Dimensioning
Dimensioning enables you to describe geometry by displaying measurements. All dimensioning functions can be found on the Dimensioning toolbar or in the Objects / Draw menu. To create dimensions, select the objects to measure and drag the mouse to locate the dimension text (see Dragging Objects ). Dimensioning tools have several options for additional formatting and settings.
The figure above shows additional icons and the text change window in the toolbar.
Once created, the dimensions can be easily edited (see Editing Dimensions ). Format and style of dimensions and dimension text can be modified using Dimension Attributes. Changing dimension text height affects the length of leader lines arrows.
Single Dimensions - Horizontal, Vertical and Diagonal
 | Horizontal Dimension - HDI |
 | Vertical Dimension - VDI |
 | Diagonal Dimension - SDI |
Single dimensions are defined by selecting start and end points, then locating the dimension text.
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Dimension Format - Before the text location is defined, you can change the current dimension format. You can also use Dimension Format to set the format of future dimensions. |
Dimension Format provides the following options:
- According to defined input (default) - cancels all other previously selected options.
- Current Dimension Serial - select the dimension you want the current dimension to be aligned with. For example, if you select a horizontal dimension, the current dimension will be in series with it, at the same level. This creates a chain of aligned dimension at the same level.
- Current Dimension Baseline - similar to Current Dimension Serial, except that baseline dimensions are created.
- All Dimensions Serial - similar to Current Dimension Serial, the current and future dimensions are affected, until another option is selected.
- All Dimensions Baseline - similar to All Dimensions Serial, except that baseline dimensions are created.
- Toggle Points and Arrow - switches between points and arrows on the leader lines. This option is useful when space is limited.
- Center Dimension Text - for the current dimension, all texts will be automatically centered.
Dimension arrows changed
Dimension text is created automatically, and you can use Dimension Attributes to define parameters. For the current dimension, you can change text directly in the text input window in the temporary toolbar. This toolbar contains the following additional options for text modification:
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Tolerance - modify the dimension tolerances. |
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Text Input - add text and special characters. Characters such as the degree sign, diameter sign, or plus/minus sign can also be created directly from they keyboard - see Writing Special Characters. |
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Dimension Text Attributes - controls the dimension text properties such as text height, angle, and font. Leader line arrow size is controlled by dimension text height. |
To change the text scale, use Dimension Attributes. This is useful when a rescaled detail is dimensioned.
For diagonal dimensions, the dimension angle is defined by the start and end points. To change this, you can use the following additional options:
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Define Dimension Angle - enables you to change the dimension angle. |
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Automatic Dimension Angle - returns the dimension angle to the default. |
Predefined Horizontal, Vertical and Diagonal Dimensions
Predefined dimensions contain standard text characters such as diameter symbols. These are useful when dimensioning objects like circles or threads.
 | Horizontal Diameter Dimension - HDM |
 | Vertical Diameter Dimension - VDM |
 | Diagonal Diameter Dimension - SDM |
 | Horizontal Thread Dimension - HTH |
 | Vertical Thread Dimension - VTH |
 | Diagonal Thread Dimension - STH |
Example of predefined dimensions
Serial, Baseline and Datum Dimensions
These functions create multiple dimensions. The first dimension in this group is defined as for single dimensions (by 2 points), and subsequent dimensions in the group require only one point.
Baseline dimensions are a group of parallel dimensions that all start at the same point. The offset between parallel dimensions is defined in Dimension Attributes. Datum dimensions consist of a line of points, at each of which the dimension defines the total distance from the start point. Serial dimensions are a chain of aligned dimensions that define the distance from point to point.
 | Horizontal Baseline Dimensions - HPD |
 | Horizontal Serial Dimensions - HSD |
 | Horizontal Datum Dimensions - HDD |
 | Vertical Baseline Dimensions - VPD |
 | Vertical Serial Dimensions - VSD |
 | Vertical Datum Dimensions - VDD |
 | Diagonal Baseline Dimensions - SPD |
 | Diagonal Serial Dimensions - SSD |
 | Diagonal Datum Dimensions - SDD |
Example of baseline, serial and datum dimensions
Angular Dimensions
 | Angular Dimension - ADI |
Angular dimensions define the angle between two lines. You have the same additional options as for the linear dimensions, as well as the following:
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Greater Than 180 - dimensions the angle greater than 180 degrees. |
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Less Than 180 (default) - dimensions the angle less than 180 degrees. |
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Complementary Angle On - dimensions the complementary angle. |
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Complementary Angle Off - turns off the complementary angle dimensioning. |
Example of default angular dimensioning, complementary angle dimensioning and dimensioning of angle greater than 180 degrees
Diameter and Radius Dimensions, Thread Dimensions
 | Radius Dimension - RDI |
 | Diameter Dimension - DDI |
These dimensions are defined by selecting an arc or circle and locating the dimension text. Additional options for radius dimensions include:
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Mark Arc Center On - creates a mark at the arc center. |
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Mark Arc Center Off - turns off marking. |
 | Thread dimensions - THR |
Thread dimensions behave like diameter dimensions, except the predefined thread symbol is used.
Dimension Attributes
 | Dimension Attributes - DMA |
Available on the Tools menu, Dimension Attributes enables you to change dimension styles and other properties. The following properties can be modified:
- Text attributes - height, slant and font. Text height controls the size of leader arrows.
- Dimension attributes - distance between parallel baseline dimensions, distance between text and leader lines, text centering, dimension scale, witness line creation, tolerance position, angle dimensioning and number of decimal digits
- Arrow style
- Dimension Style - text angle, position with respect to leader lines, inch and foot representation and definition of radius, diameter and thread symbols
Dimensions window; basic settings
Dimensions window; setting dimension style
Example of dimension styles
Finish Symbols
 | Finish Symbols - FSY |
Finish symbols are created by entering a roughness value, or by selecting a symbol for unmachined surfaces. Symbols can be attached to a line, arc or dimension witness line, or they can float. When attaching to a 2D object, you can drag the symbol around the object before selecting its final position.
Finish symbols example
Weld and Tolerance Symbols
 | Weld Symbols - WSY |
The weld symbol includes a basic symbol, supplementary symbol, dimension of weld size, and weld process symbol. When defining a symbol, you can change text and other attributes, and see a preview before creating it. You can also save up to nine symbols for future use. To create a weld symbol, first select the weld location and then select the symbol location.
Welding Symbols window
Example of welding symbol; this symbol was created within one function.
 | Weld Symbol Settings - SWS |
Available on the Tools menu, allows you to choose whether the weld symbols will be created according to ISO or ANSI standards.
 | Tolerance Symbols - TSY |
Similar to welding symbols. Datum feature symbols can also be created.
Tolerance Symbols window
Creating Leaders
 | Leaders - POS |
Leaders are typically used in 2D assembly drawings. Leader attributes are defined first, then the location on a 2D object, and then the location of the leader text. Text positions must be defined for the first and second leaders. The dX and dY values of the two leader texts are used to locate texts for the next leader. After the first leader, you need only to define the 2D object for the next leader and confirm the text position, and the value of each leader is automatically increased. As with dimensions, the leader value can be modified in the text window of the temporary toolbar. While defining leader positions, the following options are available:
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Leader Attributes - modify leader attributes |
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Leader Distance - define distance between adjacent leaders. This setting is useful only when dragging requires the left mouse button to be pressed. |
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Leader Text Attributes - modify leader text and text properties |
Leader Attributes window
Example of leaders
Editing Dimensions
 | Edit Dimension Text - EDI |
Edits the text of a selected dimension. The same text editing options are available as when you created the dimension.
 | Move Dimension Text - MDT |
Uses drag and drop to move the text of a selected dimension. Be careful when using this function, because if you create more dimensions after moving the text, you could have overlapping objects.
 | Edit Dimension - EDM |
Change any attribute of a dimension. You can change everything about a dimension except for the original dimension definition points and the 2D object itself. One additional option is available:
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Edit Multiple Dimensions - modify multiple dimensions, according to the properties of the first selected dimension. |
For more information see Dimensioning