Dimension lines

You can draw dimension lines to indicate the measurements of objects in a drawing, such as length, width, height, depth, and distance.

Dimension lines indicate the measurements of objects in a drawing.

Types of dimension lines

You can add several types of dimension lines:

You can measure the distance between the end nodes of a segment (left) or between the two most distant nodes in multiple segments (right).

Dimension lines cannot be used for measuring the length of curved lines, but you can easily view the length of a curve in the Properties docker. For more information, see To view curve properties.

Editing dimension lines

If you are not satisfied with the look and position of the dimension lines you added, you can edit them. 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 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.

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. However, you can make the dimension text static, if necessary.

When a dimension line is so small that its arrowheads overlap, the application automatically places them outside the leader lines.

Arrowheads are reversed when a dimension line is too small.

You can break the link between a dimension line and the object it is attached to. This feature can be useful if you want to manipulate the dimension line independently of the object.

To draw a vertical, horizontal, or parallel dimension line

1 .	Click the Horizontal or vertical dimension tool or the Parallel dimension tool .

To draw an angular dimension line

1 .	Click the Angular dimension tool .

To draw a segment dimension line

1 .	Click the Segment dimension tool .

You can also
Measure the distance between the two most distant nodes in multiple segments	Using the Segment dimension tool , marquee select the segments, move the pointer 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. Move the pointer 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 draw a radial or diametric dimension line

1 .	Click the Radial dimension or Diametric dimension tool.

If you transform a circle to an ellipse after applying a radial or diametric dimension line, the dimension measurement does not appear. When you transform the ellipse back to a circle, the correct measurement is displayed.

Examples of radial and diametric dimension lines

To edit a dimension line

1 .	Using the Pick tool , select a dimension line.

To set the display of dimension units

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 choose a text position.
Change the point size and font of dimension units	Select the dimension text 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 Show 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  on the property bar. Most dimension line controls on the property bar become unavailable. If you change the size of the object to which the line is attached, the dimension line text is not updated.

To customize extension lines

2 .	On the property bar, click the Extension line options button .

To break the link between an object and a dimension line

2 .	Click Object Break dimension apart.

After you break the link between the object and the dimension line, the dimension text is no longer updated automatically when you resize the object.

---

Was this page helpful? Send feedback. (Internet connection required.)

---