topic Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing in AutoCAD Forum

Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 17:19:50 GMT

Hi,
I'm experiencing an issue that I'm not sure how to solve. I'm working with an Cad drawing library to generate the drawing of an elevator project, containing some empty blocks with specific names (e.g. TopView0) that I use to determine the location where to draw certain views of the elevator itself, such as the front view and the top view.
In this specific case, I look for the block with the name "TopView" and I draw the top view of the elevator shaft. In the process, I also create and add some aligned dimensions, with the STANDARD style, to quote several parts of the shaft.
Once done, the block in the template looks like the following:

As you can see, the dimension 315 is hard to read.

If I open the block in the editor though, I get the following:

The dimension lines for the quote are placed inward and the text is clearly visible.
If I close the block editor, I get back to the situation in the first image. Though, if I make any change in the block editor and I save the block, when I close the editor the dimensions look "updated" and match the look they have in the editor.

Same update happens if I explode the block.

Unfortunately, I'm not that skilled in AutoCad to understand the reason why this is happening and how to fix it.

Hope to find somebody who can point me to the right direction!

Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

john.vellek — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:06:00 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

Is it possible to share your drawing with the block? I would like to investigate what is happening here.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:53:06 GMT

Thank you for your welcome!

Sure thing, here's the drawing I'm currently working on.

Thanks again.

Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

gotphish001 — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 20:19:54 GMT

I have never put dims in a block, but to get it to work correctly I had to go into each block and change the standard style to what I have in the picture below. There is an override, but I don't know what that is. It might have just been something you tried to get it to work so I didn't investigate it very far.

Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 20:33:56 GMT

Thank you for your reply.

I guess the override is something pre-existing in the block. The template (the main drawing) is given me by the client I'm working for, and I simply check for specific inserts/blocks with names (FLOOR_NULL, SIDE_B) to draw what's needed.

Anyway, I'll check if I can apply your solution in my code. Meantime though, is it not "weird" that by simply opening the block FLOOR_NULL in the block editor, changing it (I just added a circle, to test) and saving+closing it somehow refreshes the block appearance, including the dimension styles, in the main drawing?

Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

john.vellek — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 21:14:31 GMT

HI @Anonymous,

Is there a reason this in 2014 DXF format? I suspect that since the block is created in an older version that it needs to be updated (as you discovered using Block Editor) in order to display properly.

I have seen a couple instances similar to this issue and the solution appears to be just opening the block in Block Editor and then saving (no changes need to be made to the block).

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 21:17:39 GMT

I think this is due to the fact that my Client has an ongoing process of AutoCad "templates" generation that is based on 2014 version, probably to support older (but still in use) versions of AutoCad. I'll investigate.

Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 21:22:21 GMT

Anyway, I'm starting suspecting that the problem is (partially) inside the Cad drawing library I'm using.

I tried to move the dimension from the block to the main drawing. Also, I tested overriding some properties such as extension line suppression.

As shown in the pic below, ext line 1 should be Off, but it's visible in the drawing.

By just changing any property (even without confirming the change, just hovering over a different value for any property), the dimension "magically" updates to the right visualisation.

Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 11:15:10 GMT

This is another simple case where it happens.

I tried to create a Dxf27 (AutoCad 2013) drawing with just a single aligned dimension. No blocks.

If I try to change any property of the dimension, the arrows flip to the outside of the extension lines, where I wish they were from the start, instead of within the extension lines.

Re: Aligned dimensions look different in block editor versus drawing

john.vellek — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 17:33:53 GMT

HI @Anonymous,

I opened your file and AUDIT found three errors. Please try to recreate your file and make sure to run AUDIT and then save it as a DWG format. Let me know if this corrects the behavior.

Please also tell me which version of AutoCAD you are using (type ABOUT at the command line)

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.