Dimensioning

[Rednyx]

if i have a shape to which i would like to give a general dimension , like a square of side measuring 'a' units, what should i do as all the dimentioning tools actually gives the measurement but not only a symbol. I like to use this quite regularly so i am expecting a quick way for it.
is there a command to draw the central x and y axis of any figure?

 

[svanels]

After selecting the 2^nd point of your dimension, select Text or Mtext

Regards Steven van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr

 

[Rednyx]

i am interested to write the text with dimension style ...line with two arrows at the ends

 

[svanels]

You actually start dimensioning

Command: _dimlinear

Specify first extension line origin or <select object>: _endp of { 1^st point }

Specify second extension line origin: _endp of
{ 2^nd point }


Specify dimension line location or
[Mtext/Text/Angle/Horizontal/Vertical/Rotated]: t
{ here you specify to modify the default dimension}


Enter dimension text <208.83>: A
{ The character A will be placed instead of 208.83}


Specify dimension line location or
[Mtext/Text/Angle/Horizontal/Vertical/Rotated]:
{ specify position of dimension line}


Hope this helps
Steven van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr

 

[TWong]

You can use dimordinate to draw the central x and y axis of any figure but the drawback is you must place the centroid of the figure on the point (0,0). Then when you use dimordinate, you can show a zero dimension from the center. It is a great command for sheet metal dimensioning as well. Tommy

 

[Stoker]

If you are going to dimension linear edges using general dimensions often, you might want to add an extra level of automation to the method Svanels suggested by using a LISP routine. Try adding this to your Acad.lsp file:

(DEFUN C:TEXTDIM ()(COMMAND &quot;DIMALIGNED&quot; &quot;&quot; pause &quot;T&quot)

You can then create a custom button and assign it the macro
^C^C_textdim. The advantage is that it saves you three keystrokes/buttons (5 instead of 8) each time.

Also, if you are going to be using the same letters repeatedly, you might want to create a LISP command for each letter and assign it a unique button:

(DEFUN C:TEXTDIMA ()(COMMAND &quot;DIMALIGNED&quot; &quot;&quot; pause &quot;T&quot; &quot;A&quot)

This cuts the number of keystrokes down to three.