Problems with the scale of my dims

[sheherezade]

I'm having trouble with my dims being far too small. I know this is a common question but I've tried the settings commonly suggested and so far I've gotten nowhere.

 

This is what I've done so far:

 

- Drawing is done in modelspace, 1:1 scale.

 

- I've gone through the different layouts, set the desired scale and locked viewports.

 

-I'm using an annotative dim style in which text style is set to annotative and paper text height(under the text style button) is set to 0.

 

There is one weird thing which I've never seen before when using Autocad in the classroom. When I first click the dimension button I get a popup saying "Select annotation scale. You are creating an annotative object. Set the annotation scale to the scale at which the annotation is intended to display." Then there's a drop down menu where you can select different scales.

 

Any advice?

[Dadgad]

Stop using ANNOTATIVE DIMS?

 

Sorry, there are those who embrace them, and those who don't.

I fall into the latter camp.

I prefer dimensioning in paperspace using ASSOCIATIVE dimensions.

No doubt someone who favors using them can set you straight, just be patient.

[sheherezade]

Haha, well there is that option, but my teacher would probably smack me over the head(not literally!) as he is a huge fan of Autocad's annotative options.

[Dana W]

I'm having trouble with my dims being far too small. I know this is a common question but I've tried the settings commonly suggested and so far I've gotten nowhere.

 

This is what I've done so far:

 

- Drawing is done in modelspace, 1:1 scale.

 

- I've gone through the different layouts, set the desired scale and locked viewports.

 

-I'm using an annotative dim style in which text style is set to annotative and paper text height(under the text style button) is set to 0.

 

There is one weird thing which I've never seen before when using Autocad in the classroom. When I first click the dimension button I get a popup saying "Select annotation scale. You are creating an annotative object. Set the annotation scale to the scale at which the annotation is intended to display." Then there's a drop down menu where you can select different scales.

 

Any advice?

Hey Doc. It hurts when I do this. "Then don't do that.":rofl: @dadgad.

 

Here's my semi-educated guess at what you are experiencing.

 

You didn't see that scale list in class because the instructor probably set everybody's ANNOAUTOSCALE system variable to a value of 4. Come to think of it, I think that is the default. I wonder why the AutoCad you are using now is different? When set to 4, every new scale you set a viewport to while annotative scaling is being used, is automatically added to annotative objects. Do an F1 on ANNOAUTOSCALE, it's very interesting. You will see that ANNOAUTOSCALE can be set to values from 1 to 4 which are all ON values. It can also be set to from -4 to -1, which are all OFF values for the corresponding positive values.

 

There are buttons you can add to your drawing "Tray" (lower frame bar) that can control some of your annotative scaling system variables. Right click the "Tray" to see the list. Autoscale is a toggle that will turn ANNOAUTOSCALE on and off. If it is off, you will get the scale list when you add an annotative object. Annotation Visibility will turn uh well uh some visibility aspect of annotation scaling on or off. I am not sure what it does.

 

I don't use annotative text and dimensions either. I have always hated the idea since I learned dimensioning the old way, that is to size them so they will appear the proper height when scaled. However, I have tried to learn how to use them because I often run across drawings that have them. Also, I am trying to prove that old dogs can learn new tricks. After all, last night while watching the CMA awards, I learned what Motorboatin' really means.

 

That scale list is how you tell AutoCad which scale you are plotting in the viewport where the objects you are dimensioning will be seen. Pick the scale off the list that you set your viewport up to be. Even with ANNOAUTOSCALE turned on, you are dimensioning too early if you don't know at least one scale of one of your viewports yet.

 

Your dimensions will usually be very very tiny in modelspace but they will scale up in the viewport. If you click on them in modelspace, they will expand by the scale factor so you can read them. It gets really weird here. If you have set more than one scale to an annotative dimension, you will see a ghost image of the dimension text at each different scale factor you are using, when it is clicked on (selected).

 

If you have set your annotative dimstyle to have 1/4" high text, then that is exactly how high they will appear in modelspace. Everything there is full size, right?. When you go to your layout, that same annotative dimension text will be 1/4" high in the viewport and on the paper, but the rest of the model will be scaled to fit the viewport.

 

The secret that confuses everybody, is that annotative objects DO NOT SCALE when seen in a viewport, even though the objects they are dimensioning are scaled in the viewport. Say your viewport scale is 1/4" = 1'-0". That is the same as 1/48th actual size. AutoCad applies the viewport scale factor to everything in the viewport except the annotative objects. Remember, for dimensions, both the text AND the arrowheads are annotative. This is AutoCad's way of letting us modelspace dimensioners have as fully professional looking plots as Dadgad has, what with uniformly sized dimensions and text all over the place, while having to dimension a view only once no matter how many viewports and scales it will be plotted in. Whether in a 1:1 detail of a stair handrail bracket, or a 1/8" = 1'-0" floor plan of an office building, an annotative object will remain a constant height on the paper, if you want it to.

 

If any of this is wrong, and it might be, I am sure that there will be no shortage of help arriving any minute now to correct me.

 

Good luck with that stuff. Tell us how it goes. I need to learn more about it too.

Edited November 4, 2012 by Dana W

[Dana W]

I'm using an annotative dim style in which text style is set to annotative and paper text height(under the text style button) is set to 0.

 

That is correct, in your Test style editor you set the text height to zero so it can be overridden by your dimension style editor. BUT in the Dimension style editor, you have to set your text height to the height you want it to ACTUALLY appear in paper space. After selecting the text style for your dimensions, while on your text tab in the dimension editor, you set your text height by using the height slide adjuster arrow thingy buttons or whatever you call that little window.

 

See now, this is where I get confused too. I gotta go read up some more. Does that mean you have to use a non-annotative text style in your annotative dimension style so you can override the height? I usually set my multiline text height on the fly while I am editing/creating it. And I usually use the same text style for it as I do for my dimensions, so my text styles are all set to zero height. But like I said, I don't use annotative on my own drawings.

 

Party in slow motion .. Out here in the open .. Mmmmmmm...motorboatin'. I can't make that song stop running around in my head, but I don't want to yet.

Edited November 4, 2012 by Dana W

[Dadgad]

Hey Doc. It hurts when I do this. "Then don't do that.":rofl: @dadgad.

 

Here's my semi-educated guess at what you are experiencing.

 

You didn't see that scale list in class because the instructor probably set everybody's ANNOAUTOSCALE system variable to a value of 4. Come to think of it, I think that is the default. I wonder why the AutoCad you are using now is different? When set to 4, every new scale you set a viewport to while annotative scaling is being used, is automatically added to annotative objects. Do an F1 on ANNOAUTOSCALE, it's very interesting. You will see that ANNOAUTOSCALE can be set to values from 1 to 4 which are all ON values. It can also be set to from -4 to -1, which are all OFF values for the corresponding positive values.

 

Good luck with that stuff. Tell us how it goes. I need to learn more about it too.

 

By using the SYSVDLG command you can learn mind boggling amounts of stuff about

the available system variables in the software, as shown in the image.

 

It is also a very good idea to occasionally do a SAVE ALL, which will give you a .SVF (system variable file),

ensuring that should something get changed inadvertently, rocking your system variable boat, you will be able to

restore your equilibrium and an even keel, as simply as using the READ button at the bottom of the SYSVDLG box.

 

For those who have not saved a .SVF file, this is also the easiest way to restore the default system variable values.

[sheherezade]

Thank you guys. I've gotten nowhere so far, but I'll give it another whirl before I throw the whole ting out the window.

 

Dana W: I don't know why I get the popup on my version of Autocad and not while I'm at school. Perhaps it's because I've downloaded a fresh copy of the program(we get student versions through school), but I checked and annoautoscale is set to 4 in my version as well. I've put dims on other drawings prior to this one, and as far as I remember there was no popup then.

I'm drawing on a template file that came with Autocad, so I suppose there might be some presets within the file itself...

[sheherezade]

Uhm, I've gotten.......well something....It's not quite what it's supposed to look like though. Among other things I need to have all the measurements between the extension lines...

I've attached the file which shows what I have so far. Would anyone mind having a look at it to see if it makes any sense?

 

 

I'm leaning towards there being some sort of preset within the template I'm drawing on though. I pulled up another drawing, and I had no problems putting annotative dims on that.

scaling.dwg

[Dana W]

Thank you guys. I've gotten nowhere so far, but I'll give it another whirl before I throw the whole ting out the window.

 

Dana W: I don't know why I get the popup on my version of Autocad and not while I'm at school. Perhaps it's because I've downloaded a fresh copy of the program(we get student versions through school), but I checked and annoautoscale is set to 4 in my version as well. I've put dims on other drawings prior to this one, and as far as I remember there was no popup then.

I'm drawing on a template file that came with Autocad, so I suppose there might be some presets within the file itself...

 

Well, OK then. See, I am not quite correct about what that system variable does. In your case at least, it is not controlling the pop-up scale menu. I have to look at it some more. I am running 2009 LT so I don't have complete functionality. For example, SYSDVLG is an unknown command for me.

[Dana W]

By using the SYSVDLG command you can learn mind boggling amounts of stuff about

the available system variables in the software, as shown in the image.

 

It is also a very good idea to occasionally do a SAVE ALL, which will give you a .SVF (system variable file),

ensuring that should something get changed inadvertently, rocking your system variable boat, you will be able to

restore your equilibrium and an even keel, as simply as using the READ button at the bottom of the SYSVDLG box.

 

For those who have not saved a .SVF file, this is also the easiest way to restore the default system variable values.

 

I am glad somebody can do this sort of stuff. If I ever get a "real" job, maybe I'll get to use "real" AutoCad.

[sheherezade]

I keep banging my head against the wall, so I really appreciate your effort. I did a screen capture when I got the popup. I don't know if it helps, but here it is:

 

http://i48.tinypic.com/r0qh47.png

[rkent]

That warning message is normal and if you notice in the lower left you can check that of and never see that again. However it is trying to help you out and in this case you should pick a scale of say 1:20.

[Dana W]

I keep banging my head against the wall, so I really appreciate your effort. I did a screen capture when I got the popup. I don't know if it helps, but here it is:

 

http://i48.tinypic.com/r0qh47.png

OK, then. Now I understand. What rkent said, do that. It would help though if you were to be able to pick the scale you intend to use in your layout viewport at this point, but you can always add it later.

I thought you were looking at the same scale list I get when I click the Annotation scale button on my tray, like this...

[sheherezade]

Thank you, guys.

I still have some measurements that appears on an extended line instead of between the dimlines. (Basically I want 200 to be placed in the middle of the dimlines like 700 is.) Is there a way to achieve this?

 

http://i50.tinypic.com/n1yx3a.png

[Dana W]

Thank you, guys.

I still have some measurements that appears on an extended line instead of between the dimlines. (Basically I want 200 to be placed in the middle of the dimlines like 700 is.) Is there a way to achieve this?

 

http://i50.tinypic.com/n1yx3a.png

In your dimstyle editor you can tell it to force the dimension in between the extension lines, but there is a limit to what it can do. If there simply is not enough room, it ain't goin' in there. Your lines are closer together than your text is wide, by a long shot. You're right, it doesn't look very neat, but it is (mostly) industry standard. I used to do it when I drew on paper too, back in the day.

 

I detest the look of a dimension out on a leader too. Try putting it above the lines without a leader.

 

It'd look even worse if you were to shrink the text to fit by editing that one dimension.

 

You can also adjust the width of your font in the test style editor but there is a point in there where it becomes hard to read. Below a width factor of 0.75 or so it gets ugly.

[Dadgad]

If there simply is not enough room, it ain't goin' in there. (where have you heard that before?)

I detest the look of a dimension out on a leader too. Try putting it above the lines without a leader.

 

It'd look even worse if you were to shrink the text to fit by editing that one dimension.

 

I'll drink to that, I always try to use 'Over dimension line, without leader',

should the text not fit on the dimension line, often putting a return in

the measurement if need be, due to space constraints, like in the image.

[Dana W]

I'll drink to that, I always try to use 'Over dimension line, without leader',

should the text not fit on the dimension line, often putting a return in

the measurement if need be, due to space constraints, like in the image.

 

Hey, do me a quick favor and show me how to put a return in a dimension. I have on occasion wanted to use it, but never figured it out. It's just one of them things that I can't seem to find while it is right in front of my face.

[Dadgad]

Hey, do me a quick favor and show me how to put a return in a dimension. I have on occasion wanted to use it, but never figured it out. It's just one of them things that I can't seem to find while it is right in front of my face.

 

Unlike that Sammy's Boston Lager, eh?

Just select the dimension, then double click on the text to go into the edit mode, and hit return,

just like you are editing MTEXT.

[Dana W]

Unlike that Sammy's Boston Lager, eh?

Just select the dimension, then double click on the text to go into the edit mode, and hit return,

just like you are editing MTEXT.

You're kidding. That simple? Well, all I get is the properties sheet. Funny, I can double-click edit ANYTHING else in a drawing except dim text. And DIMTEDIT only lets me move the text around. Am I being LT'd again?

[Dadgad]

You're kidding. That simple? Well, all I get is the properties sheet. Funny, I can double-click edit ANYTHING else in a drawing except dim text. And DIMTEDIT only lets me move the text around. Am I being LT'd again?

 

Then you can probably do it like in the image, in the TEXT OVERRIDE box.

Do you get the TEXT FORMATTING tool, like in my earlier post, if you edit MTEXT?