Dims in viewports

[WBolton]

Can anyone tell me how to get dimensions to “read” as one size across a drawing with, say, 4 viewports that are all set at different scales.
I have taken the following steps,
1. I set up a layer for each viewport, i.e. a layer entitled vp5 for the viewport set at a scale 1:5, vp100 for the viewport set at a scale of 1:100 and so on.
2. I set up a layer for each set of dimensions that will appear at the corresponding scale, i.e. layer dim5 for all dimensions that will appear in viewport vp5.
3. I freeze each of the dimension layers in all of the viewport layers except for the viewport layer that I want it to appear on. So dim5 only appears on vp5.
4. I set the dimension variable, DIMSCALE to 0.

When I view the drawing in paperspace I had hoped to see all dimensions appearing as one consistent size across all viewports but this is not the case.
The dimensions in viewport 5 are drawn at 1:5 and the dimensions in viewport 100 are drawn at 1:100. So they go from tiny to huge.
What am I doing wrong? I use Autocad LT 2004.
I would be grateful for any assistance that I can get.
Regards.

[Mr T]

This is annoying. You could setup a DIMSTYLE for each scale used in the viewports.

Personally this is why I hve moved to inventor since it automatically creates the right scale to fit the paper. It avoids all this mucking about wasting time, you can just focus on designing and modelling.

Nick

[hendie]

I assume you are using only one dimstyle for all these dimensions? correct ? if so, have you done a dimension update in each viewport ? that should resize all dimensions so they are the same height

[f700es]

Not sure what anyone else does or the "correct" way but I don't dimension in Viewports for this reason. To me it is easier to just do my dimensions in model space and be done with it. Now I may have different laeyers for say different types of dimensions, say a seperate layer for RCP (reflected ceiling plans) and such. This way I can turn them off in the viewports when I don't want them to show. Not saying that this is the best way but it works for me :?

Now I may set up a different dim style where the text and arrows (ticks) are smaller but not set at a different scale.

[Bloke]

I agree - model space is the way forward, at least when dealing with a drawing that can change. This way when tou stretch a wall or move a door the dimension move with your actions - avoiding any embrassment come construction time.
That said I must look into the scale dimensions to layout option and see if it works for me.

Bloke

[Kate M]

Bloke,

2004 and up have the ability to associate dimensions with objects (sort of like hatches), so that if you stretch a line the dimension goes with it, even if you didn't specifically select the dimension -- works through layouts, too. It can be a little buggy sometime, but still pretty cool.