dimensioning

dimensioning

Anonymous
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Message 1 of 19

dimensioning

Anonymous
Not applicable

I am having an issue adding dimensions to my drawing. Anytime I add a dimension to a line, the right dimension is written but it doesn't change the size. When I use DIST to check my dimension, I'll see it hasn't changed. 

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Replies (18)
Message 2 of 19

chriscowgill7373
Mentor
Mentor

Can you post some screenshots, a screencast, or the drawing?  it could be any one of a number of different things, such as DIMASSOCIATE not being set to 2, that can cause what you are describing.


Christopher T. Cowgill, P.E.

AutoCAD Certified Professional
Civil 3D Certified Professional
Civil 3D 2026 on Windows 11

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

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Message 3 of 19

ennujozlagam
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Mentor

@Anonymous hello, it could be controlled by your dimstyle > text height. or try to change your dimscale and see if helps. thanks

 

dim1.JPG





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Message 4 of 19

Anonymous
Not applicable

I've attached a screenshot. The dimension is 14.9645, when I try to change it to 50', the text will show 50' but the actual dimension is 14.9645 (I've confirmed this with measuring the distance. I don't know why I can't change the dimensions. Thanks for helping me look into this.

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Message 5 of 19

Anonymous
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Hello, 

 

Thanks for helping out, I tried that and I'm still having the same problem. My dimension scale factor is set at 1. I've attached a rectangle with a dimension on it to give you a better idea of my issue. I set the height to 20' but when I measure the distance on autoCAD it shows it's 2 ft. I can't adjust/change my dimensions. 

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Message 6 of 19

Mark_C_123
Advocate
Advocate

You haven't just typed 50 in text override have you? 

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Message 7 of 19

Anonymous
Not applicable

After adding the dimension arrow on my drawing, I double clicked the arrow and changed the value. I just checked and text override also shows 50. Am I adding the dimensions wrongly. In the older version of AutoCAD, I would just add the dimensions arrow and change the value. I am creating a floor plan for work and I've been trying to figure this out for a bit now. Thanks for your help.

Message 8 of 19

chriscowgill7373
Mentor
Mentor

I'm not familiar with Mac, and how it differs from Windows AutoCAD. It sounds to me like you are expecting the override of the dimension text to change your drawing?


Christopher T. Cowgill, P.E.

AutoCAD Certified Professional
Civil 3D Certified Professional
Civil 3D 2026 on Windows 11

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

Message 9 of 19

gotphish001
Advisor
Advisor

The dimension text doesn't change the lines actually length no matter what you change it too. If you want the line to be 50' then you need to change the actual line to be 50'. Changing the dimension text has no effect on it.  

 

I think you are thinking it works backwards. You are saying that you want to change the dimension text and have that line change to that length. How it works is if you change the length of a line the dimension text will change to match the new length of the line as long as the dimension was snapped to the endpoints of the line in question.

 

You should just draw your floor plan to a 1:1 scale making all the lines their true size. Then your dimensions will be what they should be. 

 

 

Revit's temporary dimensions work like  you are suggesting, but autocads do not.



Nick DiPietro
Cad Manager/Monkey

Message 10 of 19

Anonymous
Not applicable

That was exactly what I was trying to do. After making a drawing, how do I change/adjust the length/width of the line? Since changing the value after adding a dimension line (from the dimensions command) only changes the text. Thanks.

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Message 11 of 19

Anonymous
Not applicable

This is what I was doing

 

"The dimension text doesn't change the lines actually length no matter what you change it too. If you want the line to be 50' then you need to change the actual line to be 50'. Changing the dimension text has no effect on it.  

 

I think you are thinking it works backwards. You are saying that you want to change the dimension text and have that line change to that length. How it works is if you change the length of a line the dimension text will change to match the new length of the line as long as the dimension was snapped to the endpoints of the line in question." 

 

How do I change the dimensions after making a drawing? I thought I would use the dimensions command to add an arrow then change the value on the arrow. Looks like I was thinking of it the wrong way. Thanks

 

 

 

 

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Message 12 of 19

chriscowgill7373
Mentor
Mentor

if DIMASSOC is set to 2, if you use the lengthen command, you can change the length of a line and the dimension tied to that line should automatically update.  if you have a box, it isnt quite so easy, as the box is closed, so the linework cant be adjusted so easily.  Traditionally, I try to get my design as close to final as possible before adding dimensions, that way it is unlikely I'll have to change them a significant amount.


Christopher T. Cowgill, P.E.

AutoCAD Certified Professional
Civil 3D Certified Professional
Civil 3D 2026 on Windows 11

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

Message 13 of 19

gotphish001
Advisor
Advisor

To make a line longer, click on the line then hoover over the blue grip on the end of the line you want to change. After a second a box pops up and you can pick lengthen. You can use tab to flip between entering a number for a new total length of the line or you can just add a distance to the the line.



Nick DiPietro
Cad Manager/Monkey

Message 14 of 19

GrantsPirate
Mentor
Mentor

you must lengthen the line, or in your example the rectangle with the stretch command.

 

 


GrantsPirate
Piping and Mech. Designer
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Message 15 of 19

Anonymous
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Thank you !!!!! 

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Message 16 of 19

pendean
Community Legend
Community Legend
What you are describing in your first post are CONSTRAINTS: could that be it?
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Message 17 of 19

Anonymous
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Thank you! Chris. Lengthen worked

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Message 18 of 19

Anonymous
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You were very helpful, thanks a lot.

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Message 19 of 19

Anonymous
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I didn't know how to lengthen/adjust the size of lines in my drawing. But thanks to everyone on this forum, I know how to do it now using the lengthen or stretch command. Thanks for replying to my post.

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