Quickly format dimensions

Usually, it’s best to format your dimensions using a dimension style. If you want an exception to the style, create an override. To create an override, choose Dimension > Dimension Style and click the Override button in the Dimension Style Manager. This method is the best way to maintain your CAD standards.

But sometimes, you may want a quick and dirty way to change a dimension. If so, the quickest way is through the shortcut menu. Draw the dimension using the desired style and then select it. Now, right-click to display this shortcut menu:

You can use the following four items to format your dimensions:

• Dim Text Position: Choose to put the text above the dimension line, to center it, to move it back to the default position (“Home”), to move just the text, to move the text with a leader, and to move the text and the dimension line at one time.
• Precision: Quickly choose from 0 to 6 decimal places
• Dim Style: Create a new style from the selected dimension. For example, if you changed the dimension text position, you can save a new style and use that for other dimensions.
• Flip Arrow: Flips the selected arrow to the outside of the extension lines, as you see here — the bottom arrow of the 0.5000 dimension is flipped to the outside.

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Ellen Finkelstein

Ellen Finkelstein is the author of the best-selling AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT Bible, which started with R14. Ellen has written extensively on AutoCAD, including articles for Autodesk’s website and features for AutoCAD’s Help system. Ellen’s first book was AutoCAD For Dummies Quick Reference.

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