CorelDRAW Help | Drawing dimension lines

Segment dimension lines measure the linear distance between the end nodes of a segment, or the linear distance between the two most distant nodes in multiple segments. Segment dimension lines can also measure selected successive segments.

Dimension lines from left to right: Angular, Horizontal, and Vertical

You can set how dimension text and lines are displayed. For example, you can choose the unit of measurement, specify the position and font of the dimension units, and add a prefix or suffix to dimension text. You can also set default values for all new dimension lines that you create.

You can customize the extension lines on which dimension lines rest. You can specify the distance between the extension lines and the object that is measured, and the length of the extension overhang. Extension overhang is the portion of the extension line that falls beyond the dimension arrows.

You can customize dimension lines by specifying values for the extension overhang, extension line, and distance from object.

By default, dimension text is dynamic. If you resize the object to which a dimension line is attached, the dimension text is updated automatically to display the new size. You can make the dimension text static, however, if necessary.

To be able to use dimension lines with precision, you need to snap them to specific nodes in objects. For more information about snapping and snapping modes, see Snapping objects.

To draw a vertical, horizontal, or parallel dimension line

1 .

Do one of the following:

•

To draw a parallel dimension line, click the Parallel dimension tool

in the toolbox.

•

To draw a vertical or horizontal dimension line, click the Horizontal or vertical dimension tool

2 .

Click to place the starting point, and drag to where you want to place the endpoint of the dimension line.

3 .

Move the pointer to position the dimension line, and click to place the dimension text.

By default, dimension text is centered on the dimension line.

To draw an angular dimension line

1 .

In the toolbox, click the arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Parallel dimension tool

button to open the Dimension tools flyout, and click the Angular dimension tool

2 .

Click where you want the two lines that measure the angle to intersect, and drag to where you want the first line to end.

3 .

Click where you want the second line to end.

4 .

Click where you want the angle label to appear.

To draw a segment dimension line

1 .

In the toolbox, click the arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Parallel dimension tool

button to open the Dimension tools flyout, and click the Segment dimension tool

2 .

Click the segment that you want to measure.

3 .

Move the pointer to where you want to position the dimension line, and click where you want to place the dimension text.

You can also
Measure the distance between the two most distant nodes in multiple segments	Using the Segment dimension tool , marquee select the segments, drag to position the dimension line, and click where you want to place the dimension text.
Measure successive segments automatically	Click the Automatic successive dimensioning button on the property bar, and marquee select the segments that you want to measure. Drag to position the dimension line, and click where you want to place the dimension text.

Segment dimension lines can be applied automatically to selected successive segments.

To set the display of dimension units

1 .

Select a dimension line.

2 .

On the property bar, choose options from the following list boxes:

•

Dimension style — lets you choose fractional, decimal or standard dimension units

•

Dimension precision — lets you choose a level of precision for the measurements

•

Dimension units — lets you choose the unit of measurement

You can also
Hide dimension units	Click the Display units button .
Specify the position of dimension units	Click the Text position button on the property bar, and click a text position.
Change the point size and font of dimension units	Select the dimension text by using the Pick tool . On the property bar, choose a font style from the Font list box, and type a value in the Font size box.
Specify a prefix or suffix for dimension text	Type a prefix or suffix in the Prefix or Suffix box on the property bar.
Hide or show a leading zero with a dimension value	Click the Leading zero button on the property bar. (The leading zero appears in dimension lines by default.)
Make dimension text static	Click the Dynamic dimensioning button . Most dimension line controls on the property bar become unavailable. If you change the size of the object to which the dimension line is attached, the dimension line text is not updated.