Dimension Issue: changing gap at extension line

[the_real_ptb]

I am working in AutoCAD 2010 and have a dimension issue that has been bugging me for a while now. When I am dimensioning and the text gets forced outside, I can only move my text so close to the extension line. I can move it as far away as I want, but when I try to move it in closer there is a limit. I want it in right tight to the extension line/arrow but there is always a big gap.

 

I can change the text movement to "Move text, no leader" which works to some degree, but I wouls like to just grab the text and slide it in closer. It seems like this minimum gap distance varies by drawing, but it never allows the text to get as close as I would like it to be. Does anyone know where this distance is set or how I can reduce it?

[nestly]

Dimension Style > Text > Text Alignment > Offset from dim line ?

[the_real_ptb]

That is the text offset from the dimension line (up and down) I am looking to bring my text in closer to my extension line (left and right).

[nestly]

That is the text offset from the dimension line (up and down)

 

Not necessarily. It depends on your text alignment options. Demo http://screencast.com/t/qKMSkNFiS7

 

Post a screenshot, or better yet, post a sample drawing if possible.

[the_real_ptb]

http://screencast.com/t/MYyZ4Mfa

 

What I want is to move the 6 1/2" in tight to the arrowhead. The text offset from the dimension line is just where I want it, but there is a limit to how close I can get the text to the extension line. THat is what I would like to adjust. I don't want to have my 6 1/2" floating that far off in space.

[nestly]

Your arrowheads look big in relationship to your dimension text. Out of the box arrowheads are the same size as the text height. Arrowheads are blocks, and I believe the tail on an arrowhead must be at least as long as the block. It appears the dimension text cannot be closer to the extension line than the end of the tail. Perhaps someone else will have a better solution, but I think you may need to reduce your arrowhead size, or use a shorter arrowhead.

[the_real_ptb]

The arrowhead size is a DOT standard, can't (or at least shouldn't) be changed. I think I see what you are saying, maybe I'll go make a user arrow with the same look but with a shorter tail. Thanks.

[the_real_ptb]

OK, that theory isn't going to work. What it's doing is putting in the arrowhead, then adding a tail equal to the arrowhead length, then adding the offset distance and then adding the text; that is where the distance is coming from. I am guessing the tail length being set to the same distance as the arrowhead length is probably something that is just built-in and cannot be changed. I am afraid I may be out of luck......but if you have a solution I am still all ears.

[nestly]

You can use the right-click options to put the text anywhere you want manually, however it breaks the association between the dim text and the dim line, which is inconvenient if you need to adjust the dimension later.

 

http://screencast.com/t/ZoZ110kAd

[the_real_ptb]

You must be using 2011 because I don't get all of those fancy options with the right click. I have used that idea before, but I do like having the dimension line extended out under the text for longer strings of text. I would need to manually add a line, which is against everything I stand for.

[nestly]

Oh, I didn't realize those were new in 2011 (but they should still be available with the DIMTEDIT options)

 

I think I'm all out of ideas.