Displayed Dimension Value Changes When Plotting

[daniel.klingspor]

Hello All,

I have an issue where the dimension value that is displayed is changing when plotting.  It is like the precision itself that changes. 

Example: Dimension is 9'-6 1/8" and is displayed as such in the .DWG file.  Go to plot to .PDF (or plotter) and the value changes to 9'-6 3/32".

If I go to the dimension and set the precision to whatever value I want then the dimension plots as it should.

Side Notes: 

-AutoCAD 2016 / Plant 3D

-Dimensions are in paperspace

-I am not the only user in our group to experience these issues.

-Issues seem to have started recently (maybe due to a Windows update or something else?) and are seemingly random.

-Had an issue a couple days ago where dimension values changed to weird text in the .DWG and a plot.  Just double-clicking on the dimension (to edit it) reverted the dimension text to it's correct value.  And new dimensions started showing a completely wrong value.  Ex: dimension should be 1'-6".  It shows 545'-2".  At the same time a style override showed up out of nowhere.

Any ideas as to what could be causing this?

Many thanks in advance!

[john.vellek]

Hi @daniel.klingspor,

Since this just started happening, I would take a look at what has changed in your environment. I suggest that on one workstation, you rollback all your Windows and other updates for the last two to three weeks. If this improves the issue then we will need to analyze which updates might have caused the problem.

Take a close look at your printer drivers too to see what might have changed.

Have you applied all the hotfixes and Service packs from here?

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

[SeeMSixty7]

It sound like something is happening when you launch the plot command. Has someone redefined the PLOT command or are you using custom and/or specific plot command. If so, they could be making some system changes(i.e. dim style changes) before submitting the file for plot.

[john.vellek]

Hi @daniel.klingspor,

I am checking back to see if my post or others helped you with your problem.
Please add a post with how you decide to proceed and your results so other Community members may benefit.

If this happens with all drawings does it also happen on more than one computer? Can you attach a file for me so I can see if it happens here too?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts fully solved your issue or answered your question.

[daniel.klingspor]

John,

Thanks for the reply.  What you have suggested (rolling back drivers) is what I figured would be the suggestion to solving this.  We have too much IT red tape to get this done at the moment unfortunately. 

I wanted to make sure that this is not a known issue with an obvious fix.  I can confirm that all service packs and hotfixes are up-to-date.

If the issue worsens I will go thru IT and have them do what you suggest.

Again, many thanks for your help.

SeeMSixty7,

Thank you for the suggestion but all commands are assigned as they come out-of-the-box and I do not believe this to be the cause.

-Daniel K.

[john.vellek]

Thanks @daniel.klingspor,

Please update the thread as things progress.

[cvlci_CAD]

I have a drafter that is experiencing this same issue...

We have a dimension style that has precision set to .00.  The dimension views fine on the screen at 30.00'.  When plotted it becomes 30.00003'.

Drawing units in the drawing are set to .00.  Ambient settings for the drawing has linear precision set to .00...  I have checked every location that has to do with units and can't find anything out of place (whether it has to do with dimensions or not, I have checked it).

It not a print driver issue as everyone uses the same driver and I am the only person that can modify it.

[john.vellek]

Hi @cvlci_CAD,

Is this happening on all of your drawings or just one? Is it possible to attach one and detail your print configuration for me? I would like to see if I can find a solution for you.

[cvlci_CAD]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick response.  From what I gather this happens in multiple files but right now I can only provide one.  We have about 40 CAD users in the office and this issue has cropped up for one person but I can duplicate it on my machine.  From what I gather, sometimes the value is correct on screen and prints out with the added precision.  Sometimes the issue is both on-screen and on the prints.  Normally when it happens the user will just go into the dimension style box and check the precision...  It is at .00 and when he clicks the pulldown he will re-select .00...  upon exiting and printing it will work correctly..  For awhile...

We pretty much use the publish command exclusively around here to plot to PDF before sending to the printers.  We use the stock autocad driver "DWG to PDF" with the "Lines Overwrite" option.  I can provide additional details regarding printing if you need them.

The attachments are included and the issue was appearing for me.  The dimensions are in the upper left corner of the sheet when you open the file.

Thanks!

Edit:

When I saved the file before uploading the issue was only in the PDF's.  When I download the file I uploaded and open it, it is a visual thing now..  The precision is still at 0.00 though.

[john.vellek]

Hi @cvlci_CAD,

I set the precision on angular as well to two decimal places. Then, I did a DIMEDIT-Home and then they displayed and for me plotted properly.

I wonder why you have these dimension styles set up as Annotative when they are in paperspace though. Perhaps it is complicating the issue.

Let me know if this works on your side.

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

[cvlci_CAD]

Honestly if I could get this office out of putting notes and dimensions in paper space I would be happy.  They are set to annotative because we like to complicate things.  Some of our regular dimensions are in base files and some are in the sheets.  Slowly, things will move in the proper direction around here.

There are other questionable settings for these dimensions as well, like why do they have a scale of -150 applied to them. 

As for the angular dimensions, doesn't that only apply to angled dimensions?  When I look at the properties for the dimension that wasn't viewing properly it was set correctly at .00.  Only switching it off and then back to .00 showed it properly.  It seems to reset or act up after a few times of opening and closing the file. When I uploaded it originally, it was viewing at .00 and printing at .000000..  I tested it again by downloading the file again and it was displaying out to .000000 again.

I'm still perplexed as to why it views properly sometimes on screen but will still print the wrong precision.  I will turn off annotation scaling in the sheets and see if it improves the situation.

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Honestly if I could get this office out of putting notes and dimensions in paper space I would be happy.  They are set to annotative because we like to complicate things.  Some of our regular dimensions are in base files and some are in the sheets.  Slowly, things will move in the proper direction around here.

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There is nothing wrong with annotations in paper space but annotative scaling in paper space is not necessary. There are advantages to having them in either space or utilizing both. I prefer to use both. Title blocks, general notes, view titles, etc. are placed in paper space. Callouts, leader notes, tags, etc.go in model space.

[cvlci_CAD]

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@RobDraw wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Honestly if I could get this office out of putting notes and dimensions in paper space I would be happy.  They are set to annotative because we like to complicate things.  Some of our regular dimensions are in base files and some are in the sheets.  Slowly, things will move in the proper direction around here.

---

There is nothing wrong with annotations in paper space but annotative scaling in paper space is not necessary. There are advantages to having them in either space or utilizing both. I prefer to use both. Title blocks, general notes, view titles, etc. are placed in paper space. Callouts, leader notes, tags, etc.go in model space.

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I am same way but when I started here we were pretty entrenched in previous standards..  EVERYTHING text related pretty much goes in paper space of the sheets which I hate..  Why have all of these pretty civil 3d label styles if everyone just uses them for reference and puts dumb text (stations, offsets) into paperspace...

I digress, done with the high jacking now. 

[daniel.klingspor · Accepted solution]

Hello All again,

Ran into this issue again today where going to plot changed the style of some dimensions.

Did a google search for "Dimension Style Changes When Plotting" and found my old thread lol.

Anyways, had a dwg with lots of dimensions and only a select group would change dim style when plotting.  The dimensions would display correctly when the dwg was open but show different on the plot.

I am not sure what is causing this but I was able to "fix" it by running the DIMREASSOCIATE command.  I did not change the original extension line origin points and just cycled thru the command.  Now when plotting the dimensions show correctly.

[jeremye86]

I had the same issue but the way i fixed was just print from the plot preview