How to add dimensioning

Command: addDim

Description: Adds a single dimensioning or a dimensioning chain. The dimensioning is defined by the angle α of the dimension line, a point P on the dimension line, the first point P1 and the second point P2 to be dimensioned. The horizontal, vertical and angular dimensioning differ only by the dimension line angle.

Example:

If no control points are selected then the command always results in the creation of a single dimensioning component as decribed. If, however, many control points are selected then they are automatically dimensioned in the proper sequence. If only one control point is selected then the second point is requested by the command. If no control point is selected then both points are requested by the command. If more than two control points are selected then a dimensioning chain consisting of multiple single dimensioning components is created.

If a selected control point was dimensioned then the point and the dimensioning component are linked. A modification of a dimensioned control point automatically results in an update of the associated dimensioning.

A dimensioning component can be modified by it's control points:

Dimensioned start point
Dimensioned end point
Placement of the dimension line
Placement of the dimension text
Distance between extension line and dimensioned start point
Distance between extension line and dimensioned end point

The complete set of dimensioning parameters can be modified via the Feature Dialog. The dimensioning text is described on the respective tab:

Prefix: An arbitray text can be put in front of the dimension text, e.g. "R=" for a radius or "Ø=" for a diameter
Postfix: An arbitray text can be appended to the dimensioning text, e.g. " mm" to indicate millimeter units
Scale factor: If different scale factors are used inside of the same drawing then the dimension text can be scaled by a factor.

Format specification: The dimensioning must be formated according to one of the following format specifications:

mm: Millimeter units without fractional digits, e.g. "1000" for the distance 1000.4.
cm: Centimeter units with 0 or 1 fractional digits rounded to 5 millimeters according to DIN 1356.

Value Formatted text
3.176 3.175
3.172 3.17
3.178 3.18
m and cm: Meter units with 2 or 3 fractional digits rounded to 5 millimeters. The 3rd fractional digit is always shown in superscript form according to DIN 1356. The following table shows the effect of different values.

Value Formatted text
3.176 3.17⁵
3.172 3.17
3.178 3.18
m: Meter units with exactly 2 fractional digits.
km: Kilometer units with exactly 2 fractional digits.

Free format: The format is to be specified by the Format string and the dimensioning unit by the Dimensioning unit length features. The following table shows the effect of different format strings and unit lengths on the distance 3.176 [m].

Format	[mm]	Formatted text	Remark
0.00	1000	3.18	Exactly 2 fractional digits, 3rd digit truncated
0.00	1	3176.00	Exactly 2 fractional digits, therefore padded with '0' characters
0.00##	1000	3.176	At least 2 fractional digits, 4th digit is '0' and was suppressed
0.00##	1	3176.00	At least 2 fractional digits, therefore padded with '0' characters
#,##0.00##	1	3,176.00	Comma as thousand separator

Free text is to be defined by the Free text feature.

Format string: A detailed reference can be found here .
Dimensioning unit length: The dimensioning unit length is to be defined in millimeters, e.g. a value of 1000 defines meter units and a value of 10 defines centimeter units.
Free text: An arbitrary text can be specified.
Lower text: The specified text is placed centered under the dimension text. As an example this feature can be used to indicate the height of the dimensioned part as described in DIN 1356.

Value	Formatted text
3.176	3.175
3.172	3.17
3.178	3.18

Value	Formatted text
3.176	3.17⁵
3.172	3.17
3.178	3.18