topic Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw in AutoCAD Architecture Forum

Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 20:21:57 GMT

Hi, I am a beginner with Autocad Architecture 2010.

I don't know whether I pressed something and switched off the dimensions display. When I started to use Autocad I could type in the dimensions of a box I wanted to draw and it would be highlighted in blue to let me know whether I was typing in dimensions for the height or the width of the box, but now I can't see it displayed. And when I click on line a previously drew it no longer shows what the dimension of that line anymore.

I need to finish my project very soon, Please help me!!!!

Thanks,

Jenny

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

pendean — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 12:28:41 GMT

Did you turn off PICKFIRST. And DYNMODE variables?

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:48:38 GMT

I am having this same problem. I tried the "solution" that was given, but I didn't understand what to do. Nothing happend when I tried to use those commands.

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

KathyMoffa — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:50:26 GMT

I think the original post might have been referring to Dynamic Input. You toggle it on and off in the Settings at the bottom left of the screen.

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 10:50:37 GMT

I have the same problem, tried dynamic input but that doesn't help me..

Before, while drawing the distances would appear in a white square, and by changing the distances in those white squares it was easy to create fast. Anyone an idea on how to get those distances back?

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

David_W_Koch — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:05:38 GMT

Welcome to the community!

In the Drafting Settings dialog*, on the Dynamic Input tab, make certain that the Enable Dimension Input where possible toggle is checked. Click on the Settings button in the Dimension Input area and verify that the settings are as you desire. Then make certain that Dynamic Input is enabled. The Dynamic Input tool on the Application Status Bar will have a blue background when it is enabled, or a gray background when disabled. Select that tool or press F12 to toggle the status. (The DYNMODE system variable can also be used - zero or a negative value indicates that it is disabled; a positive value indicates that it is enabled. 1 = Pointer input only enabled; 2 = Dimension Input only enabled; 3 = both Pointer and Dimension Input enabled.)

* You can open this dialog by right clicking on the Dynamic Input tool on the Application Status Bar and choosing Settings from the context menu. Or you can type DSETTINGS and then press the ENTER key at the Command prompt. (You may have to choose the Dynamic Input tab with the second method.

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

leothebuilder — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:33:44 GMT

Welcome to this forum.

Press F1 for help and look up PICKFIST and DYNMODE.

They are variable settings that you need to select.

PICKFIRST (System Variable)

Controls whether you can select objects before you start a command.

Type: Integer
Saved in: Registry
Initial value: 1
0 = Off. You can select objects only after you start a command
1 = On. You can also select objects before you start a command

DYNMODE (System Variable)

Turns Dynamic Input features on and off.

Type: Integer
Saved in: Registry
Initial value: 3
When all features are on, the context governs what is displayed.
When DYNMODE is set to a negative value, the Dynamic Input features are not turned on, but the setting is stored.
0 = All Dynamic Input features, including dynamic prompts, off
1 = Pointer input on
2 = Dimensional input on
3 = Both pointer input and dimensional input on

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 10:20:52 GMT

Thanks David_W._Koch , this is the solution!!^^

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

douglas.shortCM2W5 — Mon, 08 May 2017 20:21:36 GMT

Simpler answer:

In the command line type:

DYNMODE

Hit enter key

Then, in the command line type:

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 21:01:08 GMT

I am having the same problem. We just upgraded to the 2018 version of AutoCAD Architecture from 2015. I've went through all the steps listed here and on other forums on the web and can't seem to fix it. Specifically, my problem is that I can't see the length and other properties of a line I am currently drawing. The same is true for a previously drawn line if I select the line and hover over the end grip. Screenshots are below/attached.

Thanks,

Brian

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 18:28:48 GMT

The problem was that I had a size of -1 in the Drafting Tooltip Appearance settings. Changing it to 0 fixed the problem.

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 22:25:14 GMT

In your command box, type: DSETTINGS

Under the Dynamic Input tab, make sure the check mark box for "Enable Pointer Input" is selected.

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 12:39:34 GMT

Thank you for mentioning DYNMODE. I installed Adobe acrobat and suddenly the DYNMODE value was changed to -3.
I typed DYNMODE and changed the value to 1, and it solved the problem.

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 12:42:26 GMT

I got the same problem after I installed Adobe acrobat. The DYNMODE value was changed somehow to a negative value. I worked again after uninstalling Adobe acrobat. The problem apeared again when I reinstalled Adobe acrobat.

I solved the problem by typing DYNMODE in the command prompt of ACAD and changed the value from -3 to 1, and pressed Enter.

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

mvbosch — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:05:45 GMT

Just press F12 on the keyboard when working in AutoCAD. You can switch it on and off with F12.

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

santosh_tiwari — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 07:35:44 GMT

it is working, thanks

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Allisss0n — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:09:57 GMT

Dynmode - this is what fixed it for me!!

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

paulk5480 — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 12:43:58 GMT

You are so helpful thank you mate

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

Subtel — Fri, 23 May 2025 12:27:01 GMT

DYNMODE need be set for 3

Re: Dimensions are not showing when I'm trying to draw

apina1130 — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:38:35 GMT

This has happened to me on different occasions. Dimension working as expected, then for some reason dimension the next object, click where I want to position the dimension line and it disappears. Not sure what I might have done to cause it, but typing DIMASSOC and setting the value to (1) gets it working back to normal.