dimensioning

[trashcanman]

When dimensioning the length of an object, say a pipe, is there a way to suppress the dimensioning symbols, so that just the numbers show up? For example, if a pipe dimensions out to be 3'-8", how do I set the dimensioning controls so that it produces 3-8 on screen? Hope someone can help.

 

[Adrian2]

Dear Trashcanman;

Going in to dimstyle and setting the units to fractional will get rid of the inch symbol. Seems to me that removing the symbols would make the drawing more confusing, especially if you needed dimensions with fractions such as 3-8 1/4

Regards Adrian

 

[trashcanman]

Thanks, but that doesn't work. I have already tried it. It produces the dimension in inches only, without symbols. The style I want is commonly used in fire sprinkler shop drawings, so that 3'-8" shows up as 3-8 on the shop drawing. It is understood what it means.

 

[alliedcp]

Hi,

I might have a solution for you. I agree that this will not be the favored way to dimension a drawing but I think that it will get you what you want.

At the command line type DIMASO (this controls associative dimensioning)
Type OFF

Dimension your object like normal.

After you specify the location of your dimension ACAD will ask you to enter dimension text.

At this point you can enter your 3-8 dimension.

The drawback to doing it this way is that the dimension is no longer 1 complete unit. It is broken up into individual segments which makes it hard to modify. If you ever need to modify the dimension text from this point just use the standard text edit command.

I hope this helps.

 

[tigrek]

I experimented with a Lisp solution but:
found out that dimension text is not readable from drawing database. It is not saved at all, but recalculated everytime a drawing opens.
This makes the Lisp difficult because it has to calculate for each different case of horizontal, vertical, aligned etc.
This makes it too much trouble to try.
So, better convince the architect in charge to be happy with the foot-inch signs.

 

You might try "text override" in the "text" catagory using "modify" "properties". Trouble is the dimension is no longer associative. Works w/ AutoCAD LT 2000, but I'm not familiar w/ other AutoDesk products.

 

[diamondjim]

Why would you want to do this anyhow?
It seems like a poor method of defining
dimensions that are not an accepted
standard. I think you will lose your
associative quality of the dimension if you
redefine or force the dimensions.