Dimension Style - General

Dimension chains

Text before the dimension value (prefix): You can insert additional text before each dimension value. For a standard dimension chain this option will only be required in individual cases. In such cases you can also add this prefix using the 'Modify' function for a single dimension chain.

Text after the dimension value (suffix): You can insert additional text after each dimension value. For example, you can place the unit after each number. Note: In architectural dimensioning the unit may change while the suffix remains the same.

Number of decimal places: The number of decimal places for the dimension chains.

Combine identical dimensions: If this option is set to 'Yes', identical dimensions that appear consecutively in a dimension chain will be combined. Not all dimension values are shown individually; the value is displayed once along with information on how many times it occurs consecutively. Example: 5x0.625

Dimension line termination: A dimension chain consists of the dimension line, the extension line and the dimension text. The dimension line indicates the measured length. The dimension line termination is the shape of the two ends of each dimension line. The termination can be rendered as a slash, arrow or dot, or none at all.

Length of the extension line: The extension line is short by default. That means it extends a fixed distance beyond the dimension line, regardless of how far the measured point is from the dimension line. Sometimes it is useful to better identify the actual measured point. In that case you can set the extension line to 'long'. Then the extension line is extended to the measured point. The further the dimension line is from the measured point, the longer the extension line becomes.

Position of dimension values relative to the dimension line: This option allows you to influence the position of dimension values for interior dimensions. The dimension values of overall dimensions remain unaffected by this setting.

With the 'Standard' setting the dimension values always fall away from the measured point. If a dimension line is moved away from the measured point downward (or to the right), the dimension value is below the dimension line (or to the right). If the dimension line is moved upward (or to the left), the dimension value is above the dimension line (or to the left).

With the 'above' option you can force the dimension value to always be above the dimension line, even when the dimension line is below the measured point. The same applies analogously for vertical dimension chains, where the dimension value will always be on the left.

With the 'below' option you can force the dimension value to always be below the dimension line, or to the right of the dimension line for vertical dimension chains.

Alignment of dimension values, interior dimensions / Alignment of dimension values, overall dimensions: This option allows you to determine the alignment of the dimension values relative to the dimension line: automatic: This is the default setting and produces dimension values parallel to the dimension line for interior dimensions and perpendicular to the dimension line for overall dimensions. If the dimensions become too tight, the interior dimension values will automatically rotate to be perpendicular to the dimension line. perpendicular: With this option the dimension values are always generated perpendicular to the dimension line, regardless of dimension chain type and the width of the dimensions. parallel: With this option the dimension values are always generated parallel to the dimension line, regardless of dimension chain type and the width of the dimensions.

Position of dimension value for interior-overall dims: Especially for interior-overall dimensions it can be useful to place the overall dimension values on one side and the interior dimension values on the other side of the dimension line. This setting makes that easy to achieve.

The position of the interior dimension values relative to the overall dimension values should be definable. With the 'Standard' option the dimension values are generated as before. This means: The overall dimension values are always on the side of the dimension line opposite the measured point. The interior dimension value is on the side of the dimension line set in the field 'Position of dimension values relative to the dimension line' (above, below, Standard).

With the 'opposite' option you can specify that the interior dimension values should always be on the side of the dimension line opposite the overall dimension values. The overall dimension values, however, remain on the side of the dimension line opposite the measured point. With this option the interior dimension values will sometimes be above and sometimes below the dimension line, depending on the location of the dimension chain. The setting for the interior dimension values (above, below, Standard) is then overridden for interior-overall dimensions.

By using the 'Style' button you can open a sub-dialog box in which detailed styling settings for the dimension chains can be made.

Style

By using the 'Style' button you can open a sub-dialog box in which detailed styling settings for the dimension chains can be made.

Extension line, outer length: Length of the extension line on the side of the dimension line that falls away from the measured point.

Extension line, inner length: Length of the extension line on the side of the dimension line where the measured point lies.

Distance of the extension line from the measured point: The extension line does not start directly at the measured point, but at the distance entered here.

Extension line, length of the slanted helper line: When dimension texts are pushed apart, slanted extension lines are automatically created. Here you can set the length of these lines.

Extension of the dimension line: The dimension line can be extended beyond the first and last extension line.

Arrow length: Length of the arrow when arrows are used for the dimension lines.

Arrow height: Height of the arrow when arrows are used for the dimension lines. This is set in the 'Dimension chain' sub-dialog box.

Diameter of point: Diameter of the point when a point is used at the intersection of the dimension line and the extension line. This is set in the 'Dimension chain' sub-dialog box.

Slash length: Length of the slash when a slash is used at the intersection of the dimension line and the extension line. This is set in the 'Dimension chain' sub-dialog box.

Factor for slash stroke thickness: With this factor the slash can be rendered thicker than the extension line and the dimension line. This is not an absolute measure but a factor. A value of 1.5 therefore produces a slash that is 1.5 times thicker than the thickness of the dimension line.

Color set for dimension text: With this color set the dimension text receives a fixed color, while the dimension line and the extension lines can have a different color.

Distance of dimension text to the dimension line: The dimension text does not sit directly on the dimension line, but has the distance set here.

Distance of dimension text to the dimension line with helper line: If the dimension values at a location in the dimension chain are too tight, they are first automatically rotated perpendicular to the dimension line. They receive helper lines that terminate at the dimension line. This value determines the distance of the dimension values and thus also the line of the helper line.