Dimension a plan

What you will make

A dimensioned room: overall width and height, a string of dimensions along one wall, an angled wall, a curved corner and an angle.

Before you start, read Set dimension sizes if your drawing is large: dimension text is 2.5 drawing units tall by default, which is tiny in a drawing measured in millimeters. For the steps below, type DIMSCALE, press ReturnEnter, type 50 and press ReturnEnter first.

Draw something to dimension

1. Type PL and press ReturnEnter.
2. Type 0,0 and press ReturnEnter.
3. Type @6000,0 and press ReturnEnter.
4. Type @1500<60 and press ReturnEnter.
5. Type @0,2700 and press ReturnEnter.
6. Type @-6750,0 and press ReturnEnter.
7. Type C and press ReturnEnter. The outline closes.
8. Type C and press ReturnEnter to start a circle.
9. Click inside the room, away from the walls, for the center.
10. Type 600 and press ReturnEnter. This is a column.
11. Click Extents.

Linear: horizontal or vertical

1. Type DLI and press ReturnEnter.
2. At Specify first extension line origin, snap to the lower-left corner (Endpoint) and click.
3. At Specify second extension line origin, snap to the lower-right corner and click.
4. Move the crosshair below the room. The dimension follows, horizontal.
5. Click to place the dimension line.

The history says Dimension text = 6000.

Where you place the line decides the direction: below or above gives a horizontal dimension, left or right gives a vertical one. To force it, type H (horizontal), V (vertical) or R (rotated, then an angle) before you place it.

Continue: a string of dimensions

DIMCONTINUE carries on from the last linear or aligned dimension you made, each new one starting where the last one ended.

1. Type DLI and press ReturnEnter.
2. Type 0,0 and press ReturnEnter for the first origin.
3. Type 2000,0 and press ReturnEnter for the second origin.
4. Click below the room to place it.
5. Type DCO and press ReturnEnter.
6. Type 4500,0 and press ReturnEnter. A second dimension follows on from the first, on the same line.
7. Snap to the lower-right corner and click. A third one completes the string.
8. Press ReturnEnter to end the command.

Type U and press ReturnEnter to take back the last dimension in the string without leaving the command.

Baseline: dimensions stacked from one line

DIMBASELINE measures every new dimension from the first origin of the last one, and stacks each one a step further out.

1. Type DLI and press ReturnEnter.
2. Snap to the lower-left corner and click.
3. Snap to the upper-left corner and click.
4. Move the crosshair to the left of the room and click. A vertical dimension appears.
5. Type DBA and press ReturnEnter.
6. Snap to the upper end of the 60-degree wall (Endpoint) and click. A second vertical dimension appears, one step further out than the first.
7. Press ReturnEnter to end.

Aligned: true length of a sloping line

1. Type DAL and press ReturnEnter.
2. Press ReturnEnter to select an object.
3. Click the 60-degree wall.
4. Move outward and click to place.

The text reads 1500: the true length, measured along the wall.

Radius and diameter

1. Type DRA and press ReturnEnter.
2. Click the column circle.
3. Move the crosshair. The leader points from the center toward the crosshair.
4. Click to place the text.

The text reads R600. DIMDIAMETER (DDI) does the same with a ⌀ sign and the diameter.

Angular

The walls here are one polyline, so measure the corner by its vertex. (Between two separate lines, you can click the lines instead.)

1. Type DAN and press ReturnEnter.
2. At Select arc, circle or line, or Enter for a vertex, press ReturnEnter.
3. At Specify angle vertex, snap to the lower-right corner and click.
4. At Specify first angle endpoint, snap to the lower-left corner and click.
5. At Specify second angle endpoint, snap to the upper end of the 60-degree wall and click.
6. Move the crosshair inside the room, near the corner, and click.

The text reads 120°, the inside angle of the corner. Placed on the other side of the corner, the dimension measures the angle on that side instead. Click an arc at the first prompt to dimension the angle it spans, or click two lines to dimension the angle between them.

Change the text

To write your own text, type T and press ReturnEnter before you place the dimension, then type the text. In your text, <> stands for the measured value: <> TYP. gives 6000 TYP.. Press ReturnEnter on an empty line to keep the measured value.

To change an existing dimension:

1. Click it.
2. In the right panel, type in Text. Leave it empty for the measured value.
3. Press ReturnEnter.

Dimensions follow the geometry

A dimension remembers its points. Drag one of its grips, or move, rotate or scale it with the objects it measures, and it measures again. If you stretch the geometry without moving the dimension, the dimension does not follow: it keeps its own points.

Common mistakes

• The text and arrows are microscopic or huge. Set the overall scale: see Set dimension sizes.
• "Pick a point inside the angle you want to measure." The point you clicked for an angular dimension sits on one of the legs. Move it into the angle.
• Continue started from the wrong dimension. It always continues from the last linear or aligned dimension made in this session. Make (or remake) the one to continue from first.
• The dimension came out vertical. You placed it to the side. Type H before placing it.
• Feet and inches. Dimensions show decimal numbers in drawing units. Architectural (feet-inch) display is not built yet.