Working with DimensionStyles

Use the DimensionStyle command to create and modify DimensionStyles.

DimensionStyles control the way dimensions look.

To create a new DimensionStyle:

1. Click Format > Dimension Style (or type DimensionStyle).
   
   In the Options dialog box, the Drafting Styles page opens and Dimension expands.
2. Click New.
3. In the Create new DimensionStyle dialog box:
1. For Name, type a value.
2. In Based on, select an existing DimensionStyle. This style serves as the base settings for the new DimensionStyle.
3. In Apply to, select a Dimension type. This specifies that the new DimensionStyle is valid for all Dimensions or for a specific type of dimensioning.
4. Click OK.
4. Under Dimension, set up the DimensionStyle. (See "DimensionStyle Settings" below.)

To modify a DimensionStyle:

1. Click Format > Dimension Style (or type DimensionStyle).
   
   In the Options dialog box, the Drafting Styles page opens and Dimension expands.
2. In Style, select a DimensionStyle to modify.
3. Under Dimension, set up the DimensionStyle. (See "DimensionStyle Settings" below.)
4. Click Activate or OK.

To set the active DimensionStyle:

1. Click Format > Dimension Style (or type DimensionStyle).
   
   In the Options dialog box, the Drafting Styles page opens and Dimension expands.
2. In Style, select a DimensionStyle to activate.
3. Click Activate.
   
   A displays beside the active DimensionStyle.

To compare DimensionStyles:

1. Click Format > Dimension Style (or type DimensionStyle).
   
   In the Options dialog box, the Drafting Styles page opens and Dimension expands.
2. Click Differences.
3. In the Find Differences in DimensionStyles dialog box, in Compare and To, select a DimensionStyle.
   
   The DimensionStyle settings that differ are listed in the dialog box.
4. Click Copy to copy the differences, or click Close.

To override DimensionStyle settings:

You can temporarily change settings of the active DimensionStyle. These changes do not modify the DimensionStyle settings. The overriding settings can be applied as long as no other DimensionStyle is set as active.

1. Click Format > Dimension Style (or type DimensionStyle).
   
   In the Options dialog box, the Drafting Styles page opens and Dimension expands.
2. In Style, select a DimensionStyle to override.
3. Click Activate.
4. Click Set Overrides.
5. Set DimensionStyle overrides. See "DimensionStyle Settings" below.

To rename a DimensionStyle:

1. Click Format > Dimension Style (or type DimensionStyle).
   
   In the Options dialog box, the Drafting Styles page opens and Dimension expands.
2. In Style, select a DimensionStyle to rename.
3. Click Rename.
4. In the Rename DimensionStyle dialog box specify a new name for the selected DimensionStyle and click OK.

To delete a DimensionStyle:

1. Click Format > Dimension Style (or type DimensionStyle).
   
   In the Options dialog box, the Drafting Styles page opens and Dimension expands.
2. In Style, select a DimensionStyle to delete.
3. Click Delete.
   
   Confirm the deletion of the selected DimensionStyle. You cannot delete the DimensionStyle named Standard or DimensionStyles referenced in the drawing by Dimension entities.

  You can remove DimensionStyles that are not referenced in the drawing with the Clean command.

DimensionStyle Settings

Angular Dimension

Angular dimension settings

• Format: Sets the primary angular units format (Decimal Degrees, Deg/Min/Sec, Grads, or Radians).
• Precision: Sets the number of decimal places.
• Zeroes display: Lets you suppress leading and trailing zeroes in angular Dimensions.

Arc length symbols

Lets you set the display of a symbol for arc length Dimensions: Before dimension text, Above dimension text, or None.

Arrows

• Start arrow: Specifies the Dimension's starting arrow head.
• End arrow: Specifies the Dimension's ending arrow head.
• Leader arrow: Sets the Dimension's leader arrow style.
• Size: Sets the arrow head size.

Dual Dimension

These options control the use of a second, alternative dimensioning method. This mode allows dual dimensioning in metric and imperial values.

Show dual dimensions: Determines whether to use alternate units in Dimensions.

Dual dimension settings

• Format: Sets the alternate unit format.
• Precision: Sets the number of decimal places.
• Multiplier for converting units: Sets a multiplier for converting units.
• Round to the nearest: Lets you specify a value for rounding.
• Prefix and Suffix: Lets you specify a prefix and suffix for the Dimension value.

Zeroes display

• Hide leading zeroes and Hide trailing zeroes: Lets you suppress leading and trailing zeroes.
• Hide if 0' and Hide if 0": If you set Format to Architectural, Architectural Stacked, or Engineering, you can also specify whether to hide zero feet and zero inches.

Insertion

• After primary units and Below primary units: Specifies whether alternate units are placed after or below the primary Dimension value.

Fit

Fit options determine how to arrange Dimensions if there is not enough space for text and arrows between the extension lines.

Geometry

• When space is limited, move selected entity outside of extension lines: When there is not enough room to place text and arrows inside the extension lines, the first entity to move outside the extension lines is:

• Automatic: Either text or arrows (best fit)
• Arrows
• Text
• Text and arrows
• Keep text between extension lines

• Hide arrows: Suppresses arrows if they do not fit inside the extension lines.

Dimension text

• When dimension text is not in the default position, move it: When Dimension text is not in the default position, you can place it:

• Above the dimension line with leader
• Above the dimension line without leader
• Next to the dimension line

Dimension scale

• Scale factor: Specifies the overall scale for DimensionStyle settings. The scale factor influences size, distance, and spacing, including text and arrow head sizes.
• Scale dimensions according to sheet: Sets a scale factor based on the ratio between the current Viewport and the drawing Sheet.

Additional options

• Dimension lines between extension lines: Forces dimension lines to remain between the extension lines, even if the arrow heads are generated outside the Dimension.
• Specify text placement: Lets you position Dimension text manually; horizontal justification settings are ignored.

Linear Dimension

Format: Sets the primary linear units format.

Precision: Sets the number of decimal places.

Fractional display: Sets the stack display of fractional units.

Decimal separator: Sets the decimal separator for Dimensions whose unit Format is set to Decimal.

Round to the nearest: Lets you specify a value for rounding.

Prefix and Suffix: Lets you type a character string to appear before or after the Dimension text. For example, the suffix field can display the unit of measurement.

Measurement scale:

• Scale factor: Enlarges or reduces the size of all Dimension entities (except the Dimension value itself) and allows Dimension entities to be scaled to suit the drawing's aspect ratio.

Zeroes display:

• Follow sheet dimensions: Applies the measurement scale factor to Dimensions created on Sheets only.
• Hide leading zeroes and Hide trailing zeroes: Lets you suppress leading and trailing zeroes in decimal linear Dimensions.
• Hide if 0' and Hide if 0": If you set Format to Architectural or Engineering, you can also specify whether to hide zero feet (Hide if 0') and zero inches (Hide if 0")

Line

Dimension line settings

• Style: Sets the Dimension line LineStyle.
• Weight: Sets the Dimension line LineWeight.
• Color: Sets the Dimension line LineColor.
• Offset: Sets the offset distance of Dimension lines when baseline dimensioning is applied using the BaselineDimension command.
• Distance past start arrow: Sets a distance to extend the Dimension line beyond the extension line when you apply certain arrow heads such as tick or architectural.
• Hide:
• Dimension line 1: Determines whether the first Dimension line and arrow head between the first extension line and the Dimension text is displayed.
• Dimension line 2: Has the same effect as Dimension line 1 for the second extension line and Dimension text.

Extension line settings

Extension lines are the lines that extend the Dimension outside the perimeter of the measured entity, assuming that dimensioning is to take place outside of these perimeter constraints.

• Styles: Sets the LineStyle for Extension line 1 and Extension line 2.

• Weight: Sets the extension line LineWeight.
• Color: Sets the extension line LineColor.
• Offset: Sets the offset distance between the entity and the point where extension lines begin.
• Distance past dimension lines: Sets the distance the extension lines should run past the Dimension lines.
• Hide: Hides the first and/or second extension line.
• Fixed length: Specifies whether extension lines should have a preset length. Set a value in Length.

Radial/Diameter Dimension

Center mark display

• None, As mark, As centerline: Defines the display of marks that indicate a Circle's center point and defines whether or not dashes or strokes should be added to center marks.
• Size: Lets you specify the size of center marks for center, diameter, and radius Dimensions.

Radius dimension jog

• Angle: Determines the angle of the transverse segment of the dimension line in a jogged radius Dimension.

Text

Text settings

• Style: Sets the Dimension TextStyle. Click to define TextStyles.
• Color: Sets the Dimension TextColor.
• Fill: Sets the Dimension text background color.
• Height: Sets the Dimension text height.
• Fractional scale: Sets a scale factor for the text height of tolerance values relative to the general Dimension text height.
• Frame dimension text: Draws a frame around Dimension text.

Text position

• Horizontal and Vertical: Sets the horizontal and vertical positions of the Dimension text.
• Offset from dimension lines: Sets the distance that text is offset from the Dimension lines.

Text alignment

You can align the Dimension text with the following options:

• Use ISO standard
• Align horizontally
• Align with dimension lines

Tolerance

Tolerance settings

• Calculation: Sets the format for tolerance creation:
• Basic. Displays the additional Dimension measurement and deviation in a single value with a box around it.
• Deviation. Appends separate plus and minus values of deviation to the Dimension measurement.
• Limits. Displays a maximum and a minimum value, one on top of the other.
• None. Does not generate a tolerance value.
• Symmetrical. Appends a plus/minus tolerance value to the Dimension measurement which indicates the positive and negative deviation in a single value.
• Precision: Sets the number of decimal places.
• Maximum value and Minimum value: Sets values for the positive or negative tolerances.
• Scale: Sets the tolerance scale.
• Vertical text justification: Sets the tolerance text justification.
• Zeroes display:
• Hide leading zeroes and Hide trailing zeroes: Lets you suppress leading and trailing zeroes in decimal tolerance Dimensions. If you set the Format for Linear Dimension to Architectural or Engineering, you can also specify whether to hide zero feet (Hide if 0') and zero inches (Hide if 0").

Dual Dimension

• Precision: Sets the number of decimal places for alternate Dimensions in geometric tolerances.
• Zeroes display:
• Hide leading zeroes and Hide trailing zeroes: Lets you suppress leading and trailing zeroes in decimal alternate Dimensions. If you set the Format for Linear Dimension to Architectural or Engineering, you can also specify whether to hide zero feet (Hide if 0') and zero inches (Hide if 0").

Access

Command: DimensionStyle

Menu: Format > Dimension Style