Dimension Display and Properties
Some display options and dimension properties were covered in the previous section, but this section will cover the rest. We will continue with the same model.
- 1. Erase or hide all dimensions except those shown.
By default, so far the dimensions have been aligned so that you can always view them facing you, no matter the orientation of the model. To change this, open the Dimension page and check Align to Dimension Line, and set alignment to Centered.
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.Components nie
Location Section Planes Statistics Text
Tourgulde Units
Text Anal 12 Point
Show radius/diam prefix Leader Unes
Bidpoints: [Gosed Atow "*" | Dimension r Horizontal to screen
Fonts..
(* Aign to dimension line
Each dimension is now aligned to its plane. This is typical of most CAD programs, but can be a bit hard to read unless you are directly facing the dimension.
- 3. Change the alignment to Above.
Model Info
I Colora Components
Location Section Planes Statistics Te/i
Tourgulde Units
Ted Arial: 12 Point
Show radius/diam prefix Leader Unes
Endpoints: [QosedATPW T | Dimension
Fonts.
Horizontal to screen <*" Aign to dimension line
Hide when foreshortened
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Centered
Centered
Centered Outside
Centered Outside
- The dimensions are now located above the dimension lines.
Change back to Horizontal on Screen, and change the Arrow Heads to Dot.
Location Section Planes Statistics Text
Tourguide Units
Text Mai: 12 Point
Show radius/diam prefix Leader Lines Endpoints: | Dot
Dimension -
f+ Horizontal to screen C" Align to dimension line
Fonts.
The dimensions are all aligned to the viewing plane, and end in dots at the witness lines.
5. We will now look at dimension overrides.
Double-click the dimension shown and type in a different number. This dimension is no longer numerically accurate.
- 6. With the current settings, we cannot tell if there are any problems with dimensions, such as overridden numbers. To change this, open the Dimension page again and check Highlight non-associated dimensions. Set a color that is easily visible.
Now the dimension you edited will appear in the "problem" color. In addition, any dimensions that are not accurate to the specified precision will now have a tilda (~) symbol.
Note that only the edited dimension text itself, and not the witness lines, appear in the "problem" color This indicates that the dimension itself is still valid, only the number is wrong. You would also see the "problem" color if you changed the dimension to text, or added a prefix or suffix without using the "<>" format described in the previous section. To remove the tilda symbols, you can always increase the precision. Open the Units page and increase the Precision to several decimal places.
Colore
Components
Dimensions
Location Section Planes Statistics Text
Tourguide
Length Units
Forma:: |Decimal Precision
I Millimeters
D.OODD
W Enable length snapping pvf I- Display units fomiat
I- Force display of 0"
The dimensions are now more accurate. The edited dimension does not change, however, it remains how it was edited.
8. To remove a dimension override, simply delete its text. Double-click it, and press Delete to remove the text.
- The dimension now reflects the actual number, to the correct precision.
Now change the units to Architectural, Precision : 0", and do not check Force Display of 0".
Now change the units to Architectural, Precision : 0", and do not check Force Display of 0".
Colore
Components
Dimensions
Location Section Planes Statistics Text
Tourquide
Length Units
Fomna:: Precision:
Aichitectural
Enable length snapping pp V Display units format l~~ Force display of D"
The dimensions are now in foot-inch, rounded to the nearest inch. Most or all of these dimensions will have a tilda symbol since the precision is low.
Use the Measure tool to change the dimension shown to a whole foot value, and to scale the entire model accordingly. This dimension does not include "zero inches," which you would want on final drawings.
- 11. Back in the Units page, check Force Display of 0"
Model Info
Colore
Components
Dimensions
Location Section Planes Statistics Text
Tourquide
Length Units
Forma:: (Mihitectural Precision: D"
Enable length snapping pp
V Display units format Ii Force display of D"
Angle Units k
- The zero is now displayed.
12. Another way to avoid clutter is to hide dimensions when they get too small to display. In the Dimension page check Hide when too small. Use the slider to adjust the display tolerance.
I Colora Components
Location Section Pienes Statistics Te/t
Tounguide Units
Te/t Anal 12 Point
I- Show radius/diam prefix Leader Lines
Endpoints: | Dot Dimension
(* Horizontal to screen Align to dimension line
Fonts..
IAbove
I? Hide when foreshortened 1 Hide when too small rt~
Troubleshooting
- 13. Zoom out on the model, and note how dimensions disappear when they are small enough.
Warning: Be careful when using this option, because you might then create dimensions that immediately disappear!
Lastly, we have already seen how dimensions are associative to the model, and update with changes to geometry. But what happens when the geometry used to create them disappears? 14. Cut a chamfer on the other front corner. The two dimensions that are affected are those that referred to the corner that was eliminated. These dimensions appear in the "problem" color, and not just the text itself. The witness lines are problematic as well, since it is no longer clear what they reference.
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