DRAW Reference Manual
Dimensioning : Linear Dimensions : Detail Attributes of Linear Dimensions
To save space on the paper, a parallel dimensions may be produced in a truncated form. Figure 11:11.: Truncated Parallel Dimension shows the truncated form of the dimension shown in Figure 11:7.: Parallel (or Tail) Linear Dimension.
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Figure 11:11.
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In a macro, the separation can also be set in terms of Sheet or screen coordinates. Note that the minimum separation is governed by the DMSP attribute - the calculated spacing cannot be less than this minimum. Figure 11:12.: Parallel Dimension Line Spacing shows the effect of varying the spacing.
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Figure 11:12.
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Dimension line text (DMTX) is set by a command of the form:
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(refer to Figure 11:13.: Dimension Line Text, left hand, for further information)
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Figure 11:13.
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#DIM in the example above takes the value of the dimension. #DIM is a simple case of intelligent text. Refer to Intelligent Text for further information. Note that in the case of non-truncated parallel dimensions, the dimension line spacing will automatically be adjusted to accommodate two or more lines of text if these are input. Dimension line text may be set at Dimension Point or Dimension level, although in the latter case the text input will attached to all the dimension lines involved. Associated commands are:
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- (at Dimension Point level): set dimension text to that of owning Dimension
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Dimension text is automatically centre-justified, but its position relative to the dimension line may be varied by changing the setting of the dimension text offset (DTOF) attribute. For example:
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- DTOF defined by a ‘constructed point’. Refer to Point and Line Construction for further information.
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Dimension text angle can be controlled using the DTANGLE attribute. This is available both at dimension and dimension point level. Possible settings are:
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Figure 11:14.
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Projection line text (PLTX) is set and manipulated in a similar way. For example, the commands:
(each at the appropriate dimension point level) could be used to give the text shown in Figure 11:15.: Projection Line Text.
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Figure 11:15.
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Projection line text axes are oriented relative to the projection line. The orientation is controlled by setting the PTOF attribute.
Refer to Figure 11:16.: Projection Line Text Offset for an example of changing the projection line text offset.
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Figure 11:16.
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- PTOF defined by a constructed point. Refer to Miscellaneous Text Facilities for further information.
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Figure 11:17.
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Projection text angle can be controlled using the PTANGLE attribute. This is available both at dimension and dimension point level. Possible settings are:
The HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL settings cause the projection line text to be drawn respectively horizontally or vertically in the VIEW. In these cases, the projection line is not extended automatically to underline the text but only overshoots the dimension line by the distance specified by the OSHT attribute.
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Figure 11:18.
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Initial settings of these attributes are cascaded down from LAYE level. Refer to Miscellaneous Text Facilities for further information about letter height and text fonts.
Dimension line and projection line text can be edited through use of the EDTEXT command. In the following examples, the target string is ‘ACCESS DPACE’, = ‘ACCESS SPACE’ mistyped:
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- Change dimension line text to ‘ACCESS SPACE’
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- Change projection line text to 'ACCESS SPACE
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Note:
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When editing intelligent text the intelligent text code itself must be specified, not the resultant text. Refer to Miscellaneous Text Facilities for further information about the EDTEXT command.
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Dimension line terminators are arrowheads by default, but may be obliques, dots, or absent altogether - Refer to Figure 11:19.: Dimension Line Terminators for further information.
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Figure 11:19.
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Note:
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The first terminator of a truncated dimension (Refer to Figure 11:11.: Truncated Parallel Dimension for further information) can be set independently using the FTER attribute. The first terminator will be drawn 25% larger than the remainder.
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At an LDIM the initial settings of these four attributes are cascaded down from LAYE level. At dimension point level their initial values will be DEFAULT, i.e. they use the values from the owning LDIM. Refer to Colours and Styles for further information.
Gaps in projection lines are most easily defined using the cursor, with either the start and end points or a mid point and a length being specified. Examples of the relevant commands are:
