Help Regarding Dimensions Scale Factor

[Anonymous]

My annotative dimensions scale factor doesn't seem to be affecting the dimensions shown when I dimension anything in the model space, whether the "Apply to layout dimensions only" box is checked or not. Changing the dimension scale only affects dimensions drawn in the layout layer.

(See picture) For example, I want to show this pipe as 2'-0", as shown in the top dimension, but if I try to dimension the pipe itself, it shows as only 0'-2", despite the scale factor being 12 and the "Apply to layout dimensions only" box being unchecked. What else could be causing this?

[s.borello]

Draw at 1:1 scale in model space.  Create a layout and use a viewport set at whichever scale you desire.  Example:  If your viewport scale is 1/4" = 1' - 0" then add that annotative scale to your dimensions in model space.  Annotative objects are for displaying things at relative size, it doesn't mean it will turn a 2" object into a 2' object.  There are several videos on youtube that may help you out.   Post your .dwg file for us to see. 

[Anonymous]

This doesn't seem to fix the problem I'm having with the dimensions scale factor.
Everything in the model space is drawn at a 1:1 scale (in feet). It is my understanding that in order to dimension in the engineering unit type, you need to apply a scale factor of 12 to the dimensions, since the viewport is at a 1' = 1" scale.
The issue is that the scale factor is not changing the dimensions as it should. If I set the scale factor to 1, the dimension shows as 2". If I set it to 12, it still shows as 2". If I set it to 144, it still shows as 2". Shouldn't changing the dimensions scale factor change the value shown in the dimensions, regardless of the true length of the line being measured?
However, the dimensions are changing only on the layout layer, so 1 is 2", 12 is 2', 144 is 24', and so on.
I believe the "Apply to layout dimensions only" is supposed to enable and disable this, but it seems to be unchanged whether or not the box is checked.

[RobDraw]

@s.borellois on the right track in saying that you should draw and dimension in the appropriate units and at 1:1. The viewport scale is only for display purposes and should only be considered for determining annotation sizing not dimension value scaling. If you want your dimensions to be in architectural units, draw in architectural units.

[scot-65]

The top dimension hints that the drawing has been drawn using inches.

If the drawing is in inches and you want to show in decimal-feet
while retaining the inches format, more than one switch must be
set in your dimension style:

DIMLFAC - You already show this.
DIMDEC - If you show 4, switch to 2.
DIMLUNIT - If you show 4, switch to 2.
DIMPOST - If this is empty, add a single quote (').
DIMRND - If you show 0.50, switch to 0.03125

Don't ask me which variable goes with what switch inside the
dimension dialog box as I have never used that dialog box.

To apply these setting to an existing dimension:
command -DIMSTYLE "Apply" and select the objects.
Note the hyphen "-" in the command name.

And welcome to these forums.

???

[ChicagoLooper]

It's not annotative scale, not the viewport scale and unless your dims are sitting in paperspace on a layout tab, it doesn't have anything to do with Apply to Layout Dimensions Only.

The answer is found on the PRIMARY UNITS tab in the Modify Dimension Style dialog window, specifically, it is Unit Format and Precision both of which are in the Linear Dimensions Section and Scale Factor in the Measurement Scale Section. The rest of the parameters don't need to change.

Example:

dwgunits=Feet

Objects in modelspace drawn 1:1

The same object is measured 3 ways, each uses a different DIM Style. There are three DIM STYLES, each has been given a descriptive name. Their differences are highlighted in red.

1. Architectural Format with Precision 0'-0" and scale factor=12.

1-This will result in feet & inches.

2. ARchitectural Format with Precision 0'-0" and scale factor=1.

2-This will produce inches.

3. Decimal Format with Precision 0.00 and scale factor=1.

3-This produces a number with 2 decimal places.