Dimension picking wrong features

[stephenP66RM]

Hi,

Is there anyway to restrict what the dimensions can measure to?  Occasionally, when creating angle dimensions, it dimensions to the hatch angle rather than the line that forms part of the hatching border.  

Another one is when creating linear dimensions, I sometimes click on the tip of an existing linear leader line rather than the end of the line that the dimension was indicating.

In both cases I can usually spot this straight away and correct it. However, there has been an instance of a dimension being 1 mm out as a result of the dimension measuring the wrong item and no one picking it up (not me, nor the drawing checker or the machinist working to the drawing).

Yes, I know I should be more thorough with my drawing checks, but it would be good to not have the ability to dimension to a feature that no one would want to dimension to in the first place.  Under what circumstances would anyone need to measure to a point 1 millimetre above a surface to show where a dimension leader line ends?

Cheers,

Stephen

Edited to add: I'm using AutoCAD LT 2011 on Windows 7 Professional

[steven-g · Accepted solution]

From the options dialogue, on the drafting tab there is a tick box to "Ignore hatch objects"when using snaps.

As for dimensions, if you make sure the extension line offset from origin is far enough away from your geometry then also turn of the "node" osnap, then you should only be picking to the end of geometry lines.

[h_s_walker]

At the command line type OPTIONS.

Choose the DRAFTING tab. Bottom left hand corner is OBJECT SNAP OPTIONS. Not sure if the dimensions one is in 2011, BUT tick the IGNORE HATCH OBJECTS one.

[stephenP66RM]

Thanks all for your answers.

I've unchecked the hatch object snap option, so that problem should be solved now.  I'm reluctant to uncheck node as an object snap, as I frequently make use of that feature more often than I accidentally click the bottom of a leader line when dimensioning.

Guess I shall have to be more vigilant with dimensioning, at least until Autodesk make it so dimensioning to a leader line is impossible.

[stephenP66RM]

I wonder if it is possible to uncheck a post as the solution?  I've just been creating an angle dimension, and it so happened that I did click a hatch line, and I was still able to create a dimension to it.

I appreciate your posted suggestion, but sadly it didn't work

[steven-g]

Can you post the dwg, or just parts of it showing where the hatch has been selected by the dim. I have never had that option fail. Are you sure it isn't  a boundary line or "gulp" an exploded hatch object.

[stephenP66RM]

Just to confirm, the hatch has not been exploded, and when I created the angle dimension I made sure to select the hatch shading line first

[steven-g]

Can you post that as a dwg it only needs that geometry and dim, but from a picture there is no way to see what the problem might be.

[stephenP66RM]

Sure

[steven-g]

I can't snap to the hatch no matter what I try, there is a variable osoptions that apparently changed how Autocad behaves after about 2016, so that might be worth looking at in your older version, in 2017 it has no effect.

[stephenP66RM]

Thanks for trying.  I shall have to try and convince the powers that be that they need to invest in a later version.