Associative dimensioning and Broken views

[rharris]

Is there a way to add a distance to dimensions as they are placed?

What I'm asking is a bit like the a linear scale factor except I want to ADD the same number instead of multiply by the same number.

I draw a lot of broken views to show detail at each end of a long shaft. Presently I force the value of dimensions that cross the break in the part. Then I need to update those dimensions if I stretch any features with a relationship to the opposite end.

Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

RHarris wrote:
> Is there a way to add a distance to dimensions as they are placed?
>
> What I'm asking is a bit like the a linear scale factor except I want to ADD the same number instead of multiply by the same number.
>
> I draw a lot of broken views to show detail at each end of a long shaft. Presently I force the value of dimensions that cross the break in the part. Then I need to update those dimensions if I stretch any features with a relationship to the opposite end.
>
> Any ideas?
Try dimensioning before breaking, then exploding dimension, and only
breaking after this point.

[rharris]

I think you missed what I was looking for.

I don't want to explode the dimension. This causes soo many other problems. I'd rather enter the number and update it than explode a dimension. I'm sorry. I'll go through a lot of other headaches before I ever expolde a dimension. Not a choice for me.

What I am looking for is a way to have the value automatically updated if a feature is stretched. That's what associated dimensioning is supposed to do.

[Anonymous]

Your original post and the follow up did not make sense to
me either.

Are you saying you cannot draw an associative dimension?

--
Dean Saadallah
Add-on products for LT
http://www.pendean.com/lt
--

[Anonymous]

RHarris wrote:
> I think you missed what I was looking for.
>
> I don't want to explode the dimension. This causes soo many other problems. I'd rather enter the number and update it than explode a dimension. I'm sorry. I'll go through a lot of other headaches before I ever expolde a dimension. Not a choice for me.
>
> What I am looking for is a way to have the value automatically updated if a feature is stretched. That's what associated dimensioning is supposed to do.

I understand and understood. However, if you are breaking the object
dimensioned, you have 2 options,
1) layout space view with the dimension text contained in the view with
the end arrow/tick outside the view, or
2) explode the dimension.
I agree with you about exploding dimensions, but a break in the object
implies a break in the dimension, which is basically an exploded
dimension. In my opinion, any modification or overwriting of a dimension
is "verboten." I have received many drawings that have caused no end of
trouble as a result of overwritten dimensions. May as well hand-draw.

[rharris]

I was afraid this was the case.
Having a dimension adder (similar to a multiplier) would be so simple. Don't you think?
It sounds like we're on the same page regarding exploded and overwritten dimensions.
I'll have to look into the layout space view option you mentioned. Any tips?

[rharris]

I have no problem drawing with associative dimensions. In fact, that's the way I draw most of the time.

My problem is with dimensions that cross a break in an object. Long shafts without any change in detail over long areas are quite often drawn with a break to show detail of the ends in a larger scale. There has to be one dimension crossing the break. Usually, there are more. Like an overall length and a distance between shoulders.

I may need to stretch an end changing the relationship between the end and one shoulder. Either the overall length or the distance from shoulder to shoulder must also change. I want the associated dimension to change accordingly.

[Anonymous]

RHarris wrote:
> I was afraid this was the case.
> Having a dimension adder (similar to a multiplier) would be so simple. Don't you think?
> It sounds like we're on the same page regarding exploded and overwritten dimensions.
> I'll have to look into the layout space view option you mentioned. Any tips?
Wish I could, but layout space is one of the most powerful significant
features of Autocad, and while simple to use, horrible to learn. I have
always used model space and am just starting to use layout space myself,
but I am a self-taught Autocad user, and my drawings are relatively
simple. (they may be large, but are restricted to one aspect of any
project, with only one view required of virtually any item.

[Anonymous]

I alway thought break dimensioning would be a good idea, and suggested
years ago. But that is more for draftsmans needs and Acad caters to
Architects needs.

I have done the layout port thing.

in paperspace, make two viewports with the same scale. show one part of
pipe or beam in one and one part in the other. then in paperspace you
can line them up by picking one of the viewports and moving using a
common line for the from and to points. Sometimes the dim anotation
being in the middle is not in the view so that may be a problem too
unless your dims are setup to place annotation over one of the extension
lines.



--

Phil
for help with quotes in diesel see
http://www.grapevine.net/~lacy

RHarris posted in
news:4919566@discussion.autodesk.com

> I was afraid this was the case.
> Having a dimension adder (similar to a multiplier) would be so
> simple. Don't you think?
> It sounds like we're on the same page regarding exploded and
> overwritten dimensions.
> I'll have to look into the layout space view option you mentioned.
> Any tips?