Dimensioning basics, Part IV: Create accurate baseline and continued dimensions

Baseline and continued dimensions are linear dimensions that are based on an existing linear dimension:

• Baseline: The second and subsequent dimensions all start at the same point as the existing dimension but end at a different point
• Continued: The second dimension starts at the end point of the existing dimension

Create a baseline dimension

First, create a linear dimension. Then, go to  Annotate tab> Dimensions panel and click the Continue drop-down list, choosing Baseline.  This starts the DIMBASELINE command. You see the Specify a second extension line origin or [Undo/Select] <Select>: prompt.

• If you just drew a linear dimension, AutoCAD remembers that and you can simply specify the endpoint of the new baseline dimension. The command automatically uses the start point of the existing linear dimension as the start point for the baseline dimension.
• If you drew the linear dimension at some other time, press Enter to use the Select option. At the prompt, select the existing linear dimension that you want to use. To get accurate results, pick the existing dimension closest to the end that you want to use as the baseline. Then you can go on to specify the endpoint of the new baseline dimension.

You can continue to place more baseline dimensions. Press Enter twice to end the command.

A baseline dimension

 Create a continued dimension

First, create a linear dimension. Then, go to  Annotate tab> Dimensions panel and click the Continue drop-down list, choosing Continue.  This starts the DIMCONTINUE command.

• If you just drew a linear dimension, you see the  Specify a second extension line origin or [Undo/Select] <Select>: prompt. You can simply specify the endpoint of the new baseline dimension. The command automatically uses the endpoint of the existing linear dimension as the start point for the continued dimension.
• If you drew the linear dimension at some other time, you see the Select continued dimension: prompt. (If you see the Specify a second extension line origin or [Undo/Select] <Select>: prompt, press Enter.) Select the existing linear dimension that you want to use; it doesn’t have to be a continued dimension. To get accurate results, pick the existing dimension closest to the end that you want to use as the beginning of the continued dimension. Then you can go on to specify the endpoint of the new continued dimension.

You can continue to place more continued dimensions. Press Enter twice to end the command.

Continued dimensions

 Note: Although the most common baseline and continued dimensions are linear, you can also create them for angular and ordinate dimensions.

As with other dimensions, always use an object snap to specify the endpoint of the baseline dimension.

Do you have tips for drawing accurate baseline and continued dimensions? What other types of dimensions do you draw? Ordinate? Inspection? Tolerances? Please share by leaving a comment!

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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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