figure 10.27) give you control over the appearance of dimension and extension lines, arrowheads, and center marks. Figure 10.28 shows an example of some of the dimension components that are affected by these options. Table 10.3 describes the options in the Lines tab, and Table 10.4 describes the options for the Symbols And Arrows tab. Whenever you change any of these settings, you get immediate feedback on their effect on the dimension's appearance in the graphic that appears in the upper right of the dialog box.
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| THE LINES TAB SETTINGS | |
|---|---|
| | |
| The Dimension Lines Group | |
| Color | Sets the color of the dimension line. |
| Linetype | Sets the linetype for the dimension line. |
| Lineweight | Sets the line weight for dimension lines. |
| Extend beyond Ticks | Sets the distance that the dimension line extends beyond the extension lines. This option is not available when arrows are used. |
| Baseline Spacing | Specifies the distance between dimensions that use a common baseline. |
| Suppress | These check boxes let you suppress the dimension line on either side of the dimension text. |
| The Extension Lines Group | |
| Color | Sets the color for extension lines. |
| Linetype Ext Line 1 | Sets the linetype for the first extension line. |
| Linetype Ext Line 2 | Sets the linetype for the second extension line. |
| Lineweight | Sets the line weight for extension lines. |
| Extend beyond Dim Lines | Sets the distance that extension lines extend beyond dimension lines. |
| Offset from Origin | Sets the distance from the extension line to the object being dimensioned. |
| Fixed Length Extension Lines | Forces the extension lines to be a fixed length set by the Length text box. |
| Length | Sets the length for extension lines when the Fixed Length Extension Lines option is turned on. |
| Suppress | Suppresses extension lines indicated by the checked item. |
Open table as spreadsheet |
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| THE SYMBOLS AND ARROWS TAB SETTINGS | |
|---|---|
| | |
| The Arrowheads Group | |
| First | Sets the type of arrowhead to use on dimension lines. By default, the second arrowhead automatically changes to match the arrowhead you specify for this setting. |
| Second | Sets a different arrowhead from the one set for the first option. |
| Leader | Sets an arrowhead for leader notes. |
| Arrow Size | Sets the size for the arrowheads. Enter a value for the final printed size of your arrows. |
| The Center Marks Group | |
| None/Mark/Line | Sets the type of center mark used in Radius and Diameter dimensions. |
| Size | Sets the size of the center mark. |
| The Arc Length Symbol Group | |
| Preceding/Above/None | Sets the location of the arc length symbol for arc length dimensions. |
| The Radius Dimension Jog Group | |
| Jog Angle | Sets the angle for the Radius Dimension Jog symbol. |
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Figure 10.27: The Symbols And Arrows tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box
Figure 10.28: These dimensions are labeled with the name of the settings that affect their appearance.
The value you enter for the sizes of the dimension-line components, such as arrow size and offset from origin, should be the size you want when the drawing is printed. If you're adding dimensions in model space and you need to apply a scale factor, you need to enter a scale factor value in the Use Overall Scale Of option in the Fit tab. All other dimension settings are scaled to the value you enter there.
Setting the Appearance of the Dimension Text
You can adjust the appearance of the dimension text through the Text tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box. Text style, color, and height are a few of the features you can adjust here. You can also specify the default location of the dimension text in relation to the dimension line and extension lines. Figure 10.29 shows the Text tab, and Table 10.5 describes the options in the Text tab.
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| THE TEXT TAB SETTINGS | |
|---|---|
| | |
| The Text Appearance Group | |
| Text Style | Sets the text style for your dimension text. You need to first create a text style using the Text Style dialog box (choose Format è Text Style). You can use an Annotative text style to keep the dimension text at the proper size for the drawing scale. See "Understanding Text and Scale" in Chapter 9 for more about Annotative text styles. |
| The Text Appearance Group | |
| Text Color | Sets the color for your dimension text. |
| Fill Color | Sets the color for dimension text background. |
| Text Height | Sets the height for dimension text. This option is valid only for text styles with their Height value set to 0 (zero). |
| Fraction Height Scale | Sets a scale factor for the height of fractional text. This option is meaningful only when Architectural or Fractional is selected in the Primary Units tab. |
| Draw Frame around Text | When turned on, draws a rectangle around the dimension text. |
| The Text Placement Group | |
| Vertical | Sets the vertical position of the text in relation to the dimension line. Centered places the text in line with the dimension line, and the dimension line is broken to accommodate the text. Above places the text above the dimension line, leaving the dimension line unbroken. Outside places the text away from the dimension line at a location farthest from the object being dimensioned. JIS places the text in conformance with the Japanese Industrial Standards. |
| Horizontal | Sets the location of the text in relation to the extension lines. Centered places the text between the two extension lines. At Extension Line 1 places the text next to the first extension line and between the two extension lines. At Extension Line 2 places the text next to the second extension line and between the two extension lines. Over Extension Line 1 places the text above the first extension line. Over Extension Line 2 places the text above the second extension line. |
| Offset from Dim Line | Sets the distance from the baseline of text to the dimension line when text is placed above the dimension line. Also sets the size of the gap between the dimension text and the endpoint of the dimension line when the text is in line with the dimension line. You can use this to set the margin around the text when the dimension text is in a centered position that breaks the dimension line. |
| The Text Alignment Group | |
| Horizontal | Forces the text in a horizontal orientation, regardless of the dimension line orientation. |
| Aligned with Dimension Line | Aligns the text with the dimension line. |
| ISO Standard | Aligns the text with the dimension line when it is between the extension lines; otherwise, the text is oriented horizontally. |
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Figure 10.29: The Text tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box
Specifying Text and Arrow Placement in Tight Spaces
Quite often, you must place dimensions in such a location that arrows and text will not fit between the extension lines. You can use the options in the Fit tab to specify what AutoCAD should do when the dimension runs out of room. You can also use the Fit tab to specify the overall scale factor for your dimensions, which is especially critical if you add dimensions in the Model tab. Figure 10.30 shows the Fit tab, and Table 10.6 describes the options in the Fit tab.
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| THE FIT TAB SETTINGS | |
|---|---|
| | |
| The Fit Options Group | |
| Either Text or Arrows (Best Fit) | Fits either text or arrows between the extension lines, depending on which of the two items fits best. |
| Arrows | Moves arrows outside the extension line first and then text. |
| Text | Moves text outside the extension line first and then arrows. |
| Both Text and Arrows | Moves both the text and the arrows outside the extension line. |
| Always Keep Text between Ext Lines | Forces the arrows and text to remain between the extension lines. |
| Suppress Arrows If They Don't Fit Inside Extension Lines | Completely suppresses arrows if they do not fit between the extension lines. |
| The Text Placement Group | |
| Beside The Dimension Line | Keeps the text and dimension line together. |
| Over Dimension Line, with Leader | Allows independent movement of the text and the dimension line. A leader is added if the text is moved from the dimension line. |
| Over Dimension Line, without Leader | Allows independent movement of the text and the dimension line. |
| The Scale for Dimension Features Group | |
| Annotative | Determines whether the dimension style uses annotative scale. See "Understanding Text and Scale" in Chapter 9 for more about annotative scale. |
| Use Overall Scale Of | This combined radio button and input box sets the overall scale of the dimension components, including text and arrows. |
| Scale Dimensions to Layout | Scales the dimension components to the scale factor assigned to the paper space viewport in which the drawing appears. |
| The Fine Tuning Group | |
| Place Text Manually | Lets you manually place dimension text when the text does not fit between extension lines. |
| Always Draw Dim Line between Ext Lines | Forces AutoCAD to draw a dimension line regardless of the width between extension lines. |
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Figure 10.30: The Fit tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box
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If you need to set up an architectural drawing, follow these steps in the New Dimension Style dialog box.
In the Primary Units tab (see Figure 10.31 later in this chapter), follow these steps:
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In the Linear Dimensions group, open the Unit Format drop-down list, and choose Architectural.
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Select 0'0¼" from the Precision drop-down list, just below the Unit Format list. The Precision option allows you to set the amount that the dimension text will be rounded off. It doesn't actually limit the precision of the drawing.
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Select Diagonal from the Fraction Format drop-down list.
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Turn off the 0 Inches option in the Zero Suppression group.
Figure 10.31: The Primary Units Tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box
In the Text tab (see Figure 10.29 later in this chapter), follow these steps:
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In the Text Alignment group, click the Aligned with Dimension Line radio button.
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In the Text Placement group, open the Vertical drop-down list, and select Above.
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In the Text Placement group, change the Offset from Dim Line value to
. The value changes to its decimal equivalent of 0.625. This setting controls the size of the gap between the dimension line and the dimension text.
In the Symbols and Arrows tab (see Figure 10.27 earlier in this chapter), follow these steps:
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In the Arrowheads group, open the first drop-down list, and choose Architectural Tick.
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In the Arrowheads group, change the Arrow Size setting to ⅛.
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In the Lines tab (see Figure 10.26 earlier in this chapter), follow these steps:
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In the Dimension Lines group, highlight the value in the Extend beyond Ticks input box, and then enter
↲. -
In the Extension Lines group, change the Extend beyond Dim Lines setting to ⅛↲.
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In the Extension Lines group, change the Offset from Origin setting to ⅛.
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In the Fit tab (see Figure 10.30 later in this chapter), follow these steps:
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In the Scale for Dimension Features group, click the Use Overall Scale Of radio button.
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Double-click the list box just to the right of the Use Overall Scale Of radio button, and then enter the desired scale factor. See Chapter 9 for more about scale factors and text size.
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Specifying the Unit Style Settings for Dimensions
The options in the Primary Units tab let you set the format and content of the dimension text, including the unit style for linear and angular dimensions. Figure 10.31 shows the Primary Units tab, and Table 10.7 describes the options in the Primary Units tab.
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| THE PRIMARY UNITS TAB SETTINGS | |
|---|---|
| | |
| The Linear Dimensions Group | |
| Unit Format | Sets the unit style of the dimension text. The options are Scientific, Decimal, Engineering, Architectural, Fractional, and Windows Desktop. |
| Precision | Sets the precision of the dimension text. This option rounds off the dimension text to the nearest precision value you set. It does not affect the actual precision of the drawing. |
| Fraction Format | Specifies how fractions are displayed. The choices are Horizontal, Vertical, and Not Stacked. These options apply only to architectural and fractional unit formats. |
| Decimal Separator | Sets the decimal separator for dimension unit formats that display decimals. You can choose a period, a comma, or a space. |
| Round Off | Sets the degree of rounding applied to dimension text. For example, you can set this option to 0.25 to round off dimensions to the nearest 0.25, or ¼, of a unit. |
| Prefix | Sets a prefix for all linear and aligned dimension text. The prefix is added to the beginning of all linear dimension text. |
| Suffix | Sets a suffix for all linear and aligned dimension text. The suffix is added to the end of all linear dimensions text. |
| Measurement Scale: Scale Factor | Multiplies the dimension value by a scale factor. You can set this value to 25.4, for example, to show dimension values in millimeters for drawings created in Imperial units. |
| Measurement Scale: Apply to Layout Dimensions Only | Applies the measurement scale factor to paper space layouts only. |
| Zero Supression: Leading, Trailing | Suppresses zeros so they do not appear in the dimension text. For example, with the Leading option selected, 0.50 will be shown as .50 (point five zero). With Trailing selected, it is shown as 0.5. |
| The Angular Dimensions Group | |
| Units Format | Sets a format for angular dimensions. The options are Decimal Degrees, Degrees Minutes Seconds, Gradians, and Radians. |
| Precision | Sets the precision for the angular dimension text. |
| Zero Suppression: Leading, Trailing | Suppresses leading or trailing zeros in angular dimensions. |
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Using the Alternate Units Tab
The Alternate Units tab lets you apply a second set of dimension text for linear dimensions. You can use this set for alternate dimension styles or units. For example, you can use alternate units to display alternate metric dimension values in addition to the main dimension values in feet and inches. Figure 10.32 shows the Alternate Units tab, and Table 10.8 describes the options in the Alternate Units tab.
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| THE ALTERNATE UNITS TAB SETTINGS | |
|---|---|
| | |
| The Alternate Units Group | |
| Unit Format | Sets the unit style of the dimension text. The options are Scientific, Decimal, Engineering, Architectural Stacked, Fractional Stacked, Architectural, Fractional, and Windows Desktop. |
| Precision | Sets the precision of the dimension text. This option rounds off the dimension text to the nearest precision value you set. It does not affect the actual precision of the drawing. |
| The Alternate Units Group | |
| Multiplier for Alt Units | Sets a multiplier value for the dimension text. This option multiplies the dimension text value by the multiplier value. For example, if you want alternate dimensions to display distances in centimeters even though the drawing was created in inches, you can enter 2.54 for this option. |
| Round Distances To | Sets the value rounding applied to alternate dimensions. |
| Prefix | Adds a prefix for all linear and aligned alternate dimension text. |
| Suffix | Adds a suffix for all linear and aligned alternate dimension text. |
| The Zero Suppression Group | |
| Leading, Trailing, Feet, Inches | Suppresses zeros so they do not appear in the dimension text. For example, with the Leading option selected, 0.50 is shown as .50 (point five zero). With Trailing selected, it is shown as 0.5. |
| The Placement Group | |
| After Primary Value | Sets the alternate dimension text to appear behind and aligned with the primary dimension text. |
| Below Primary Value | Sets the alternate dimension text to appear below the primary dimension text and above the dimension line. |
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Figure 10.32: The Alternate Units tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box
To turn on Alternate Units, click the Display Alternate Units check box. AutoCAD then includes an additional dimension text in the format you specify this tab.
Using the Tolerances Tab
The options in the Tolerances tab let you add tolerance dimension text and include options for tolerance dimension text formatting. Figure 10.33 shows the Tolerances tab, and Table 10.9 describes the options in the Tolerances tab.
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| THE TOLERANCES TAB SETTINGS | |
|---|---|
| | |
| The Tolerance Format Group | |
| Method | Sets the format for the tolerance dimension text. The options are None, Symmetrical, Deviation, Limits, and Basic. None turns off the tolerance dimension text. Symmetrical adds a plus/minus tolerance dimension. This is a single dimension preceded by a plus/minus sign. Deviation adds a stacked tolerance dimension showing separate upper and lower tolerance values. The Limits option replaces the primary dimension with a stacked dimension showing maximum and minimum dimension values. The Basic option draws a box around the primary dimension value. If an alternate dimension is used, the box encloses both primary and alternate dimension text. |
| Precision | Sets the precision of the tolerance dimension text. This option rounds off the dimension text to the nearest precision value you set. It does not affect the actual precision of the drawing. |
| Upper Value | Sets the upper tolerance value for the Symmetrical, Deviation, and Limits tolerance methods. |
| Lower Value | Lets you set the lower tolerance value for the Deviation and Limits tolerance methods (Dimtm). |
| Scaling for Height | Sets the size for the tolerance dimension text as a proportion of the primary dimension text height. |
| Vertical Position | Sets the vertical position of the tolerance text. The options are Top, Middle, and Bottom. The Top option aligns the top tolerance value of a stacked pair of values with the primary dimension text. Middle aligns the gap between stacked tolerance values with the primary dimension text. Bottom aligns the bottom value of two stacked tolerance values with the primary dimension text. |
| Zero Suppression: Leading, Trailing, Feet, Inches | Suppresses zeros so they do not appear in the tolerance dimension text. For example, with the Leading option selected, 0.50 is shown as .50 (point five zero). With Trailing selected, it is shown as 0.5. |
| The Alternate Unit Tolerance Group | |
| Precision | Sets the precision of the alternate tolerance dimension text. This option rounds off the dimension text to the nearest precision value you set. It does not affect the actual precision of the drawing. |
| Zero Suppression: Leading, Trailing, Feet, Inches | Suppresses zeros in alternate unit tolerance dimensions so they do not appear in the dimension text. |
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Figure 10.33: The Tolerances tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box
Setting the Current Dimension Style
Before you can begin to use your new dimension style, you must make it the current default:
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In the Styles list in the Dimension Style Manager dialog box, click the name of style you want to be current.
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Click the Set Current button at the far right of the dialog box.
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Click Close to exit the Dimension Style Manager dialog box.
You're now ready to use your new dimension style. You can also select a dimension style from the Dimensions control panel drop-down list (see Figure 10.34).
Figure 10.34: The Dim Style Control drop-down list in the Dimensions control panel
Editing a Dimension Style
Once you've created a dimension style, you can always change it. To do so, you use the Modify option in the Dimension Style Manager dialog box:
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Choose Format è Dimension Style or enter d↲ to open the Dimension Style Manager dialog box. You can also click the Dimension Style tool in the Dimensions control panel (see Figure 10.35).
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Select the name of the dimension style you want to edit in the list box at the left of the dialog box.
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Click Modify to open the Modify Dimension Style dialog box.
Figure 10.35: The Dimension Style tool in the Styles toolbar
Use the steps in the previous section as a guide to adjust your dimension styles.
