Add Extension Dimension

Add Extension Dimension ( Drawing Editor )

Tool summary :

Draws extension dimensions.
Extension dimensions are measured with respect to the drawing's workpoint .
On drawings that do not have a workpoint, the extension dimension is measured from the drawing's 0, 0 coordinate (see X, Y Z display ) or, for standard details, from the standard detail reference point .
If the drawing has more than one workpoint, you are prompted to select the one workpoint that you want to dimension from -- see step 3 .
See (on this page):
- Defaults
- Step-by-step instructions

Also see :

Dimensions (topic)
Unshorten (before using Add Extension Dimension )
Confirm adding of dimensions ( User and Site Options > Drawings > )
Layer selection tool (drawing layer the dimension will be added to)
Workpoint (extension dimensions on member details are measured from)
Workpoint Add (can be used to add multiple workpoints)
Move/Stretch (to move a workpoint)
Workpoint ID (to change to a different workpoint)
Dimension terminals (arrows or slashes)
Adding extension dimensions (other way to Add Extension Dimension s)

Defaults :

For user-added dimension labels:

The default character height and width/height ratio for a primary dimension label added using Add Extension Dimension is set using the Edit Palette .
After Add Extension Dimension (or during Add Extension Dimension to place multiple dimensions), the last-added or last-edited dimension sets the defaults for subsequently added dimensions unless you change the Edit Palette in the meantime.

For auto detailing:

Automatically detailed dimension labels use the " Dimension label pen color " and character height and width/height ratios set in Drawing Presentation .
If you are using the ' SDS2 ' font , the " Dimension label pen color " also sets the default stroke weight of that font.

Dimension leg and line defaults:

The " Dimension pen color " for the legs and lines of automatically detailed and user-added dimensions is set in Drawing Presentation . To change this on individual drawings, you have to Dimension Edit or Dimension Edit All then reset the " Pen color " on the edit window.

Step-by-step instructions :

The following instructions assume that you are using a 3-button mouse and that User and Site Options > Drawings > " Confirm adding of dimensions " is off (not checked).

1 . Before adding the extension dimension:

1a : Unshorten the drawing (if it has been shortened). Adding an extension dimension in a shortened view may result in the calculated distance not being the distance you expect.

1b : If your current drawing does not have a workpoint, or if you want to add multiple workpoints to that drawing, you can add a workpoint using Workpoint Add . If your current drawing does have a workpoint, but you want to move it, you can use Move/Stretch .

1c : For a material that is sloping, you may need to edit the workpoint and set its " Rotation " so that the legs of the extension dimensions associated with that workpoint are drawn perpendicular to the slope of the material.

1d (optional) : You can use Objects > Dimensions > Extension Dimension Type to toggle between extension dimensions with tails and without tails for to-be-added extension dimensions.

Dimensionally equivalent extension dimensions without tails and with tails.

1e (optional) : Either allow the program to select a layer of its choosing -- or -- on the layer selection tool , select the drawing layer that you want to add the extension dimension to.

2 . Invoke Add Extension Dimension in the Drawing Editor using any one (1) of the following methods:

Method 1 : Click the Add Extension Dimension icon. The icon can be taken from the group named ' Objects -- Dimensions ' and placed on a toolbar (classic) or the ribbon (lightning).

Method 2 : If " Drawing Editor layout style " is ' Classic ', you can use the menu system to choose Objects > Dimensions > Add Extension Dimension .

Method 3, 4 or 5 : Add Extension Dimension can also be invoked using a keyboard shortcut , the context menu , or a mode . For the ' Lightning ' layout style, configuration of the interface is done using Customize Interface .

3 (if applicable) : If your drawing has more than one workpoint, Select Item(s) mouse bindings become active, and the status line prompts you to " Locate workpoint for extension dimensions ." Before you can continue to step 4, you must first select one (1) workpoint.. Do not select more than one workpoint.

Select Item(s) bindings

To select a workpoint, hover the symbol then left-click ( Select ). The end point at the location of the actual workpoint is also selected. If there is no workpoint symbol, you may need to draw an area box to select the workpoint.

Alternative 1 : Left-click ( Select ) the one (1) workpoint origin symbol that you want the extension dimensions you are adding to be parallel to and to calculate their " Label text " from. If there is no symbol, you may have to draw an area box to select the workpoint. Press Enter (or right-click and choose " OK " on the context menu). Go to step 4.

Alternative 2 : Press Enter without selecting a workpoint (or right-click ( Menu ) and choose " OK " on the context menu). This will end the Add Extension Dimension operation. Do not continue.

Alternative 3 : In the event that you select more than one workpoint (for example, because you drew an area box ), the Add Extension Dimension operation ends and the multiple workpoints that were selected remain selected. Do not continue.

Why Select Item(s) mode? In Select One Item mode, you cannot draw an area box . Consequently, this step brings up Select Item(s) mouse bindings, which allow you to draw an area box to select a workpoint that does not have a symbol associated with it.

4 . The status line prompts " Add: Dimension Points 1 ." Locate - Remove - Return mouse bindings become active along with various Locate options.

bindings

4a : Select the Locate icon that you want (if it's not pressed already).

4b : Position the mouse pointer ( ) on screen so that the point location target snaps to the point you want to dimension to , then left-click ( Locate ).

4c (optional) : If your " Modeling layout style " is set to ' Lightning ,' you can check ( ) or uncheck ( ) " Show tails " on the Extension Dimensions section of the ribbon's Layout page to toggle between extension dimensions with tails and without tails for to-be-added extension dimensions.

5 . The status line prompts you to " Locate extension dimension line ." An X appears at the point you located in step 4. This X marks the base of the dimension leg . Locate- Pan -Return mouse bindings become active.

bindings

5a : Place the mouse pointer ( ) so that the point location target snaps to where you want the other end of the dimension leg , then left-click ( Locate ).

Note: On drawings that do not have a workpoint, the extension dimension is measured from the drawing's 0, 0 coordinate (see X, Y Z display ) or, for standard details, from the standard detail reference point .

6 . A dimension consisting of a single leg (and optionally a tail) and a dimension label is drawn on screen. Assuming that User and Site Options > Drawings > " Confirm adding of dimensions " is off (not checked), Locate - Remove - Return mouse bindings become active again so that you can optionally add more extension dimensions.

bindings

Alternative 1 : Add more extension dimensions by following these instructions beginning with step 4 .

Alternative 2 : If you are through adding dimensions, right-click ( Return ).

Tip 1: Extension dimensions added using this procedure can be quickly removed (one at a time, in reverse-order of their addition) by using Undo .

Tip 2: You can make the extension dimension be calculated from a different workpoint by changing its " Workpoint ID " on the Edit Dimension window. Also, Move/Stretch can be used to relocate a workpoint.