How do I shorten a drawing in paperspace

[bbankston]

How do I dimension a large component (from model space) in paper space and I don't want to show the whole component? Right now I just do two view ports in paper space, draw in the "curve guys", dim the ends, explode the dim and type out the actual dimension. There's gotta be a better way.

 

View the attachment.

 

'preciate any and all help folks.

[soleary]

How do I dimension a large component (from model space) in paper space and I don't want to show the whole component? Right now I just do two view ports in paper space, draw in the "curve guys", dim the ends, explode the dim and type out the actual dimension. There's gotta be a better way.

 

View the attachment.

 

'preciate any and all help folks.

Not sure I fully understand - even with your handywork

Can't you just dimension what you want and then override the dimension text in properties?

[bbankston]

Thanks for replying back so quickly, soleary.

 

See, the thing is that if I were to actually dimension the two ends as you see it now I wouldn't get accurate dims for the glass. For example if the glass size is 8 ft and I dimmed it the way it is now it was 4in or what those two points are in paper space.

 

On to your answer: Over ride the dimension text in properties? I'll have to try that.

[bbankston]

Here's a better example. I want the dimension on the right to show 20 just like it shows on the component on the left (they're the same component).

[wannabe]

Cant you have two viewports at different scales?

 

Also, if you know the difference in scale factor you can use the scale feature in the primary units tab of dimension style to multiply or divide the value of the dimension by your chosen number.

 

Or, you can simply click the dimension and type in your new value in the text override field in the properties menu.

 

Hope this helps

[bbankston]

wannabe,

 

Your question: Cant you have two viewports at different scales?

 

My answer: I could, but we want to have close ups.

 

 

 

Your reply: Also, if you know the difference in scale factor you can use the scale feature in the primary units tab of dimension style to multiply or divide the value of the dimension by your chosen number.

 

My answer: That wouldn't do anything if I have two viewports would it? I mean I'm dimensioning from one viewport to another.

 

 

 

Your reply:Or, you can simply click the dimension and type in your new value in the text override field in the properties menu.

 

My answer: That's what I'm doing now. I kind of thought CAD had a quick solution for this.

[wannabe]

Sorry. I wasn't quite sure of your desired results. This question has been posted before, or one similar, and I don't think there was a solution. Might be worth doing a search for it, though; it wasn't that long ago.

 

Good luck.

[bbankston]

wannabe,

 

I found the post you were talking about (http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?t=28162&highlight=dimensioning).

 

It seems I should have done a search like you said. But that guy didn't have these sweet screen shots for his thread.

[BIGAL]

Create two viewports at the same scale each showing one end next to each other. With a bit of care you can align the two so they look like one but with the middle missing. Draw the normal break line on the top and bottom of your two joining vport. Set the vport border to "no plot" so break lines come out correct.

 

Do all your dimemsioning in model space etc you can move the dimension text to one end so it appears only in one view port but the arrow ends are in both.

 

Simple soloution !

[bbankston]

BIGAL,

 

Thanks for the answer but it wasn't really what I was looking for. I thought CAD might have some sort of way of doing this that's actually using dims without having to "trick" it.

[rkent]

Assuming there is a line the full length of the object to dimension. Dim by snapping to the ends of the line (between the two objects), this will give PS distance. Now edit the dim text, insert a field, use object, select the line, set units if necessary, ok. If the size of the object changes the dim will update, might be better than overriding a dim.

[DVDM]

I need to do this all the time. I model and dimension everything in modelspace, and just create extra viewports to show the dimension in the middle.

 

I often break objects at several locations, and create extra viewports to show the dimension lines running through these cut points. You can even make extra viewports to show centerlines running through continuously. It takes a bit of setting up, but once done you never have to worry about overridden dimensions, or dimensions placed in paperspace that do not reflect changed made in modelspace.

 

You can make the viewports allign perfectly by copying 1 viewport over to the side, stretching to see the other end, then resizing and moving the viewport closer to where you want to break.

A useful command is VPSYNC to get another viewport to lign up in modelspace. (an express tools command i believe)

 

Hopefully the dwg attached explains it all.

splitviewports.dwg

[bbankston]

rkent & DVDM:

 

Thanks for the help. You've shown me other ways to go about doing what I want. And I thank you for that. I guess that also answers my question: You CANNOT dim an object in paper space if it's been shortened to save room in two or more viewports without having to finagle ACAD.

 

Thanks again, folks.