Dimensions NOT appearing

Hi

I have created an elevation and am trying to dimension it but what appears is just lines and no numbers. I have selected my dimension style (completed all the tabs) and created a dimension layer to use and I try to draw a basic linear dimesnion and all I get is the line. HELP.

Katie

I thought i would try making the text size a crazy 100 and then i realised i can see it now. What i need to know now is what size the text should be in relation to the scale. The model scale is 1:1 and in layout 1 which, i will plotting it from, the scale is 1:50. So what should the standard size of the txt be in model space??

K

That's the fun part of putting your text in model space. Your choices are as follows:

1) Use annotative scaling for your text

2) Old school: calculate what size the text needs to be in model space so it prints at the size you want in your layout (one reason why annotative scaling was introduced)

or...

3) Put your dimensions and text in your layout. They would go in at the exact size you want to use.

There may be a 4th way but it escapes me at the moment.

 

There may be a 4th way but it escapes me at the moment.

Print out the drawing and pencil in the dimensions?

Ok ... well i have tried annotative scaling with no luck. Not sure what i am doing wrong - there is a number showing on model but not on layout. but there are no arrows or anything that i specified. Confused.

I am with ReMark, go with #3. This is the way I prefer.

I used to use option number 2 back when layouts weren't available. I currently use option 3. I have tried annotative scaling, two different tutorials, and was successful but given the field I work in it isn't something that would provide any additional benefits at this time.

I like option 3 because once I set my text size and drag/drop my dimension style from a previous drawing that uses layouts I'm good to go. There is no need to set up different annotative scales and I don't have to worry that my scale list will grow all out of proportion.

Everyone must decide for themselves the method that works best for them unless of course your company has a standard already in place that you must follow.

My suggestion is that if you have the time try out all the different methods then pick one and stick with it.

Option 5? (or a version of option 2)

There is a field in the dimension style setup dialogue that lets you set the overall dimension scale; and this then scales your text and arrows accordingly.

You can set this to the same specific scale as your paperspace viewport or you can tick 'Scale to Paperspace'.

nukecad: We'll make that option 4 (unless you are counting the print out and pencil in the dimensions as an option).

Anyone with another option they'd like to share?

I think Annotative scaling is the only way to go... Especially in floorplans and elevations where you normally dimension in Model Space and have several views at diff scales on one sheet.

I really try to avoid dimensioning in Layout.

In modelspace I have my title block set to A3 @ 1:10 scale in my tool pallet along with that I have set up the annotative scaling to 1:10 in my .dwt file.

When I bring in the title block I scale it to suit, so If I want a title block that is A3 @ scale 1:5 I select the stretch option when bringing in from the tool pallet and enter 5. Then I change the annotative scale to 1:5 and so on and so forth.