Add Drag Off Dimension ( Drawing Editor )

Tool summary :

  • Lets you drag a dimension off of a polygon side.
  • The default character height and width/height ratio for both primary and secondary dimension labels is set using the Edit Palette . The last-added dimension sets the defaults for subsequently added dimensions unless you change the Edit Palette in the meantime.
  • 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.
  • 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 can reset the " Pen color " on the edit window.
  • If " Confirm adding of dimensions " is turned on (checked) in User and Site Options , you can in-tool access the Edit Dimension window with a confirmation step.
  • See the step-by-step instructions ( ).

Also see :

page 1 | contents | objects > dimensions > | objects -- dimensions | xxx add | dimensions | top

   Step-by-step instructions :

( click here for a video )

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). You must be in the Drawing Editor in a drawing that shows polygon sides or lines before you can perform this operation.

1 . Before dragging off a dimension:

1a (optional) : Unshorten the drawing (if it has been shortened). Dragging off a dimension in a shortened view usually works fairly well, but there may be cases that result in the calculated distance not being the distance you expect.

1b (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 dimension to.

1c (optional) : On the Edit Palette , set the default character height and width/height ratio of the dimension label.

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

Method 1 : Click the Add Drag Off 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 Drag Off Dimension .

Method 3, 4 or 5 : Add Drag Off 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 . Select - Pan - Menu mouse bindings become active, and the status line prompts you to " Select a side for dimension ."

for selecting a "side"

3a : Place you mouse pointer ( ) so that it highlights a polygon side or a segment of a line , then left-click ( Select )

4 . A preview of the dimension is shown. Locate - Remove - Return mouse bindings become active so that you can drag the dimension off of the line or polygon side that you selected.

for positioning the dimension line

4a : Place your mouse pointer so that the point location target ( ) snaps to a point in alignment with where you want the dimension line, then left-click ( Locate ).

Note: Right-click ( Return ) sends you back to step 3 .

5 . The dimension is drawn on screen. Select - Pan - Menu mouse bindings become active. The illustration below shows the results after choosing alternative 2

for selecting another "side".or ending the operation

Alternative 1 : Drag off additional dimensions by following these instructions beginning with step 3 .

Alternative 2 : If you are done dragging off dimensions, press the Esc key or right-click ( Menu ) and choose " Cancel ."

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