AutoCAD Dimensions

Introduction

It is possible to change the appearance of dimensions in AutoCAD. In here we explain the most important options for changing the appearance of your dimension style.

You can create several dimension styles and save it in your drawing. You can also import your own dimension styles in other drawings. This is explained in the AutoCAD Drawing dimensions tutorial.

Dimension Style Manager

The appearance of new and existing dimension styles can be controlled using the Dimension Style manager: Format > Dimension Style... or Dimension > Dimension Style...

Each Dimension Style can be set up to specific parameters:

Lines

On the Lines tab you can change how the dimension and extension lines look. We will explain some options you may want to change

Extend beyond ticks

The Extend beyond ticks text box becomes available when you choose Architectural Tick, Oblique, Dot Small, Integral or None in the Arrowheads section on the Symbols and Arrows tab.

Baseline spacing

The Baseline spacing text box determines the distance between successive dimension lines.

Extend beyond dim lines

In the Extend beyond dim lines text box you can specify the distance to extend the extension line above the dimension line.

Offset from origin

In the Offset from origin text box you can set the distance from the points on the drawing to the extension line that define the dimension.

Symbols and Arrows

On this tab you change the appearance and size of arrowheads and center marks.

Text

On this tab you can set the placement and alignment of dimension text.

You can also set a new text style if you haven't done so. Click on the button next to the Text style pull-down box to create a new text style.

Fit

On this tab you can set how to place arrowheads, dimension lines and text when there is not enough room between the extension lines.

Primary Units

On this tab you can set the format and precision of dimension text displayed on your drawing.

Precision

In the Precision pull-down box you can set the number of decimal places in the dimension text.

Fraction format

This option is only available when in Unit format Fractional is chosen.

Decimal separator

This option sets the appearance of the decimal separator (comma, period or space).

Round off

This option sets rounding rules for all dimensions measurements except angular dimensions. If you enter a value of 0.2 all distances are rounded to the nearest 0.2 unit. If you enter a value of 1.0 all distances are rounded to the nearest integer. The number of digits after the decimal point depends on the Precision setting.

Prefix and Suffix

With this option you can set a prefix or a suffix for the dimension text. For example, mm can be used as a suffix for millimetres.

Measurement scale

With Scale factor you can set the scale factor for dimension measurements. If you enter 2 a ten-millimetre dimension will be displayed as 20 millimetres. If you check the box Apply to layout dimensions only the scale factor applies then only to dimensions created in layouts (paperspace). Leave these setting as they are. Keep the scale factor 1 and the check box unchecked

Zero suppression

Suppresses leading or trailing zeros in all decimal dimensions. For example, 5.0000 becomes 5.

Angular dimensions

With the Units format option box you can set the angular units format between Decimal Degrees, Degrees Minutes Seconds, Gradians and Radians.

Alternate Units

On this tab you set the same settings as the Primary units tab. An alternate unit can be inches for example.

Tolerances

On this tab you can control the format of dimension texts.