An Alternative Method of Adding Linear Dimensions

By Martin Phelps

In most cases when adding a “Linear” or “Aligned” dimension, the extremities of the dimension are specified by snapping to the object, as in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Followed by selecting a suitable location for the “Dimension Line”, as shown in Figure 2.

 Figure 2.

As an alternative to this method, once either of these commands has been activated instead of selecting points, pressing “Enter” will use the default option of “Select Object”.

A “Line”, “Rectangle”, “Circle”, or “Arc” can now be selected. This method will automatically locate the extremities of the object. The location of the dimension line can now be placed. However take care in positioning the dimension line since the dimension extension lines can overlap lines being dimensioned.

It can also be used to place a “Linear” dimension across a “Circle”, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3.

To confirm the dimensioned object is a “Circle”, double click on the dimension text and add before the value (%%C) to display the “Diameter” Symbol “Theta”, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4.

Since the dimension value has not been modified, but a text prefix is being added the dimension value still remains associative to the object.