Modify dimensions by manipulating them with the 2D Selection and 2D Reshape tools, or by adjusting dimension parameters in the Object Info palette or Properties dialog box. For chain dimension objects, use commands on the object context menu to add, delete, and edit individual dimensions within the chain.
A line, arc, or circle can be changed to a dimension (linear, angular, or radial) by selecting the dimension line style from the Attributes palette. See Line Style Attributes.
Adjoining dimensions can be changed into a single chain dimension object by selecting them, and then selecting Modify > Compose. Similarly, a chain object can be changed into multiple dimensions by selecting the chain and then selecting Modify > Decompose.
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Change the length of the dimension and/or the length of a witness line
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To change the dimension length, click on the endpoint of a witness line with the 2D Selection tool and drag it parallel to the dimension line; in chain dimension objects, the size of any adjoining dimension is adjusted automatically. To change the length of a witness line, drag its endpoint toward or away from the dimension line.
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Change the length of all witness lines simultaneously
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Click on the dimension line (but not on a witness line connection) with the 2D Selection tool and drag it until the witness lines are the desired length
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Click-drag the text to the desired location with the 2D Selection tool. For linear dimensions, press and hold the Shift key while dragging the text to the desired location to prevent altering the witness line length.
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With the 2D Selection tool, click on a witness line (but not on an endpoint) or on one of the two control points at each end of the dimension line, and drag the entire dimension to a new location
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Modify several dimension lines, end points, or witness lines at once
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With the 2D Reshape or 2D Selection tool, select the dimension(s) or control point(s) to modify. Then, use the 2D Reshape tool to draw a marquee around the control points to modify. The control points move when the marquee moves, while control points outside of the marquee remain fixed.
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These properties can also be accessed by right-clicking the dimension and selecting the Properties command from the object context menu.
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To format the dimension text, select Format Text from the context menu.
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For chain dimension objects, the edits are applied to all dimensions within the chain. To edit the properties of individual dimensions within a chain, use the Edit Dimension command from the context menu instead.
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If a witness line within a chain dimension object is added, moved, or deleted, the dimension measurements in the chain adjust automatically.
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Right-click anywhere on the dimension object, and select Add Dimension from the context menu. Click with the bull’s-eye cursor to set the endpoint of the new witness line. Alternatively, create a new individual dimension within the lines of a dimension in an existing chain object, and VectorWorks adds the new dimension to the chain automatically.
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Right-click on the dimension line of the dimension to be deleted, and select Delete Dimension from the context menu.
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Right-click on the witness line to be deleted, and select Delete Witness Line from the context menu.
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Edit an individual dimension’s properties
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Right-click on the dimension to be edited, and select Edit Dimension from the context menu. Edit parameters in the Object Properties dialog box as desired and click OK (see Editing Dimension Properties). To apply properties edits to all dimensions in the chain, use the Properties command or the Object Info palette instead.
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Right-click on the dimension to be edited, and select Format Text from the context menu
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