Update Dimension Style to match selected dimension

[CADNoob96]

Hi there, 

I have a dimension which I have applied a bunch of changes to so that it appears how I would like. I would now like to save that dimension as the default by saving it as a dimension style so that any new dimensions I create based on a style will be the same as the one I created. I could just copy the dimension around as needed, but to me that defeats the purpose of having such a thing as dimension styles in the first place....

Can I simply just update a dimension style to match the dimension that I created? 

Thanks for any guidance that anyone can provide! 

Cheers

[CADNoob96]

Hi there, 

I have a dimension which I have applied a bunch of changes to so that it appears how I would like. I would now like to save that dimension as the default by saving it as a dimension style so that any new dimensions I create based on a style will be the same as the one I created. I could just copy the dimension around as needed, but to me that defeats the purpose of having such a thing as dimension styles in the first place....

Can I simply just update a dimension style to match the dimension that I created? 

Thanks for any guidance that anyone can provide! 

Cheers

[MichaelH13]

Yes, you can update the dimension style or create a new one.

Then, you can use MATCHPROPERTIES to transfer the style from one dimension to another, or do a "select all" on the dimensions you want to change, then change the style in the Properties dialog box to the new style.

[MichaelH13]

Yes, you can update the dimension style or create a new one.

Then, you can use MATCHPROPERTIES to transfer the style from one dimension to another, or do a "select all" on the dimensions you want to change, then change the style in the Properties dialog box to the new style.

[CADNoob96]

Hi Michael, 

Thank you for your reply.

I don't quite understand your answer. Can I update an existing dimension style to match the properties of a dimension object that already exists in my drawing? Then set new dimensions to use the recently update style?

As an example, in Microsoft Word, you can type text, change the font and formatting of the text, then highlight it and go to the Styles pane in the Home tab and right click a specific text style and select an option for that text style to be updated to match the properties of the highlighted text that you just formatted.

Can a similar thing be done in Autodesk products such as Civil 3D or AutoCAD? Or do I need to work through the New Dimension Style dialogue box (below) and set up the dimension style there, then use that style for all new dimensions? I guess I could also highlight all existing dimensions and set them to be the now setup style that I just created?

Cheers

[CADNoob96]

Hi Michael, 

Thank you for your reply.

I don't quite understand your answer. Can I update an existing dimension style to match the properties of a dimension object that already exists in my drawing? Then set new dimensions to use the recently update style?

As an example, in Microsoft Word, you can type text, change the font and formatting of the text, then highlight it and go to the Styles pane in the Home tab and right click a specific text style and select an option for that text style to be updated to match the properties of the highlighted text that you just formatted.

Can a similar thing be done in Autodesk products such as Civil 3D or AutoCAD? Or do I need to work through the New Dimension Style dialogue box (below) and set up the dimension style there, then use that style for all new dimensions? I guess I could also highlight all existing dimensions and set them to be the now setup style that I just created?

Cheers

[MMcCall402]

If you edit a dimension's properties after its been placed it will show as a <style override> in the dimension style manager.  Select that <style override> and choose Save to current style from the right click menu.  That will push those override edits into the original style.

Note, as I was messing around with this it wasn't always available and I'm not sure why.

Disregard the above.  It doesn't work.  It seems like it should but it does nothing.

[MMcCall402]

If you edit a dimension's properties after its been placed it will show as a <style override> in the dimension style manager.  Select that <style override> and choose Save to current style from the right click menu.  That will push those override edits into the original style.

Note, as I was messing around with this it wasn't always available and I'm not sure why.

Disregard the above.  It doesn't work.  It seems like it should but it does nothing.

[MichaelH13]

Don't you hate that, something that should work doesn't. Makes one look stupid 😢

It would be nice if it was that simple, apply an override to a new style but Civil 3D likes to do things the hard way. You need to make a new style (or update an existing one) and save that. Then you can change existing dim styles or set as default for new ones.

[MichaelH13]

Don't you hate that, something that should work doesn't. Makes one look stupid 😢

It would be nice if it was that simple, apply an override to a new style but Civil 3D likes to do things the hard way. You need to make a new style (or update an existing one) and save that. Then you can change existing dim styles or set as default for new ones.

[Joe-Bouza]

Wait a minute, you didn’t use the dimension style editor to creat and modify what you have, and tweaked an in canvas dimension via property tool palette? I’m not sure you can “turn it into a style with hard coded elements, hope I’m wrong 

[Joe-Bouza]

Wait a minute, you didn’t use the dimension style editor to creat and modify what you have, and tweaked an in canvas dimension via property tool palette? I’m not sure you can “turn it into a style with hard coded elements, hope I’m wrong 

[cadffm]

Hi,

-hopeful I hit the topic-

and please note, I am talking about native AutoCAD Dimension/dimstyle (I have no glue about possibilities in C3D)

@MMcCall402 

You talked about one saved dimstyle and the current dimension settings, it has nothing to do with an existing dimension-object (it can match the dimensions object properties, but randomly)

@MichaelH13 

>>"Don't you hate that, something that should work doesn't. Makes one look stupid"

In this case (MMcCall402s reply) it was 100% users fail, wrong way or wrong feature for this task.

@CADNoob96 

In AutoCASD you can create a new dimstyle by using a dimension object as template,

but you can't redefine ("update") an existing dimstyle this way - not directly, but by workarounds.

1. From dimension object to style: Select your dimension object, open your context menu /  Dimstyle -> as new dimstyle..

  OR: While dimension object is selected, start the command directly: aidimstyle

   option SAVE

2. Now, you have the choice what you want to do..

    Use a combination of Rename & STANDARDS command, to change the existing dimstyle in question,  what is overdrawn for this task.

 or

  use one of this ways:

dump way, good enough for 2-3 changed settings:

Command DIMSTYLE, [Compare] the dimstyle (or dimstyle overwrite) with the newly created dimstyle,

you wil see the different setting compared with the second dimstyle.

smart way, set your new dimstyle active and redefine the existing one

How: After you set the new dimstyle current, start command _-DIMSTYLE

and redefine the existing one by saving the current setting with the same <exisating dimstyle name>

option SAVE "existdimstylename"

[cadffm]

Hi,

-hopeful I hit the topic-

and please note, I am talking about native AutoCAD Dimension/dimstyle (I have no glue about possibilities in C3D)

@MMcCall402 

You talked about one saved dimstyle and the current dimension settings, it has nothing to do with an existing dimension-object (it can match the dimensions object properties, but randomly)

@MichaelH13 

>>"Don't you hate that, something that should work doesn't. Makes one look stupid"

In this case (MMcCall402s reply) it was 100% users fail, wrong way or wrong feature for this task.

@CADNoob96 

In AutoCASD you can create a new dimstyle by using a dimension object as template,

but you can't redefine ("update") an existing dimstyle this way - not directly, but by workarounds.

1. From dimension object to style: Select your dimension object, open your context menu /  Dimstyle -> as new dimstyle..

  OR: While dimension object is selected, start the command directly: aidimstyle

   option SAVE

2. Now, you have the choice what you want to do..

    Use a combination of Rename & STANDARDS command, to change the existing dimstyle in question,  what is overdrawn for this task.

 or

  use one of this ways:

dump way, good enough for 2-3 changed settings:

Command DIMSTYLE, [Compare] the dimstyle (or dimstyle overwrite) with the newly created dimstyle,

you wil see the different setting compared with the second dimstyle.

smart way, set your new dimstyle active and redefine the existing one

How: After you set the new dimstyle current, start command _-DIMSTYLE

and redefine the existing one by saving the current setting with the same <exisating dimstyle name>

option SAVE "existdimstylename"