Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Discovering New Dimensions
Before digging into the techniques that you use to create dimension styles and the di-
mensions themselves, here's some AutoCAD dimensioning terminology that you need to
understand. If you're already familiar with CAD dimensioning lingo, just skim this sec-
tion and look at the figures in it. Otherwise, read on.
Anatomy of a dimension
AutoCAD uses the names shown in Figure 14-2 and described in the following list to refer
to the parts of each dimension:
Dimension text:
The numeric value that indicates the true distance or angle
between points or lines. Dimension text can also include other information in addi-
tion to or instead of the number. For example, you can add a suffix, such as
TYP.
,
to indicate that a dimension is typical of several similar configurations. AutoCAD's
default settings for dimension styles center the dimension text vertically and hori-
zontally on the dimension lines, as shown in Figure 14-2, but you can change those
settings to make the text appear in a different location — sitting over an unbroken
dimension line, as shown previously in Figure 14-1, for example. See the section
“Adjusting style settings,” later in this chapter, for instructions.
