Creates and modifies dimension styles, through the Drawing Explorer.
Accessing the Command
command bar: dimstyle
aliases: d, ddim, dimsty, ds, dst, expdimstyles, setdim
menu bar: Tools | Drawing Explorer | Dimension Styles...
status bar: Standard (or name of other current dimension style)
toolbar: Dimensions |
ribbon: Draw | Dimensions | Dimension Variable Status
: DimStyle
Displays the Drawing Explorer at the Dimension Styles section:
Create or edit dimension styles, and then click X.
- <Overrides> - overrides the values of individual dimension variables without creating a new style
- Standard - lists the dimension settings for the dimension style named "Standard"
Command Options
Option |
Description |
Name |
Names of the dimension style; all styles can be renamed and deleted, except for the Standard style. |
Current |
Indicates whether the style is current or not. |
Annotative |
Sets the annotative property of the dimension style. |
Dim break size |
Sets the value the gap created by the DimBreak command. |
Show only differences |
If multiple styles are selected, compares the selected styles and shows the differences only. |
Dimension Child Styles
A dimension style can have up to 6 child styles: Linear, Angular, Radius, Diameter, Ordinate, and Leader. If defined, then the child style is used for the corresponding dimension type.
Right click the dimension style name, then choose New child style in the context menu and select a child style type.
Dimension child styles share all settings with the parent style, except for the properties that are defined explicitly differently.
Lines and Arrows Options |
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Arrow 1 |
Specifies the style of arrowhead for the starting end of the dimension line; choose from one of the following types: |
Arrow 2 |
Specifies the style of arrowhead for the other end of the dimension line. |
Arrow Size |
Specifies the length of the arrowhead; the width is scaled proportionately. |
Leader Arrow |
Specifies the style of arrowhead for the starting end of the leader line. |
Dim Line Color |
Specifies the color of the dimension line; choose from:
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Dim Line type |
Specifies the line type of the dimension line; choose from any line type loaded into the current drawing. To access additional linetypes, click Load, and then choose one from the Load Linetypes dialog box. See the Linetypes command. |
Dim Line LW |
Specifies the lineweight of the dimension line; choose from any lineweight supported by the program. |
Dim Line Ext |
Specifies the distance that the dimension line extends beyond the extension lines. |
Dim Baseline Spacing |
Specifies the default distance between dimensions added with the DimBaseline command. |
Dim Line 1 |
Toggles the display of the first half of the dimension line (between the starting extension line and the text). |
Dim Line 2 |
Toggles the display of the second half of the dimension line (between the other extension line and the text). |
Ext Line Color |
Specifies the color of the dimension line; choose from:
See the Color command. |
Ext Line type |
Specifies the line type of both extension lines; choose from any line type loaded into the current drawing. To access additional linetypes, click Load, and then choose one from the Load Linetypes dialog box. |
Ext Line LW |
Specifies the lineweight of the extension line; choose from any lineweight supported by the program. |
Ext Line Ext |
Specifies the distance that the extension lines extend beyond the dimension line. |
Ext Line Offset |
Specifies the offset distance between the object and the start of the extension lines. |
Ext Line 1 |
Toggles the display of the first extension line. |
Ext Line 2 |
Toggles the display of the second extension line. |
Ext line type 1 |
Specifies the line type of the first extension line; choose from any line type loaded into the current drawing. To access additional linetypes, click Load, and then choose one from the Load Linetypes dialog box. |
Ext line type 2 |
Specifies the line type of the second extension line; choose from any line type loaded into the current drawing. To access additional linetypes, click Load, and then choose one from the Load Linetypes dialog box. |
Ext line fixed length |
Specifies the length of fixed-length extension lines. |
Center Mark |
Specifies the type of center mark:
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Center Mark Size |
Specifies the size of the center mark. |
Arc length symbol |
Specifies the location of the arc length symbol:
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Jog angle |
Specifies the angle of the jog; default is 45 degrees. Enter another angle. |
Text Options
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Text Style |
Specifies the style for dimension text; can use only styles created with the Style command. |
Text Color |
Specifies the color of the text; choose from:
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Text Fill |
Determines whether the dimension text has a rectangular background filled with color. Choose from:
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Text Fill Color |
Specifies the background fill color when Text Fill is set to Color. Choose a color from the drop list, or click Select Color to access the Select Color dialog box. |
Text Height |
Specifies the height of the text. |
Draw Frame Around Text |
Toggles a rectangle around the text. |
Text Pos Vert |
Justifies the text vertically relative to the dimension line:
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Text Pos Hor |
Justifies the text horizontally relative to the extension lines:
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Text Offset |
Specifies the size of gap between the dimension line and the text. |
Text Inside Align |
Justifies text when located between extension lines:
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Text Outside Align |
Justifies text when located outside of the extension lines:
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Fit Options |
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Arrow and Text Fit |
Specifies where text and arrows should be located when there is insufficient space for both between the extension lines:
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Text Inside |
Toggles whether the text is forced between extension lines:
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Dim Line Inside |
Toggles whether the dimension line is forced between extension lines:
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Text Movement |
Specifies what happens when text is moved away from its default location:
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Dim Scale Overall |
Specifies the overall scale factor for dimensions; this affects the size of arrows and text only. This setting is not editable for annotative dimension styles. It is recommended to set Dim Scale Overall = 1 for annotative dimension styles. |
Place Text Manually |
Toggles whether the user must always specify the text location when creating dimensions. |
Dim Line Forced |
Forces the dimension line to be always drawn; forces leaders to be drawn with the DimDiameter and DimRadius commands. |
Primary Units Options |
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Dim Units |
Specifies the display units for dimensions:
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Dim Precision |
Specifies the precision of units, either decimal places or fractional accuracy. |
Fractional Type |
Specifies how fractions are stacked:
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Decimal Separator |
Specifies the character used to indicate the decimal point; can be any character. North American countries use the period; European countries use the comma. |
Dim Round |
Specifies the rounding of decimal numbers; range is none to 8 decimal places. |
Dim Prefix |
Specifies prefix text that appears in front of the dimension text, if any. |
Dim Suffix |
Specifies suffix text that appears after the dimension text, if any. |
Dim sub-units suffix* |
Specifies suffix text in case the sub unit is used. For example, enter 'cm' to display .96 as 96cm. |
Dim Scale Linear |
Specifies the multiplier for dimension values, such as 25.4 for changing inches to millimeters. |
Dim sub-units scale* |
Sets the scale factor for the sub-units. E.g. enter 10 if the drawing unit is cm, and the sub-unit suffix is mm. |
Suppress Leading Zeros |
Toggles the display of zeros in front of the decimal point; for example, 0.23 is displayed as:
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Suppress Trailing Zeros |
Toggles the display of zeros after the decimal point; for example, 1.2300 is displayed as:
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Suppress Zero Feet |
Toggles the display of zero feet; for example, 0'-3" is displayed as:
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Suppress Zero Inches |
Toggles the display of zero inches; for example, 1'-0" is displayed as:
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Dim Angle Units |
Specifies the format of units in angular dimensions:
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Dim Angle Precision |
Specifies the number of decimal places; range is from 0 to 8. |
Suppress Angle Leading Zeros |
Toggles the display of zero degrees; for example, 0.1234 degrees is displayed as:
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Suppress Angle Trailing Zeros |
Toggles the display of zeros after degrees; for example, 0.1200 degrees is displayed as:
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* Suppress leading zeros must be set to Yes to display dimension distances less than one unit in sub units
Alternate Units Options |
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Alternate Enabled |
Toggles the display of alternative units:
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Alt Units |
Specifies the display units for dimensions:
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Alt Precision |
Specifies the precision of units, either decimal places or fractional accuracy. |
Alt Scale Factor |
Specifies the multiplier for alternate values, such as 25.4 for showing millimeters (alternate units) next to inches (primary units). |
Alt Round |
Specifies the rounding of alternate numbers; range is none to 8 decimal places. |
Alt Prefix |
Specifies prefix text that appears in front of the alternate text, if any. |
Alt Suffix |
Specifies suffix text that appears in after the alternate text, if any. |
Alt Leading Zeros |
Toggles the display of zeros in front of the decimal point; for example, 0.23 is displayed as:
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Alt Trailing Zeros |
Toggles the display of zeros in front of the decimal point; for example, 1.2300 is displayed as:
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Alt Zero Feet |
Toggles the display of zero feet; for example, 0'-3" is displayed as:
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Alt Zero Inches |
Toggles the display of zero inches; for example, 1'-0" is displayed as: On
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Tolerances Options |
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Tolerance Display |
Toggles the display of tolerance text. |
Tolerance Precision |
Specifies the display precision of tolerance text; range is 0 to 8 decimal places or 1/1 to 1/256 inch. |
Tolerance Limit Lower |
Specifies the value of the upper tolerance. |
Tolerance Limit Upper |
Specifies the value of the lower tolerance. |
Tolerance Text Height |
Specifies the height of tolerance text. |
Tolerance Pos Vert |
Locates the tolerance text relative to the dimension text:
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Tolerance Suppress Leading Zeros |
Toggles the display of zeros in front of the decimal point. |
Tolerance Suppress Trailing Zeros |
Toggles the display of zeros behind the decimal point. |
Tolerance Suppress Zero Feet |
Toggles the display of zero feet. |
Tolerance Suppress Zero Inches |
Toggles the display of zero inches. |
Alt Tolerance Precision |
Specifies the number of decimal places for tolerances in alternate units. |
Alt Tolerance Suppress Leading Zeros |
Toggles the display of zeros in front of the decimal point. |
Alt Tolerance Suppress Trailing Zeros |
Toggles the display of zeros behind the decimal point. |
Alt Tolerance Suppress Zero Feet |
Toggles the display of zero feet. |
Alt Tolerance Suppress Zero Inches |
Toggles the display of zero inches. |
Status Bar Menu
Right-click Standard (or other dimension style name) on the status bar for the shortcut menu:
Shortcut Menu |
Description |
Standard |
Chooses the default dimension style. When the drawing contains additional dimension styles, their names are listed here. |
Properties |
Opens the Dimension Styles section of the Drawing Explorer. |
Procedures
- Exploring dimension styles
- Comparing dimension styles
- To list the current status of the dimension variables
- To create a new dimension style
- To edit a dimension style
- To define dimension style overrides
- To rename a dimension style
- To set a dimension style current
- Using the status bar to set a dimension style current
- To copy a dimension style between drawings
- To move a dimension style between drawings
- To delete a dimension style
Related Commands
AiDimStyle - creates Dimension Styles based on the properties of selected Dimension, Tolerance or Leader entities.
-Dimstyle - creates and modifies dimension styles at the command line.
Explorer - opens the Drawing Explorer dialog box.