Dimension Error

[Anonymous]

Hey all,

I had something very disconcerting happen yesterday that I can't figure out and if I don't figure it out, I'm not sure how I can trust ACAD anymore.

I'm presently drawing a floating staircase and the math has indicated a 7" riser height for all except the first one which will be 7-1/8".  When I dimension from finished floor to top of first thread, it displays 7-1/4".  Thinking it was me, I re-calc-ed twice and double checked other riser dims and they all show 7". So, it ain't me.

If you look at my attached pic, you will see that when I select the Dim, the property window at left shows a measurement of 7-1/8".  The two other inserts show results from the measure tool and that my drawing units is set to show 1/16ths.

Any thoughts?

AutoCAD LT 2012

Win 7 64 bit

thanks, Bob

[rkmcswain · Accepted solution]

I suspect your DIMDEC = 2. The Units of the drawing affect data reported to you. Dimensions have their own precision settings. Run the DDIM command > Modify > Primary Units tab.

Note the image below. The line is exactly 7.126 in length, but the two dimensions vary because of the value of DIMDEC on each one.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, that did it. And thanks for fast reply.

It does leave me a bit confused, though.  DDIM> Modify showed Arch w/precision set to 1/4" (but you knew that).  For one thing, I have never used precision set to greater than 1/16" so don't know where the 1/4" came from.  Secondly, I thought Format>Drawing Units changed the Dims too.  Oh well, learn something everyday.

Now if I could just figure out why several of my layer colors keep changing on their own...

Thanks again.

[rkmcswain]

This variable, and all other dimension variables are part of a dimstyle (or dimstyle override), and are saved in the drawing file. So when you say "I have never used precision set to greater than 1/16" --- technically that is only true if every drawing you work on is started from a known template, where this setting is set right, and only you work on it, and you don't unintentionally change it. Any editing by someone else opens up the possibility that it was changed by them. The same applies if the drawing was started from a template of unknown origin.  

[Anonymous]

Gotcha,

Thanks much.