Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Editing Dimensions
As you add more dimensions to your drawings, you'll find that AutoCAD occasionally
places the dimension text or line in an inappropriate location or that you may need to modify
the dimension text. In the following sections, you'll take an in-depth look at how you can modify
dimensions to suit those special circumstances that always crop up.
Appending Data to Dimension Text
So far in this chapter, you've been accepting the default dimension text. You can append infor-
mation to the default dimension value or change it entirely if you need to. At the point when you
see the temporary dimension dragging with your cursor, enter
T
↵. Then, using the less-than
and greater-than (< and >) symbols, you can add text either before or after the default dimen-
sion or replace the symbols entirely to replace the default text. The Properties Inspector palette
lets you modify the existing dimension text in a similar way (see Chapter 2, “Creating Your First
Drawing,” for more on the Properties Inspector palette). You can open the Properties Inspector
palette for a dimension by double-clicking on the dimension.
Let's see how this works by changing an existing dimension's text in your drawing:
1.
Type
ED
↵. This starts the Ddedit command.
2.
Click the last horizontal dimension you added to the drawing at the top of the screen. The
in-place text editor and Text Editor visor appears. (Figure 11.17).
FIGURE 11.17
The in-place text
editor and Text
Editor visor
3.
Place the cursor at the end of the 14´-0˝ text, and then type
to face of stud
beginning
with a space. The space is to ensure that the dimension doesn't run into the text.
4.
Click Save on the Text Editor visor, and then press ↵ to exit the Ddedit command. The
dimension changes to read 14´-0˝ to face of stud.
5.
Because you don't need the new appended text for the tutorial, choose Edit
Undo on
the menu bar to remove the appended text, or type
U
↵.
