dimensions suddenly do not appear...

[valeria]

:confused:hi...i am learning to use autocad architecture 2010 on my own (tutorials)...on all of the first twenty or so drawings that i did, i was able to use the dimension commands for lines, angles, etc. just fine...the dimension lines and the actual dimensions (the numbers) appeared and were accurate...then i started to learn to create layers...now the dimension lines appear, but the numbers do not! i can't tell whether it has anything to do with layers because i've tried it on drawings with and without layers...pleeeaaasse help, this is so frustrating!!

thanks

valeria

[neko]

i'm doubtful that it is a layer issue.

 

dimensioning does require a certain level of skill and understanding, since there are many things that can go wrong if you're not comfortable with the program.

 

first thing i would check is the text style that you are using for dimensions. you may have set it up with an extremely small size (either in the dimension style manager or the text style manager).

 

the other issue could be annotative scale (or essentially the plotted scale you are working at).

 

i could have a look at the file for you if it makes no sense. it probably won't be difficult to figure out.

[Peter M. Gruhn]

Paul has some good suggestions. The first place I have students look is Dimension Style. I don't know which workspace you are using so I show a couple ways/places to bring it up.

 

Then hit the Modify button, on the Fit tab look for Use Overall Scale.

 

Throughout the Dimension Style Modify dialog there are settings for how the dimension is drawn. These are typically set at "how big you want them to appear on paper" and not "how big they'd be in model space." Drafters knew that they would use text that appeared 1/4", for instance, on the drawing. And they'd use the same physical, on this piece of paper right here with my pencil, size no matter what the underlieing scale was. It helps with uniformity. So when you come to AutoCAD you tell it "I want 1/4" high text and a 3/16" gap". BUT your dimension is drawn in model space so if it really were drawn at 1/4" high you... wouldn't be able to read the text. If you zoom in in in in where the text ought to be and you find it, sitting there really small, then this might be the problem you run into.

 

Overall Scale is how to solve the problem. You say "these dimensions should have 1/4" high text" AND "I plan on plotting this drawing at 1/4" = 1'-0"" so "please adjust accordingly." And acad does the math to draw the dimension bits at the right size in model space to appear the right size on the paper.

 

How to know what number to put in the Overall Scale?

- put in numbers until it looks good (ok if you're a noob)

- know what the final plot expectation is supposed to be and multiply the denominator by twelve. hunh? OK, say you are going to plot at 1/4" = 1'. Then 4*13 = 48 so put 48 in Overall Scale. 1/8", use 96. 1/2", use 24.

 

This may be kinda old school. I don't remember if some of the Annotation Scale and related features have superceded this approach.

[neko]

:confused:hi...i am learning to use autocad architecture 2010 on my own (tutorials)...on all of the first twenty or so drawings that i did, i was able to use the dimension commands for lines, angles, etc. just fine...the dimension lines and the actual dimensions (the numbers) appeared and were accurate...then i started to learn to create layers...now the dimension lines appear, but the numbers do not! i can't tell whether it has anything to do with layers because i've tried it on drawings with and without layers...pleeeaaasse help, this is so frustrating!!

thanks

valeria

 

guess it wasn't so urgent then, eh ?

 

this seems to happen all too often on here. people register on the site with little or no history, desperately pleading for help. forum members take the time out to offer assistance and advice, and you don't hear anything back in return.....like a 'thank you'.

 

i don't know if it stems more from a sense of entitlement, or perhaps instant gratification, but people need to show more appreciation and respect for the excellent advice that is generally given on here.

 

i'm not just talking about me, or about you valeria (although i probably won't answer any of your questions again).

Edited April 6, 2010 by neko