DIMBREAK Not Working on Multileaders or Dimension Extension line.

[clemay]

I have set the Break Size for the dimension style and the Multileader Style and it only seems to work sometimes.  I have even tried to break via the manual selection of the 2 break points, but still no luck.  My styles are set to Annotative and I did not know if i am missing something or a variable that needs to be set.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Soyoung.H · Accepted solution]

 You may want to read this.

Dimension Break Exceptions
- No break in xrefs or blocks
Dimension breaks on dimensions or multileaders in xrefs and blocks are not supported. However, the objects in an xref or block can be used as the cutting edges for dimension breaks on dimensions or multileaders that are not in an xref or block.

- No break on arrowhead and dimension text
Dimension breaks cannot be placed on an arrowhead or the dimension text. If you want a break to appear at the dimension text, it is recommended to use the background mask option. If the intersecting point of an object and the dimension are at the arrowhead or dimension text, the break will not be displayed until the intersecting object, or dimension or multileader are moved.

- No break on trans-spatial dimensions
Automatic breaks are not supported for objects and dimensions or multileaders that are in different spaces. In order to break a dimension or multileader that is in a different space, you need to use the Manual option of the DIMBREAK command.

http://docs.autodesk.com/ACD/2014/ENU/files/GUID-D04569C5-36A2-4DC1-A831-DF2D921FA8F5.htm

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[jggerth]

post a sample drawing that illustrates the issue.

[clemay]

I appreciate the posting with the exceptions, but unfortunately, none of my leaders fall into the categories.  I have attached a clip of a few sections that i am trying to place breaks in.  Manual does not work either. Frustrating.  I would hate to explode them all and the create them by some cheasy trim method.

Notes for record:  My software is up to date, I have rebooted my machine and it seems to work on new dimensions created through the dimension line, but not extension lines.

Please let me know if you need any further data.

[clemay]

You answered my question the first time you sent it.  It was in the link you sent...and I even read it and missed it. The reason I cannot create DIMBREAKs in my Multileaders is because they are spline.  When changed to Straight, the appeared instantly.

THANKS AGAIN!

[coopdetat · Accepted solution]

There is another cause for DIMBREAK not working.  I have experienced breaks not happening where there appears to be no reason for them not to work.  In these cases I've found that the objects have different Z-elevations.  This is usually the result from snapping to things with differing Z-elevations while placing the dimension and/or multileader.

I have an old lisp macro that fixes it for me (the old move to 0,0,10e99 and then move to 0,0,-10e99 trick) but using the properties dialog to set their Z-elevations to equal values should work as well.  This is the only thing that has ever caused DIMBREAK to not work for me (other than those "as-intended" behaviors in the accepted solution).

[PraetorianGuard]

I've encountered a problem with DIMBREAK in AutoCAD 2014 which didn't appear to exist in AutoCAD 2013.

The issues listed in the 'solution' do not apply and I cannot find a reason for the error to exist.

The attached file illustrates the problem exactly. Some dimensions work fine with DIMBREAK, while some do not, and I cannot figure out why. I have noticed that the problem becomes more likely if a dimension has been copied into place, but sometimes DIMBREAK simply fails to accept a given line or dimension as an existant object, and you can click and click and click without anything happening.

If someone could figure this out, I'd be most grateful.

Thanks,

[nestly2]

Wecome to the Autodesk forums.

In your case, I believe the problem is because the 430 dimension already had a (auto) dimbreak applied.  Try [R]emoving the dimbreak from the 430 dimension, then re-apply dimbreak to the 500 and 430 dimension either in in order, or by using the [M]ultiple option.

[PraetorianGuard]

Thanks for your suggested solution. I have just tried it. Sadly, this doesn't quite work correctly. While it fixes one dimension's ability to be recognised by DIMBREAK, it breaks functionality with another, and using DIMBREAK on the multileaders still doesn't work.

I did notice that the order of operation could help work around the problem, but that only works for two objects. As soon as you have more, it all falls apart. Also, you can sometimes (but not always) restore DIMBREAK functionality by redrawing the misbehaving dimension. This shouldn't be necessary and frustratingly doesn't always work.

The weirdest part is that I have been using DIMBREAK for years, and have never had such an issue until AutoCAD 2014.

Any other ideas?

[nestly2]

Hi

I don't have an explaination why 2014 seems to be working differently for you, but it does appear to be working correctly for me, at least after first removing the dimbreaks, then re-applying.

[PraetorianGuard]

Hi!

I've taken some more time to test and retest your suggested solution in various circumstances, and have come to a conclusion: once a dimension or multileader has been affected by DIMBREAK, it cannot be used to affect any other dimension or multileader by another use of DIMBREAK.

So, the order in which DIMBREAK is used matters, and your solution is correct. Many thanks for that. 

But that still leaves a nagging question... why the regression in functionality of DIMBREAK? 

Hopefully, it will be fixed/improved in future.

Thanks again.

[bennerebe]

I've tried it all.

removed all breaks.  Started from multiple different starting levels from top to bottom.

Redrew every dimension.

There are many other instances in my file that dimbreak is functioning (mostly) properly.

But here, I give up.

Even if you are able to stragitically solve my issue here, it's worthless.  If it takes that long and that many people to remedy it's not an efficient enough of a tool.

For that amout of time I might as well draw the extention line spaces manually.  Too bad, I was pretty sure we were in the 21st century.

SolidWorks does this automatically.  Maybe the folks at AutoCAD should buy a copy and take some notes from it.

[ramcharger318]

I have noticed that DIMBREAK doesn't work on dimensions that have been copied.  Has anyone else noticed this?

I can create two new dimensions, and DIMBREAK works as it should, but if I try to it on a dimension that I copied it doesn't. 

I tried to reassoicate the dimensions, but does not help.

[pendean]

Copied but not associated with an object?

[PraetorianGuard]

I've just tried to replicate the problem in AutoCAD 2014 & 2015 and have found no such problem with copied dimensions, associated and unassociated.

[ramcharger318]

Can you try on 2013?

[nestly2]

AutoCAD 2013

[ramcharger318]

Thanks.

Please try on the attached drawing at the upper most dimensions.

[annieruth7]

I'm in AutoCAD 2018 and am having the same problem. I copied dimensions from one layout to another and modified them, and DIMBREAK isn't working unless I redraw them. 

[JRS-JCI]

You'll likely need to remove any previous DIMBREAKing from the dimensions in question.

To do so, type DIMBREAK 😆 M (for multiple) 😆 select the dimensions 😆 R (for remove) 😆 Enter.

Then apply DIMBREAK to the desired dimensions, being mindful of the order in which you apply it.