Won't show dimensions

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am trying to add dimensions to a drawing (in model view), it'll let me pick the correct points but when I click off to show the dimension, nothing come up.

Thanks

Dominic

[kennyj]

Welcome to the forums, dominic!

In the future, it will help if you let us know what version of the software you are running. 

Odds are good you are on a layer that is turned off or your dimension style is set to go to a layer that is turned off; the dimensions are being created, but are not visible.  Check your layer controls, turn on any that are off and see if your dimensions don't appear.

If you can see the dimension line, but not the text; this means your text style is too small for the scale.  Try enlarging your text height in your dimension style and/or create a text style at the correct height and associate it to your dimension style.

Another option would be to switch to paperspace (layout) and dimension it this way.  The default dimensions typically will work in paperspace without a lot of needed adjustments.

Hope this helps,

Kenny

[Anonymous]

Hi Kenny,

I am working in Mechanical 2015. I am trying to dimension in the current layer that I have used for the drawing, with the others turned on too. I have tried in the layout view. I can't see the lines at all, I click off and it just disappears. I'm quite a rookie when it comes to CAD, but I've had 2 experienced CAD engineers look at it to no avail.

[kennyj · Accepted solution]

Okay, Dominic!

Let's start with opening a new file and drawing something quick and dimensioning.  Does this work?  This will help eliminate if it is a setting or something with the current file.

If a new file works, try copy/paste the "problem child" drawing into a new file and see if the problem travels with it.

Do you have your background set to black? Is it possible your dimensions are there but not visible in the view? (try an orbit or QSelect for dimensions).  I still suspect a layer issue; turn all the layers on just to be sure.

Also try a zoom extents to make sure your dimensions aren't huge and off screen...

[U1159953]

Hey man,
Got the same issue with no dimensions right after AutoCAD 2025 crashed. When drawing shapes I can type in the dimensions but can't see them at all.
Thanks
Wei

[ilona_shumsky]

Same problem, I think.

AutoCad LT 2026 (Mac)

I'm working on the same layer as the rest of my dimensions, so the layer is visible, not locked, and not frozen. I start a new dimension, click the 2 points, and drag to place the dimensions. The dimensions show, but the leaders and ticks are missing. When I click the third time to set the dimension placement, it disappears as if I had hit escape or canceled out.  Layer is on, dimcontinue works, but new dims get applied.  Zoom Extent does NOT show anything. 

This has been happening off and on for a few weeks. Usually, I save, quit, and restart, which tends to solve the problem (most of the time). I've tried my hack 3 times now, and it won't fix itself anymore. Perhaps I clicked or typed something by accident that makes it invisible or unable to complete the action, but I'm not that in-depth of an expert. Any ideas what happened and how to fix it?   

[ilona_shumsky]

I think I found my problem, but I have no idea how to fix it. Dimensions are defaulting to a turned-off layer (ex: Furniture) even though I have my dimensions layer selected as the working layer.  I've tested it multiple times. No matter which layer is selected as the working layer, the dimension defaults to the same "furniture" layer. I can only move it to the correct layer ("dimensions") after I draw it.

[jamesemaj]

type in DIMLAYER and change it to the layer you want the dimensions to show up on.