Using Dimlinear using Object option on a block

[simon4BBUX]

On my PC, I can use the DIMLINEAR command, and use the <select object> option and just select a rectangle that is part of a block and get a linear dimension. On the PC user beside me, since he updated ACAD to 2019, this option does not work. I know it must be a system variable, but I cannot seem to figure out what it is. 

[pendean]

Do you mean when they activate DIMLINEAR command they are unable to select a Line or Pline and have the linear dimension automatically appear as if they selected both ends?
Even if they do it in one of your drawings?

Or do you mean something else?

[simon4BBUX]

Yes, that's exactly it. Works on my computer but not the other user in my office. No matter what drawing or who drew it. 

[pendean]

When launching DIMLINEAR command, does the commandline offer a <SELECT OBJECT> option in brackets, or something else (and what is that)?

[simon4BBUX]

Yes it does offer <select object> and does work on an object like a line or rectangle, polyline etc... However, does not work on blocks. It used to work on blocks when using ACAD 2018, but not since upgraded to ACAD 2019

[pendean]

All works fine in 2019 here, and if you see the prompt, it should work there too: perhaps they need to tap that <enter> button on the keyboard first to confirm before they select an object?

Also, DIMLINEAR never worked on non -uniformly scaled blocks, see HELP for an explanation. Could that be the problem, your block's X and Y sizing are not identical?

[simon4BBUX]

Yes, it works on both of our computers, just not on blocks on his computer, and we only insert blocks here with uniform scales, so I don't think that is the issue. And he is hitting enter as usual and works on a rectangle or other entities, just not blocks. maybe I will scour the help menu a bit more tonight. Thanks for your help. 

[steven-g]

When you say it doesn't work, what do you see at the command line, anything? normally after starting the dimlinear command you would see a crosshair as AutoCAD expects you to pick a point, but if you press <enter> to then select an object the cursor would change to a pickbox for object selection, what happens when your colleague tries to click on a block? do they get an error message or does the cursor just stay as a pickbox square?

[simon4BBUX]

I have tested more thoroughly on his computer, and see that you do get the pick box after hitting enter, and what I have noticed is that there are several enitites that dim works on by using the pick box, except the one that we wanted to dimension. In this case, it was a section block of a cabinet, and the rectangle that represents the door is what we could not make work using this method.  

[pendean]

So on your PC at this exact one single block object, it works for you?
Can you share that DWG file and point to the exact one single object that DIMLINEAR fails at?

[simon4BBUX]

It was within a massive file, so we did a WBLOCK of the block with the issues. I have replicated the problem on my computer and am having the same problem. The DIMLINEAR command using <select object> works on some entities within this block, but not the drawer fronts.

Feeling there is something with the properties of the dynamic block maybe???? Or a system variable needs revising???

My co worker tried this on ACAD 2018, and seems to work fine there. 

[pendean]

Weird indeed: no issues with it here in 2019-2020-2021 at all, unless I am not dimensioning the correct objects

[simon4BBUX]

Interesting, we were able to do many of those, but not the drawer fronts, and that is one of the most important items to us to have dimensioned.  Must be a variable setting. ???

[pendean]

I have yet to find a variable for "don't work on this one side of a closed Pline shape in a dynamic block" yet.

Is your 2019s updated to the 2019.1.2 versions? It is a required update.

I guess for now you folks are going to have to just turn on the appropriate osnaps and start clicking on endpoints while others jump in with ideas.

[simon4BBUX]

Yeah it makes sense that there is no Variable for that. Just got me stumped on this one. 

I have checked and our 2019's are up to date. 

I have tested in my 2020 ACAD as well and have the same issue. 

This is really a strange one. 

I have enquired with the CAD tech that made these blocks for us. Lets see what he discovers. Ill post again if I find the solution. 

[pendean · Accepted solution]

As a test, only a test, EXPLODE that dynamic block and see if your issue goes away.

[simon4BBUX · Accepted solution]

Yes, once exploded, problem goes away. 

[simon4BBUX]

It also correct when I go into the block editor and delete the hatch. So maybe the DIMLINEAR command is finding the hatch there first. 

[steven-g · Accepted solution]

I can confirm that on two points, the select object doesn't work for me either (2020). And the problem is the hatch is being selected. I tried using draw order inside the block to send the hatch behind the polyline, but it made no difference (probably doesn't help that the draw fronts are hatched 3 times). What did help is to add another polyline for the draw fronts and include it in the stretch parameter, this being the last item drawn it is top of the draw order. 

But if this file works OK for @pendean it could well be one of the hatch variables.

[pendean]

HPDRAWORDER is always set to 1 here: good catch @steven-g that may well be it.