The Bottom Line - Mastering AutoCAD for Mac - page 705

AutoCAD offers dimension styles that let you set up your dimension format once and then
call up that format whenever you need it.
Master It What is the name of the dialog box that lets you manage dimension styles,
and how do you open it?
Solution The Dimension Style Manager is the name of the dialog box. You can open it
by choosing Format  Dimension Style on menu bar.
Draw linear dimensions. The most common dimension you'll use is the linear dimension.
Knowing how to place a linear dimension is a big first step in learning how to dimension in
AutoCAD.
Master It Name the three locations you're asked for when placing a linear dimension.
Solution First extension line origin, second extension line origin, and dimension line
location.
Edit dimensions. Dimensions often change in the course of a project, so you should know
how to make changes to dimension text or other parts of a dimension.
Master It How do you start the command to edit dimension text?
Solution Enter ED ↵ at the Command prompt.
Dimension non-orthogonal objects. Not everything you dimension will use linear dimen-
sions. AutoCAD offers a set of dimension tools for dimensioning objects that aren't made up
of straight lines.
Master It Name some of the types of objects for which a linear dimension isn't
appropriate.
Solution Arc and angle between two lines. Linear dimensions can be used for circles in
certain situations.
Add a note with a leader arrow. In addition to dimensions, you'll probably add lots of
notes with arrows pointing to features in a design. AutoCAD offers the multileader for this
purpose.
Master It What two types of objects does the multileader combine?
Solution Leader lines (arrowhead and line) and text.
Apply ordinate dimensions. When accuracy counts, ordinate dimensions are often used
because they measure distances that are similar to coordinates from a single feature.
Master It What AutoCAD feature that isn't strictly associated with dimensions do you
use for ordinate dimensions?
Solution U C S .
Add tolerance notation. Mechanical drafting often requires the use of special notation
to describe tolerances. AutoCAD offers some predefined symbols that address the need to
include tolerance notation in a drawing.
Master It How do you open the Geometric Tolerance dialog box?
Solution Click Tolerance from the expanded Dimensions tool group, choose Dimension
 Tolerance on the menu bar, or type TOL ↵.