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Laguna State polytechnic university

San Pablo City Campus
CHAPTER 4
Dimensioning, Leader Line and
Other Inquiry Commands

DIMENSIONING is the process of adding measurement annotation to a drawing.

DIMENSIONS - are visual representation to describe the size and location of each member of a structure. AutoCAD provides many ways to
dimensions. You can create dimensions for a wide variety of object shapes in many different orientations. You can create dimension styles to format
dimensions in your drawing conform to industry or project standard.

PRINCIPLES OF DIMENSIONING
These include the linetypes, placements of dimension features, locating exterior and interior drawing features, and dimension text.

DIMENSIONING COMPONENTS

Figure 17_Dimensioning Components

Text – is the dimensions placed above the dimension line or in between the dimension line and centered the two extension lines.
Extension lines – are thin lines that extend out from the object. These are usually 0.13 mm thick and are offset few millimeters from the object.
Dimension lines - are thin lines used to show the extent of the object being described. It should be placed in such a way as to leave room for notes,
but still close enough to the features being described so that clarity will not be hindered.

DIMENSION STYLES
A dimension style is a named collection of dimension settings that control the appearance of dimensions. You create dimension styles to specify the
format of dimensions quickly, and to ensure that dimensions conform to standards. A dimension style defines:
- the format and position of dimension lines, extension lines, arrowheads, and center marks
- the appearance, position, and behavior of dimension text
- the rules governing where AutoCAD places text and dimension lines
- the overall dimension scale
- the format and precision of primary, alternate, and angular dimension units
- the format and precision of tolerance values

Command: DIMSTYLE or D (enter)

The Dimension Style Manager is displayed.
- Creates new styles, sets the current style, modifies styles, sets overrides on the current style, and compares styles.

List of Options
1. Current Dimension Style - displays the name of the dimension
style that is current. The default dimension style is STANDARD.
The current style is applied to dimensions you create.
2. Styles - lists dimension styles in the drawing.
3. List - controls the display of styles in the Styles list.
4. Preview - shows a graphic representation of the style selected
in the Styles list.
5. Description - describes the style selected in the Styles list
relative to the current style.
6. Set Current - sets the style selected under Styles to current.
The current style is applied to dimensions you create.
7. New - displays the Create New Dimension Style dialog box, in
which you can define a new dimension style.
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8. Modify - displays the Modify Dimension Styles dialog box, in which you
Figure 18_Dimension Style Manager Dialog Box can modify dimension styles.
9. Override - displays the Override Current Style dialog box, in which you can set temporary overrides to dimension styles. Overrides are displayed
as unsaved changes under the dimension style in the Styles list.
10. Compare - displays the Compare Dimension Styles dialog box, in which you can compare two dimension styles or list all the properties of one
dimension style.

Creating NEW DIMENSION STYLE Dialog Box

Names the new dimension style, sets the style on which to start the new one, and indicates the dimension types to which you want the new style to
apply.
List of Options
1. New Style Name - specifies the new dimension style name.
2. Start With - sets a style to use as a basis for the new one. For the new style, you
change only the properties that differ from the properties you start with.
3. Annotative - specifies that the dimension style is annotative.
4. Use For - creates a dimension substyle that applies only to specific dimension
types. For example, you could create a version of the STANDARD dimension style
to be used only for diameter dimensions.
5. Continue - displays the New Dimension Style dialog box, in which you define the
new dimension style properties.
Figure 19_Create New Dimension Style Dialog Box

DIMENSION STYLE MANAGER OPTIONS

A. Lines Tab - Sets the format and properties for dimension lines, extension lines, arrowheads, and center marks.

Figure 20_ Modifying Lines Dimension Style

B. Symbols and Arrows Tab - Sets the format and placement for arrowheads, center marks, arc length symbols, and jogged radius dimensions.

Figure 21_ Modifying Symbols and Arrows Dimension Style

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;
C. Text Tab - Sets the format, placement, and alignment of dimension text.

Text Placement - Controls the placement of dimension text.

Vertical - Controls the vertical placement of dimension text in relation to the
dimension line. (DIMTAD)

Figure 22_Modifying Text Dimension Style

Horizontal - Controls the horizontal placement of dimension text along

the dimension line, in relation to the extension lines. (DIMJUST)

D. Fit Tab - Controls the placement of dimension text, arrowheads, leader lines, and the dimension line.

E. Primary Units Tab - Sets the format and precision of primary dimension units and sets prefixes and suffixes for dimension text.

Prefix and Suffix - Includes a prefix and suffix symbols in the dimension text. You can enter text or use control codes to display special symbols.

F. Alternative Units Tab - Specifies display of alternate units in dimension measurements and sets their format and precision.
G. Tolerance
Figure Tab Primary
23_Modifying - Specifies
Unitsthe display and
Dimension Styleformat of dimension text tolerances.

EXERCISE: CREATING LINEAR DIMENSIONS

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1. HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL

Command: DLI (enter)
Specify first extension line origin or <select object>: pick END Of A1/2
Specify second extension line origin: pick END Of B
Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: pick at any point
Dimension text = ex. 3.0000

2. ALIGN
Command: DAL(enter)
Specify first extension line origin or <select object>: pick END Of A1
Specify second extension line origin: pick END Of A2
Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: pick at any point
Dimension text = ex. 4.2426

3. ANGULAR DIMENSIONING COMMANDS AND METHODS (See Exercises)

MENU COMMANDS SHORTCUTS DESCRIPTION

A. LINEAR DIMENSIONS

Measures a straight-line distance. Includes options to create horizontal,

Linear DIMLINEAR DLI
vertical, or rotated linear dimension.
Creates a linear dimension with the dimension line parallel to the extension
Aligned DIMALIGNED DAL line origin points. The dimension creates a true-length measurement of the
object.
Angular DIMANGULAR DAN Measures angles.
B. CIRCULAR DIMENSIONS
Diameter DIMDIAMETER DDI Measures the diameter of circles and arcs.
Radius DIMRADIUS DRA Measures the radius of circles and arcs.
Measures the radius of the selected object and displays the dimension text
Jogged DIMJOGGED DJO
with a radius symbol in front of it.
Arc Length DIMARC DAR Creates arc length dimension.
Creates center marks and centerlines to indicate center points of circles
Center DIMCENTER DCE
and arcs.
C. DIMENSION COMMANDS THAT CAN BE COMBINED WITH OTHER DIMENSIONS
Creates a linear, angular, or ordinate dimension from the baseline of the
Baseline DIMBASELINE DBA
previous or selected dimension.
Creates a series of continued linear, aligned, angular, or ordinate
Continue DIMCONTINUE DCO dimensions, each created from the second extension line of the previous or
last selected dimension and sharing a common dimension line.
Quick Creates dimension arrangements, such as baseline, continued, and
QDIM -
Dimension ordinate dimensions, by selecting multiple objects at one time.
Creates a dimension showing a point’s X and Y ordinate measured from a
Ordinate DIMORDINATE DOR
given origin point.
Adjust Space DIMSPACE - Adjust the spacing between linear dimensions or angular dimensions.
Breaks or restore dimension and extension lines where they cross other
Break DIMBREAK - objects.
It can be added to linear, angular and ordinate dimensions.
Jog Line DIMJOGLINE DJL Adds or removes jog line on a linear or aligned dimension

Command: DAN (enter)

Select arc, circle, line, or <specify vertex>: pick line C Figure 24_Sample Vertical, Horizontal and Inclined Dimension
Select second line: pick line E
Specify dimension arc line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: pick at any point
Dimension text = ex. 90

EXERCISE: CREATING CIRCULAR DIMENSIONS

1. RADIUS
Command: DRA (enter)
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Select arc or circle: pick circle

Enter dimension text <1.5000>: press (enter)
Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: pick at any point Figure 25_DimRadius

2. DIAMETER
Command: DDI (enter)
Select arc or circle: pick circle
Enter dimension text <1.5000>: press (enter)
Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: pick at any point Figure 26_DimDiameter

3. ARC LENGTH
Command: DAR (enter)
Select arc or polyline arc segment: pick the arc
Specify arc length dimension location, or [Mtext/Text/Angle/Partial/Leader]: pick at any point
Figure 27_DimArc
4. JOGGED
Command: DJO (enter)
Select arc or circle: pick the arc
Specify center location override: pick at any point
Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: pick at any point
Specify jogged location: pick at any point Figure 28_DimJogged

5. CENTER
Command: DCE (enter)
Select arc or circle: pick circle

Figure 29_DimCenter

EXERCISE: CREATING BASELINE AND CONTINUE DIMENSION

1. BASELINE DIMENSION
a. Command: DLI (enter)
Specify a first extension line origin or [Select] <Select>: pick a base point
Specify a second extension line origin or [Select] <Select>: pick A
Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: pick at any point
Dimension text = ex. 3.0000
b. Command: DBA (enter)
Specify a second extension line origin or [Select] <Select>: pick END of B
Dimension text = ex. 4.0000
Specify a second extension line origin or [Select] <Select>: pick END of C
Dimension text = ex. 5.0000
Specify a second extension line origin or [Select] <Select>: (enter)
Select base dimension: (enter)

2. CONTINUE DIMENSION Figure 30_ DimBaseline

* Repeat DLI command
a. Command: DCO (enter)
Specify a second extension line origin or [Select] <Select>: pick END of B
Dimension text = ex. 2.0000
Specify a second extension line origin or [Select] <Select>: pick END of C
Dimension text = ex. 2.5000
Specify a second extension line origin or [Select] <Select>: pick END of D
Dimension text = ex. 1.6000
Specify a second extension line origin or [Select] <Select>: (enter)
Select continued dimension: (enter)
Figure 31_DimContinue

COMMANDS IN EDITING DIMENSIONS

1. DDEDIT - Edits single-line text, dimension text, attribute definitions, and feature control frames.
2. DIMEDIT or DIMED - Edits dimension text and extension lines. Rotates, modifies, or restores dimension text and changes the oblique angle of
extension lines.
3. DIMTEDIT or DIMTED - Moves and rotates dimension text and relocates the dimension line.
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LEADER is a line or a spline with an arrowhead at one end and a multiline text object or block at the other.
In some cases, a short horizontal line, called a landing, connects text or blocks and feature control frames to the leader line.
The landing and leader line are associated with the multiline text object or block, so when the landing is relocated, the content and leader line move
along with it.

Figure 32_Leader Line Components

MENU COMMANDS SHORTCUTS DESCRIPTION

Leader QLEADER LE Creates annotation and leader line that visually links the text to an object.
Multileader MLEADER MLD Creates a multileader objects
Commands for Editing Multileader
Adds a leader line to a selected multileader object. The new leader line is
Add Leader added to the left or right of the selected multileader, depending on the
MLEADEREDIT MLE
location of the cursor.
Remove Leader Removes a leader line from a selected multileader object.

EXERCISE: Using LEADER at command prompt

1. LEADER
Command: LE (enter) (ORTHO ON)
Specify first leader point, or [Settings] <Settings>: pick starting point
Specify next point: pick 2nd point
Specify next point: pick End point
Specify text width <0.0000>: press Enter
Enter first line of annotation text <Mtext>: Type description eg. LEADER LINE

Enter second line of annotation text <Mtext>: press Enter

Figure 33_Leader Line Components

To Create a SPLINE LEADER with Text or a Block

1. Click Annotate tab → Leader panel → click Multileader.
2. At the Command prompt, enter O to select Options.
3. Enter L to specify Leader type..
4. Enter P to specify a sPline leader.
5. Enter X to specify a eXit options.

Figure 34_Spline Leader Line Components

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5. In the drawing, click a start point for the leader head (Point to the object being measured or labeled).
6. Click the end point for the leader.
7. Enter your MTEXT content. (eg. SPLINE LEADER)
8. In the Text Formatting toolbar, click CLOSE TEXT EDITOR.

INQUIRY COMMANDS

COMMANDS SHORTCUTS DESCRIPTION

DISTANCE DI Measures the distance and angle between two points.
Calculates the area and perimeter of objects or of defined areas.
AREA AA
Area with BOUNDARY/BO (creates a region or polyline from an enclosed area)
Note: Measuring the Area of Complex or Curved Shapes
If the area you want to measure has curves in its boundary or if it is just too complex to use
the previous method, the best thing to do is to place a hatch pattern within the boundary. You can
then use the Properties palette to find the area.

LIST LI Displays database information for selected objects.

MASSPROPERTIES MASSPROP Calculates and displays the mass properties of regions or solids.
ID - Displays the coordinate values of a location.
Marks off a specified segment length on selected object by placing point objects or
MEASURE MEA blocks.
Options under Measure Commands:
1. Distance
2. Radius
3. Angle
4. Area
5. Volume
TIME - Displays the date and time statistics of a drawing.

LAB WORKS
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