Using the Dimensioning Tools

You can easily add formatted dimensions to documents with the Dimensioning tools. These tools can measure horizontal, vertical, oblique, and perpendicular distances; measure diameter, radius, angle, area, and perimeter; and mark the centers of arcs and ovals.

The dimensioning tools are grouped in a single palette. (See Tool Palettes.) The Linear, Chain, and Baseline tools allow you to create horizontal, vertical, or oblique dimensions, depending on the position of the cursor upon creation.

In addition, when using the Chain and Baseline Dimensioning tools, you define the first two points as you would for a Linear dimension. Then, just click on every point you want to add to the dimension, and the tool creates the dimension object automatically. The result of using the Chain or Baseline Dimensioning tool is one single object. The current limit for Chain Dimensions is 16.

Baseline dimensions are a series of measurements made from a common starting point. Chain dimensions are a series of measurements in a row.

Create dimension objects that conform to industry standards, including ANSI, DIN and JIS. You can also customize the standard settings — the size of lines, gaps, text, and tolerances—and then save these settings as new standards. (See Using Industry Standards for Dimension Objects.)

Dimensioning Procedures

To Use the Linear Dimensioning Tool:

1. Select the Linear Dimensioning tool. When you move the cursor into the drawing area, a prompt appears.
2. Define the first two points of the dimension as indicated by the prompt. Depending on the cursor’s position, the type of dimension changes according to the mouse movement.
3. Click the third time to create the dimension object.

To Use the Chain and Baseline Dimensioning Tools:

1. Select either the Chain or Baseline Dimensioning tool. When you move the cursor into the drawing area, a prompt appears.
2. Define the first two points of the dimension as indicated by the prompt. Depending on the cursor’s position, the type of dimension changes according to the mouse movement.
3. Click the third time to create the first dimension.
4. Click on other points to add them to the dimension object.

Types of Dimensioning Tools and Measurements

Use the dimensioning tools to add measurements to illustrations. Different tools let you create different types of dimension objects.

Baseline and chain dimensioning tools create a single dimension object. Baseline dimensions contain several measurements from a common starting point. Chain dimensions are a series of measurements.

• Vertical
• Oblique
• Radius
• Diameter
• Vertical Baseline
• Oblique (with aligned text)
• Vertical Chain
• Angle
• Horizontal

Using the Dimensioning Settings

You can customize the measurement units, scale, arrow position, tolerance text, and other settings for dimension objects. Use the Dimensioning settings in the Properties bar. These settings are available when you select a Dimensioning tool or have selected a dimension object. Depending on the selected Dimensioning tool or object, the Properties bar will display various settings.

Dimensioning Settings

To Change the Properties of Existing Dimension Objects:

1. Select the dimension object. The settings appear in the Properties bar.

The Properties bar must be displayed to view the Dimensioning settings. If not open, choose Window | Show Properties Bar.

2. Make any adjustments with the settings.

You can change the properties of multiple selected dimension objects as long as the dimension objects are of the same type.

To Change the Settings for Dimensioning Tools:

1. Select the Dimensioning tool. The settings appear in the Properties bar.
2. Make any adjustments to the tool settings and then create the dimension object. (See Dimensioning Settings.)

Attributes of Dimension Objects

When you are using a dimensioning tool, the pen ink of the dimension object appears black with a 1-pt stroke; however, once you complete the object, the pen ink switches to the current ink and stroke settings. By default, the dimension text is 10 pt and uses Arial. In addition, the current stroke color is applied to the dimension text.

You can change the current ink, stroke, and text settings for new dimension objects, and you can change these settings for existing dimension objects.

To Change the Appearance of a Dimension Object:

Select the object and use the Presets palette to select ink color, pen size, and arrows for the dimension object.

Dimension objects can still display arrows if all the preset arrows have been deleted from the Arrow tab in the Presets palette.

To Change Attributes for New Dimension Objects:

Make sure that no objects are selected in the document, and then use the Presets palettes to change the current stroke and ink settings for new objects and text.

To Change the Text Attributes of a Dimension Object:

The Properties bar allows you quick access to text formatting options for various dimension objects.

You can scroll the Properties bar if all the options are not visible. Arrows appear on the left and right indicating that other options are available. 

Style and Text Display Settings

Use the following style options in the Properties bar to customize the appearance of dimension objects.

Linking Dimensions to Measured Objects

With the exception of Linear and Object Side Dimensioning tools, dimension objects are not attached to the objects they measure, and, therefore, dimensions do not change when you resize objects you have measured. However, you can group a dimension object and the object that it measures. When you do this and then resize the object, the dimension changes accordingly.

To Group an Object and a Dimension Object:

Select the dimension object and the measured object and choose Object | Group.

Using Industry Standards for Dimension Objects

If you want to use industry standard settings for dimension objects, open the Standards menu in the Properties bar. Select a dimensioning standard from the menu: ANSI, BS-380, DIN, ISO, or JIS. The Standard refers to the length of lines, size of tolerance text, placement of the text, placement of the arrows, etc.

Choose from five standard measurement systems:

• ANSI: American National Standards Institute
• DIN: Deutches Institut für Normung
• BS-380: British Standards Institute
• ISO: International Organization for Standardization
• JIS: Japanese Industrial Standard

To Add a Custom Standard Definition:

1. Click the Add button.
2. In the New Standard Definition dialog box, use the controls to create and define dimensioning standards. (See New Standard Definition.)

New Standard Definition

Once defined, custom standards appear in the Standard menu in the Properties bar.

To Edit a Standard Definition:

1. Select a dimensioning standard from the menu.
2. Click the Edit button.
3. In the Edit Standard Definition dialog box, edit the settings.

To Delete a Custom Standard:

1. Open the Standards menu.
2. Select the custom standard definition to be removed.
3. Click the Remove button.

Auto Dimensioning

You can quickly apply dimensions to selected ovals, rectangles, and rounded rectangles.

You can display any of the following dimensions, depending on which object is selected:

• All
• Linear
• Angle
• Area
• Perimeter
• Radius - Horizontal
• Radius - Vertical
• Diameter - Horizontal
• Diameter - Vertical

To Apply Auto Dimensioning to One or More Objects:

1. Select one or more objects.
2. Do one of the following:
• In the Properties bar, choose an option from the Auto Dimensioning drop-down menu. The menu will only display the dimensioning options applicable to the selected object. If you have a variety of objects selected, all of the options will display in the drop-down menu.
• Choose Object | Auto Dimensioning and select an option from the menu. The menu will only display the dimensioning options applicable to the selected object. If you have a variety of objects selected, all of the options will display in the menu.

To Edit Dimensions:

You can move the placement of dimensions.

1. Double-click the dimension you want to move.
2. Drag it to your desired location.

To Delete Dimensions:

You can delete specific dimensions.

1. Select the Direct group selection tool from the Toolbox.
2. Select the dimension you want to delete.
3. Press Delete.

See Also:

• Viewing the Smart Toolbox