Formatting Dimensions for a House Plan

Written for AutoCAD 14

Art 316, Fall Semester, 1999
Marvin Bartel, instructor
Note: Students should e-mail me if you find any errors in these instructions. Thank you.

All these instructions are for working in model space before inserting the file into paper space for printing. If you insert into paper space and then wish to add or change dimensions, you would need to explode the inserted file. Additionally, a different set of dimension formatting has to be done - not covered here. Click here for how to update previously drawn dimensions

Formatting the various parts of Dimensions
  1. Format from the top menu
  2. Pick Dimension Style
  3. Start with Annotation
  4. In Primary Units Units
  5. Architectural
  6. In Dimension, Precision: 1/16
  7. In Primary Height: or Scale Linear: 1
  8. Do not check Paper Space
  9. In Text, Style: ROMANS
  10. In height: 6"
  11. In color: blue
  12. Round Off 1/16
  13. In Tolerance Method: None
  14. In Height (under tolerance): 1
  15. OK top of page
  1. Next go to Geometry
  2. Under Arrowheads
  3. Architectural Tick
  4. Size 1/8"
  5. Under Extension Line try both Extension and Origin Offset at 3/16"
  6. Set color to blue in both places
  7. Under Scale try 48.000 - If this makes things to large or small, experiment with it. See
  8. OK top of page
  1. Next go to Format
  2. Leave all the check boxes empty (unchecked).
  3. Selections are Best Fit, Centered, Centered
  4. OK and OK the Dimensions Styles top of page
  5. To update previously drawn dimensions

Sizing the Text in Dimensions
  1. This routine is to make the numbers in your dimensions simple but legible.
  2. Format from the top menu
  3. Pick Text Style
  4. Now in the Font line, scroll down to romans
  5. In the Height line, type in 8 (for 8 inches) - you can change this later if you think it is the wrong size - simply repeat this routine.
  6. Apply
  7. Close top of page
To update previously drawn dimensions
  1. Dimension
  2. Update - use a right to left selection picking window and select all of the previously drawn dimensions in your drawing that you want to update.
  3. Enter top of page

Note: Any new text that you add to the drawing will not take on the new formatting you just specified. You can always format text style back to what you want.

OR - If you have some previous text that you want to match, sometimes it is easiest to use copy. Take previous text to a new place and use ddedit to give it new words at the new location.

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© Marvin Bartel, all rights reserved top of page
For permission to copy or publish, e-mail: marvinpb@goshen.edu
Goshen College students may print a copy for their own use.

page updated 12-1999