Dimension Points

Design Templates User Guide

Tools : Dimension Points

The Design Templates application incorporates a facility for creating pairs of Dimension Points (or more accurately spherical design points; refer to Design Points for further information), to display Design Template dimensions. Each Dimension Point can have its position and associated projection line defined by a set of rules.

For example, when instanced in a design, Dimension Points can be referenced.

The user can create Dimension Points individually for a new Design Template, or alternatively an autobuild function can be used to create pairs of Dimension Points by default for all design parameters.

While each Dimension Point position and projection line extension can be defined explicitly, this can lead to an inappropriate display, for example, if the design instance is made large enough to obscure them. The user can specify the positions and extensions in terms of rules based on the design parameter values, refer to Parameters for further information. The dimensioning annotations are then scaled automatically as the design instance dimensions are modified.

To define the Dimension Points, make sure the correct Design Template is highlighted in the Template Browser.

On the Design Templates tab, in the Tools group, click Dimension Points to display the Dimension Point Definition window.

The control part of the Dimension Point Definition window allows the user to autobuild Dimension Points and close the window.


AutoBuild	The Design Templates application creates Dimension Points by default. The Dimension Points display in the list of Dimension Points. The Dimension Points are numbered in pairs and are given descriptions which include the design parameter DKEYs; for example, Dimension Points 101 and 102 form a pair which displays the DIAM dimension. When first created, all Dimension Points are positioned at the template origin. The user can reposition each Dimension Point and specify the projection line length and direction.
Close	Click to close the Dimension Point Definition window.

The Display part of the Dimension Point Definition window allows the user to change the window display.


Dimension Details	Click to display the Dimension Point Plot window.
Template Origin	Displays the Template Origin as a sphere in the 3D view.

The name of the currently selected Design Template displays at the top of the Dimension Point Definition window.

The list of defined Dimension Points displays at the bottom of the Attribute Rule window


Design Point Description	Input a dimension description into the Design Point Description field.
Design Parameter Number	Input a parameter number into the Design Parameter Description field. The same value must be entered for each of the Dimension Points of the parameter.
DPoint No.	Input a Dimension Point number into the DPoint No. field. The value must be unique for each Dimension Point.
Dimension Position	Input a rule into the Dimension Position field. Alternatively select Position Expression Builder to create a dimension position rule. Refer to Position Expression Builder for further information.
Dimension Extension	Input a rule into the Dimension Extension field. Alternatively select Extension Expression Builder to create a dimension extension rule. Refer to Position Expression Builder for further information.
Dimension Direction	Input a rule into the Dimension Direction field. Alternatively select Direction Expression Builder to create a dimension direction rule. Refer to Direction Expression Builder for further information.
Copy Last Point	Select Copy Last Point to populate the Dimension Position, Dimension Extension and Dimension Direction fields with the values from the Dimension Point that was defined most recently.
Copy Partner	Select Copy Partner to populate the Dimension Position, Dimension Extension and Dimension Direction fields with the values from the Dimension Point that contains the same Design Parameter Number.
Include	Click to add a Dimension Point to the list of Dimension Points.
Replace	Click to replace the dimension point rule with the display values in the Dimension Point Definition window.
Remove	Click to remove the selected Dimension Point from the list of Dimension Points.

Position Expression Builder

The Position Expression Builder allows the user to define a dimension position rule from a series of selections.

On the Dimension Point Definition window, select Position Expression Builder to display the Position Rule Definition window


Expression	Allows the user to build up a rule expression from the list of properties, local names, functions operators. The Design Templates application adds extra spaces and parentheses around expressions by default. It is optional whether or not the user enters extra spaces and parentheses when building an expression.
Properties	Select from the list of properties. The property displays in the Expression field. Select Current, Local or Template from the Properties drop-down list to define the list of properties.
Local Names	Select from the list of local names. The local name displays in the Expression field. Select Template or Dataset from the Local Names drop-down list to define the list of local names.
Functions	Select from the list of functions. The function displays in the Expression field.
Operators	Select from the list of operators. The operator displays in the Expression field.

Click OK to store the position rule definition, Back to undo the last selection or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Position Rule Definition window. The user is returned to the Dimension Point Definition window.

Extension Expression Builder

The Extension Expression Builder allows the user to define a dimension extension rule from a series of selections.

On the Dimension Point Definition window, select Extension Expression Builder to display the Extension Rule Definition window


Expression	Allows the user to build up a rule expression from the list of properties, local names, functions and operators. The Design Templates application adds extra spaces and parentheses around expressions by default. It is optional whether or not the user enters extra spaces and parentheses when building an expression.
Properties	Select from the list of properties. The property displays in the Expression field. Select Current, Local or Template from the Properties drop-down list to define the list of properties.
Local Names	Select from the list of local names. The local name displays in the Expression field. Select Template or Dataset from the Local Names drop-down list to define the list of local names.
Functions	Select from the list of functions. The function displays in the Expression field.
Operators	Select from the list of operators. The operator displays in the Expression field.

Click OK to store the extension rule definition, Back to undo the last selection or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Extension Rule Definition window. The user is returned to the Dimension Point Definition window.

Direction Expression Builder

The Direction Expression Builder allows the user to define a dimension extension rule from a series of selections.

On the Dimension Point Definition window, select Direction Expression Builder to display the Direction Rule Definition window


Expression	Allows the user to build up a rule expression from the list of properties, local names, functions and operators. The Design Templates application adds extra spaces and parentheses around expressions by default. It is optional whether or not the user enters extra spaces and parentheses when building an expression.
Properties	Select from the list of properties. The property displays in the Expression field. Select Current, Local or Template from the Properties drop-down list to define the list of properties.
Local Names	Select from the list of local names. The local name displays in the Expression field. Select Template or Dataset from the Local Names drop-down list to define the list of local names.
Functions	Select from the list of functions. The function displays in the Expression field.
Operators	Select from the list of operators. The operator displays in the Expression field.

Click OK to store the direction rule definition, Back to undo the last selection or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Direction Rule Definition window. The user is returned to the Dimension Point Definition window.