Set dimension sizes, decimals and scale

What you will learn

How big dimension text and arrows are, how to set them for a drawing plotted at 1:50 or 1:100, and how to change dimensions you already made.

How dimension sizes work

Every dimension carries its own set of sizes: text height, arrow size, decimals, the gap round the text, how far extension lines run past the dimension line and how far they start from the object. The defaults are close to the common ISO style:

Every size is multiplied by the overall scale. Set the sizes as you want them on paper (2.5 mm text), and set the overall scale to the plot scale (50 for 1:50). The text is then 2.5 × 50 = 125 drawing units tall, which plots at 2.5 mm.

Set the sizes for new dimensions

Either way below changes only dimensions you make afterwards.

In the Current settings panel

1. Press EscEsc so nothing is selected. On the Model tab the right panel reads Current settings.
2. Under New dimensions, click in Overall scale, type 50 and press ReturnEnter.
3. Set Text height, Arrow size and Decimals the same way if you want other values.

The status bar confirms each one, for example "Overall scale for new dimensions: 50".

At the command line

1. Type DIMSCALE and press ReturnEnter.
2. At Enter new value for DIMSCALE <1>, type 50 and press ReturnEnter.

The history confirms "DIMSCALE = 50. New dimensions use it; select existing ones to change theirs." DIMTXT, DIMASZ, DIMDEC, DIMGAP, DIMEXE and DIMEXO work the same way. Press ReturnEnter at the prompt to keep the current value.

Change dimensions you already made

1. Click one dimension.
2. The right panel shows Kind, Measured, Text, Text height, Arrow size, Decimals and Overall scale.
3. Type a new value and press ReturnEnter.

The dimension redraws at once. For angular dimensions, Decimals (°) sets the decimals of the angle.

Dimensions from opened drawings

A dimension from an opened DWG or DXF is shown exactly as the other program drew it. Its panel says "Shown as the program that made it drew it. Change it and CadCraft draws it again in its own style." As soon as you change any value, move a grip, or move the dimension, CadCraft redraws it with its own arrowheads and font, using the sizes it read from the file.

Some dimensions can only be read as drawn, not as editable dimensions; the panel then shows "Drawn from" and a block name, and the "About this file" box counts them.

Common mistakes

• Changing DIMSCALE did not change anything on screen. The setting is for new dimensions. Select existing ones and change Overall scale in the panel.
• Decimals show fewer digits than set. Trailing zeros are dropped: 2 decimals show 1250 and 1250.5, not 1250.00.
• Text is the right height on paper in a viewport but wrong in a model plot. The overall scale must match the scale you plot at. Plotting at Fit to paper gives an odd scale; choose a standard scale in the plot dialog.
• Units such as mm or ft in the text. Not added automatically. Type them in an override: <> mm.