Use of Layer Group and dimension line distance from object

[nicolas]

Hi,

 

I have some layers namely viewports, temporary and annotation temporary that I want to turn off before printing or upon entering my paper layouts. Each time I need to search thru the layer list to turn each one off and then upon going to model layout, I have to repeat the same process. This goes on and off, boring and tiredsome. I have been thinking about making use of the layer group. I can create a create group and add those layers but you to turn all of them off or all of them by using a custom command, macro, toolbar button ...

 

Also is there a way to automatically set the distance between the dimension line and the object under dimension

Thank you very much.

[ReMark]

The spacing between your object and then ends of the extension lines is controlled on the Lines tab under the heading Extension Lines. Change the Offset from Origin value.

[nicolas]

Hi Remark,

 

Thank you for the information. After I click on my object two points/vertex, the dimension line do appear say 100mm. (as mentioned in the dimen. style) however there is no way to position the dimension line to this set position. There is no grip and if I press ENTER, the dimension line disappear altogether.

 

Thank you in advance.

dimension association.dwg

[rkent]

Set them to noplot and leave them on.

 

Simple enough to make a little macro or lisp routine to turn them frozen and then thawed. This assumes your layers are named NOPLOT*, adjust for actual layer names.

(defun c:NOPLOTF (/)

(command ".layer" "S" "0" "FREEZE" "NOPLOT*" "")

 

(defun c:NOPLOTT (/)

(command ".layer" "THAW" "NOPLOT*" "")

[Dana W]

Hi,

 

Also is there a way to automatically set the distance between the dimension line and the object under dimension

Thank you very much.

 

Turn on object snap tracking and/or polar tracking. Turn on dynamic input.

 

When you place your dimension, pick first extension line point, pick second extension line point, before you hit enter or click anything else, move your cursor perpendicular away from that last point in the direction you want the dimension to appear, you should see a perpendicular tracking vector path. If you do, then type 100mm or whatever distance you want, then hit enter. If your path is not precisely perp. then the distance will be affected by a couple of decimal places. 100mm will become 99.9832 or something, but close enough most of the time.

 

Wait, does 2006 have dynamic input? If not, just do whatever you have to, to get 100mm entered for your dimension offset distance.

[Dana W]

There is no grip and if I press ENTER, the dimension line disappear altogether.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Go to Tools > Options > Selection tab and click the checkbox for enable grips. You should be able to stretch your dimension height then. Grips make it easy to move, stretch, copy, most everything else you draw if you want to.

[nicolas]

HI,

Thank you very much. I will try all those hints today. They will assuredly be of gigantic help to me. Still many thanks to all of you and CADTutor.

[nicolas]

Hi,

 

I have been unable to use the following AutoLisp code. Could anybody help on how to use it to turn a group of layer off.

 

Quote:

(defun c:NOPLOTF (/)

(command ".layer" "S" "0" "FREEZE" "NOPLOT*" "")

Quote:

(defun c:NOPLOTT (/)

(command ".layer" "THAW" "NOPLOT*" "")

Thank you in advance.

 

Nicolas MARIE.

[nicolas]

Go to Tools > Options > Selection tab and click the checkbox for enable grips. You should be able to stretch your dimension height then. Grips make it easy to move, stretch, copy, most everything else you draw if you want to.

 

I have DYN as well as enable grips but no way to move the dimension line to the required place through it is quite visible. There must be a missing ingredient somewhere.

 

[ReMark]

You move a dimension line via one of its nodes. Enable nodes in your Osnap settings and then move as required. The node represents the point on your geometry that you picked when you added your dimension.

[rkent]

Hi,

 

I have been unable to use the following AutoLisp code. Could anybody help on how to use it to turn a group of layer off.

 

Quote:

(defun c:NOPLOTF (/)

(command ".layer" "S" "0" "FREEZE" "NOPLOT*" "")

Quote:

(defun c:NOPLOTT (/)

(command ".layer" "THAW" "NOPLOT*" "")

Thank you in advance.

 

Nicolas MARIE.

 

Sorry, you need another paranthesis at the end of each one.

(defun c:NOPLOTF (/)

(command ".layer" "S" "0" "FREEZE" "NOPLOT*" "")

)

(defun c:NOPLOTT (/)

(command ".layer" "THAW" "NOPLOT*" "")

)

[nicolas]

Hi thank you for the node and missing brackets information. As for the node notes, i checked my osnap settings and it's clicked on. I just can't understand the absence of any grip in the dimension. All the grips are on except isertion, nearest and parallel. Both Object Snap ON and Object Snap Tracking On is on.

 

The Offset from origin in "trial" dimension box is 100.

 

In Options/Selection, "Enable grips" and "Enable grip tips" are both on and "Enable grips within blocks" is off.

 

Your Help will greatly be appreciated.

 

Nicolas.

[ReMark]

What is the origin of this drawing?

 

Do you experience the same problem in other drawings as well?

 

Would you be willing to have someone look at the drawing itself?

[nicolas]

HI,

 

I am attaching the file. It's just a pragmatic test that I will apply to much of my forthcoming and existing drawing for it would be great to have the dimension lines automatically set to a fixed position instead of tracking from the node and inputting the distance each time. This is ok for a few dimension but for hundreds of them is quite an issue.

dimension association.dwg

[ReMark]

I haven't opened the drawing but if you have a large number of dimensions that have extension lines too close to the geometry the offset distance can be set in your DimStyle and then you can elect to "update" all dimensions.

[Dana W]

HI,

 

I am attaching the file. It's just a pragmatic test that I will apply to much of my forthcoming and existing drawing for it would be great to have the dimension lines automatically set to a fixed position instead of tracking from the node and inputting the distance each time. This is ok for a few dimension but for hundreds of them is quite an issue.

 

I opened up the drawing and it looks perfectly normal to me. Of course, all the snap and grip stuff is not recorded in the drawing, but in my workspace.

 

When I select the dimensions, the grips light up. You are selecting (clicking on) the dimensions? Grips don't appear until an object is selected. Do you have your grips sized too small? Go back to Tools > Options > Selection - on the right side of the dialog, fool around with your slide bar for grip size until you can see them. And make them a bright color, the default is BLUE.

 

This is how dimension grips work.

 

The grip on the arrowhead ends of the dimension lines will let you move the dimension line up and down the extension line distance closer or further away from the object, shortening and lengthening the extension lines as you move the cursor, but you can't change the length of the dimension with them. You can use them for a move or copy grip, but I would not.

 

The grips on the NODE end of the extension lines, or the point of the object your dimension is associated to, will allow you to stretch or shorten the dimension length. It comes in handy if you manage to snap a dim to the wrong point.

 

I checked, and you don't need the Node snap turned on for these grips to appear. Grips are different than snap symbols, but 'usually' are in the same place.

 

You can use any grip to move or copy the entire dimension, but that kinda defeats the purpose of the whole dimension functionality.

 

As far as having your dimension lines automatically land a set distance from your object, Sometimes they are not going to fit.

 

You don't need a dimension until you draw a line. It's a long journey, one step at a time.

 

When you have multiple dimensions along one side of an object, you can use the Dimspace command to equally space them apart.