Constrained-Line Dimensioning

The Constrained-Line Dimensioning tool draws dimension lines that are constrained horizontally or vertically. Along with measuring and dimensioning an object, use this tool to calculate the horizontal or vertical distance between two or more points in the drawing.

 

Mode	Description
Linear	Creates a constrained dimension line with a single measurement
Chain	Creates a continuous chain of constrained dimension lines
Baseline	Creates a series of connected constrained dimension lines, starting from an initial base point
Ordinate	Creates a series of constrained ordinate dimensions, starting from an initial base point
Selected Objects	Creates a constrained dimension line for the greatest span of a selected object or group of objects
Chain Dimension Preferences	For Chain mode, specifies whether dimensions are created as a single chain object, or as individual dimension objects

The dimension text can be moved along the dimension line. See Modifying Dimensions.

Constrained Linear Dimension

The Constrained Linear mode creates a constrained dimension line with a single measurement.

 

To create a constrained dimension line with a single measurement:

1.	Click the Constrained-Line Dimensioning tool from the Dims/Notes tool set, and select Constrained Linear mode.

2.	Click to set the measurement start point.

3.	Click to set the end of the measurement.

4.	Move the cursor away from the object.

This specifies how far the dimension line is offset from the measured object. The dimension preview snaps to a horizontal or vertical orientation.

5.	Click to place the dimension line.

6.	Double-click to exit the dimensioning tool.

Constrained Chain Dimension

The Constrained Chain mode creates a series of constrained, connected dimension lines, with each line segment displaying its specific measurements. Use the Chain Dimension preferences option on the Tool bar to set whether to create multiple dimension objects or a single chain object.

When dimensions are part of a chain object, they can all be moved at once, and their attributes and properties can be changed as a group. The properties of dimensions in a chain object also can be edited individually. When dimensions in the chain are modified, the other dimensions adjust automatically. See Modifying Dimensions for more information about editing chain objects.

 

To create a chain of constrained connected dimension lines:

1.	Click the Constrained-Line Dimensioning tool from the Dims/Notes tool set, and select Constrained Chain mode.

2.	Select Chain Dimension Preferences from the Tool bar.

3.	Select either to Use Chain Dimension Objects or to Use Individual Dimensions, and click OK.

4.	Click to set the measurement start point.

5.	Click to set the end of the first measurement.

6.	Move the cursor away from the object.

This specifies how far the dimension line is offset from the measured object. The dimension preview snaps to a horizontal or vertical orientation.

7.	Click to place the first dimension line.

8.	Move the cursor to the end of the next segment and click to set its endpoint.

9.	Continue setting segments.

10.	Double-click to end the chain.

Constrained Baseline Dimension

Constrained Baseline modes create a series of constrained, connected dimension lines, with each line segment measuring the distance from the initial starting point (the base point).

 

To create a series of constrained baseline dimension lines:

1.	Click the Constrained-Line Dimensioning tool from the Dims/Notes tool set, and select Constrained Baseline mode.

2.	Click to set the measurement start point.

3.	Click to set the end of the first measurement.

4.	Move the cursor away from the object.

This specifies how far the dimension line is offset from the measured object. The dimension preview snaps to a horizontal or vertical orientation.

5.	Click to place the first dimension line.

6.	Move the cursor to the end of the next segment and click to set its endpoint.

7.	Continue setting segments.

8.	Double-click to end the baseline.

Ordinate Dimensions

The Ordinate mode measures and dimensions a series of either horizontal or vertical distances from one fixed point.

 

To draw ordinate dimensions:

1.	Click the Constrained-Line Dimensioning tool from the Dims/Notes tool set, and select Ordinate mode.

2.	Click to set the measurement start point; the first segment is always considered the fixed point and is labeled 0.

3.	Click to set the length of the first segment.

4.	Move the cursor horizontally or vertically to create ordinate measurements from the initial segment.

5.	Click to set the next segment’s distance from the first segment. Move to draw the next segment and click to set.

6.	Continue creating segments.

7.	Double-click to exit the dimensioning tool.

Selected Object Dimensions

The Selected Object mode measures and dimensions the horizontal or vertical span of any 2D or 3D object, or the edge-to-edge span of several objects or a group of objects. In all cases, the tool measures the greatest span. Horizontal Dimension lines can be drawn inside, above, or below an object or group of objects. Vertical dimension lines can be drawn inside, to the right, or to the left of an object or group of objects.

1.	Select the object or objects to dimension.

2.	Click the Constrained-Line Dimensioning tool from the Dims/Notes tool set, and select Selected Objects mode.

3.	Click near the object or group of objects to be dimensioned.

4.	Move the cursor in the desired direction where the dimension should be created. A preview dimension displays, constrained in either the horizontal or vertical direction.

5.	Click to set the position of the dimension line.