Annotative dimensions not moving with viewports

[JamesPowell7164]

Guys (and guyesses)

I have set up a template for my company drawings so that drawings are done in model space full size and then viewed in paper space through a scaled viewport with dimensions added to the viewport. The dims are annotative.

On my machine, if I move or change the scale of the viewport, the dimensions change.

HOWEVER - the "I never touched it" fairies have been active on some of my colleagues machines and when they change their viewports the dimensions stay static!!! i.e. where they were before the viewport moved.

Does any body have any idea what the "I never touched it" fairies have changed?

[pendean · Accepted solution]

You mean "associative" since "annotative" only means scale, nothing else.

About the only time I've seen these kinds of problems in AutoCAD in 20+years are either the result of the dimension style used not being associative, not being 'snapped" to the objects they are supposed to be measuring, being unintentionally disconnected from those objects by a move of something else off-screen, or "operator error",

You can check most of these quickly your self in those files: remember though, if on your PC with 'their' files you are unable to recreate the problem I would try to ask to be present to observe it in action at the other user station next time it occurs.

[steven-g · Accepted solution]

The problem with dimensioning in paper space is, if you are not very carefull about snapping to model geometry then dims will happily snap to the ends or nodes of other dimensions in paper space and become non or partially associated, and when this happens they ignore any changes or movement of the viewport. I dimension in paperspace myself but have the node snap turned off and Always check that dims are associated.

[JamesPowell7164]

Gents

Many thanks for your help. I thought it may be something like association and Dean I accept I used the wrong terminology.

Steven

We use paper space because we may use details in more than one location and to have the detritus of annotation and dimensions cluttering the original detail can be time consuming in trying to clean up.

Once again - thanks guys.

[JamesPowell7164]

Dean

Arent all dimensions associative unless they "Lose" their associativity?

How can I tell if a dimension is asscociative?

[pendean]

DIMASSOC command

[JamesPowell7164]

Thanks Dean.

Can I also ask - if dims ARE associative, if I change the scale of a viewport should the dimensions change too? I have tried - albeit very briefly, but the dims that I have produced move with the view port but don't change if the scale changes but they do if I move the viewport after rescaling?

[steven-g]

If your dimensions are properly associated then they shouldn't change, the viewport is to scale, but dimensions show the true 1:1 dimensions of the object in modelspace. In your attached drawing in all 3 cases the dimensions are associated and show the correct size, or am I missing something?

[JamesPowell7164]

I didn't explain it very well.

I made one viewport and then dimensioned the shape in the viewport. I copied and then pasted that viewport twice. One viewport I moved and the dims moved too. The other I rescaled - the dimensions didn't move OR resize to the new scale until I moved that viewport and then they moved and rescaled. It was only when I moved the viewport that the dimensions moved on the rescaled viewport.

Does that load of rambling make sense?

[steven-g]

It makes perfect sense, not only that but I can repeat the process, very peculiar I would say. The dims stay associated but don't scale. I tried regen, and closing and reopening the drawing, but the dims don't follow until you alter the viewport I would very hesitantly whisper (bug) or at least exclaim "wierd"