Dimensioning question

I have to do a lot of dimensioning of small distances in tight space
situations. I have both arrows outside of the extension lines. The text is
also outside the extension lines above the dim line, next to one of the
arrows.
The problem is that the text is too far from the arrow. I have to explode
the dimension, move the text closer to the arrow, and then shorten the dim
line.
Is there a smarter way to do this?
I have v. 2000.

Joe

 

First of all, you don't have to explode the dimension to move the text.
Select it and drag the grip.
Second, there are settings in the dimstyle to control where the arrows and
text go, and how big they are, and you should look into this. If you are
having A LOT of trouble dimensioning something, you probably have a
'drafting' problem and are trying to cram too much into you drawing. This is
why there are details.

 

that moves the entire dimension - text and arrows.

"dimtedit" moves the text only, but away from the arrow, it is not possible
to move it closer to the arrow, although there is enough room there for at
least two digits.

I've tried everything in the Format Dim style dialog box. I thought there
may be some "plugins" which will enable additional flexibility.

If you are

It is not a big trouble, but the dwg looks neater with the text closer to
the arrows.

Joe

 

I think I don't fully appreciate your situation. BUT, many versions ago,
when Autocad did not "do" multiline text in leaders I wrote this snipit:

(defun C:LD (/ A B C D PT1 PT2 PT3 PT4 PTX oldlyr lyr)
(graphscr)
(setq oldlyr (getvar "clayer")
A (getvar "DIMASZ")
B (getvar "ORTHOMODE")
C (getvar "OSMODE")
D (getvar "DIMSCALE")
)
(setvar "clayer" "text")
(setvar "DIMASZ" (* (getvar "TEXTSIZE") 1.25)) ;set arrow head size
(setvar "ORTHOMODE" 0)
(setvar "OSMODE" 512)
(setvar "DIMSCALE" 1)
(setq PT1 (getpoint "\nEnter Start Point <NEA>: "))
(setvar "OSMODE" 0)
(setq PT2 (getpoint PT1 "\nEnter Point: "))
(setvar "ORTHOMODE" 1)
(setq PT3 (getpoint PT2 "\nEnter End Point: "))
(setvar "ORTHOMODE" 0)
(command "dim1" "lea" PT1 PT2 PT3 "" commandnil)
(setq PTX (/ (getvar "DIMASZ") 2.0))
(setq PT4 (list ((if (> (car PT2) (car PT3))
-
+
)
(car PT3)
PTX
)
(cadr PT3)
)
)
(prompt "\nEnter Text: ")
(command "dtext"
(if (> (car PT2) (car PT3))
"mr"
"ml"
)
PT4
"0"
)
(setvar "DIMASZ" A)
(setvar "ORTHOMODE" B)
(setvar "OSMODE" C)
(setvar "DIMSCALE" D)
(setvar "clayer" oldlyr)
(princ)
) ;end ld.lsp



my goodness, that is ugly code. use at your own risk only.

but it solved my problem. I know the variables for dimensions confuse the
heck out of me, and I am convinced there are some things I simply can't
do with autocad "out of the box". somewhere in that code, I had to set
text location. so I know you can control the text location. I have used
this routine for years. (it is virtually screaming to be rewritten)

so I think if it really bothers you, you can write a little lisp to
simulate your dimension commands.....

I am terrible at checking in on the boards, but I will try to remember to
check next week. if you want help writing the routine.

roy