Dimension Options and Uses
In AutoCAD Architecture, you can dimension object points specified in the AEC dimension style, points on objects
picked in the drawing, or user-specified points in the drawing. AEC dimensions associated with objects update when
the object changes. User-specified points are not associative and have to be changed manually, if necessary. In addition
to AEC dimensions, you can also use AutoCAD dimensions. The following table lists the differences between the different
dimension methods:
An AEC dimension can contain both associative and non-associative points. For example, you can create an AEC
dimension that dimensions a wall, a multi-view block representing a floor drain, and user-specified points selected
anywhere in the drawing.
Associative Dimensions from Selecting Objects
Associative AEC dimensions are style-based annotation objects that update automatically when the associated object
changes. The AEC dimension style defines the dimension points that determine which measurements are displayed
for each object that the style can be used to dimension.
In the example below, walls lengths, opening widths, and wall intersections are set as the dimensioned points in the
style. If a door is made wider, the dimensions update to reflect the new measurements.
Associative wall dimensions
You can define styles for specific object types. For example, one AEC dimension style might specify that for walls,
dimensions will be displayed for lengths, maximum opening widths of windows in walls, and wall intersections. Another
AEC dimension style for mass elements might specify the mass element edges and center as dimension points.
For a complete list of objects for which you can specify dimension points in AEC dimension styles, see “
Associative
Dimensions from Objects
” on page 1847.
NOTE AEC objects can be associatively dimensioned in external references, even when they are nested multiple levels deep.
This is useful for large drawing projects, where the parts of the building are distributed over various drawing files.
You can also define different dimension points for different views. For example, in Plan Low Detail, you might want
to dimension only the outer boundaries of a building, whereas in Plan High Detail you might want to dimension wall
lengths and openings in walls as well.
In the AEC dimension style, you can define up to ten dimension chains, each with different dimension points. For
example, the first chain can dimension wall lengths and openings in walls, while the second chain dimensions structural
components of multi-component walls.
In the AEC dimension style, you can also specify whether to use superscripting in dimensions, and whether the extension
line length is fixed or variable.
Associative Dimensions from Picked Points
When you use an AEC dimension tool, the Pick points option lets you select the base point and OSNAP points on an
AEC object to create an associative dimension. In addition, you can define an offset from a selected point, so that
virtually any point on an object can be dimensioned. This option lets you dimension AEC objects for which dimension
points cannot be set in the AEC dimension style, like multi-view blocks or 2D building sections, or objects for which
the dimension point you need is not settable in the style. For example, you cannot dimension the location of a pilaster
Dimension Options and Uses | 1845
Summary of Contents for 00128-051462-9310 - AUTOCAD 2008 COMM UPG FRM 2005 DVD
Page 1: ...AutoCAD Architecture 2008 User s Guide 2007 ...
Page 4: ...1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ...
Page 40: ...xl Contents ...
Page 41: ...Workflow and User Interface 1 1 ...
Page 42: ...2 Chapter 1 Workflow and User Interface ...
Page 146: ...106 Chapter 3 Content Browser ...
Page 164: ...124 Chapter 4 Creating and Saving Drawings ...
Page 370: ...330 Chapter 6 Drawing Management ...
Page 440: ...400 Chapter 8 Drawing Compare ...
Page 528: ...488 Chapter 10 Display System ...
Page 540: ...500 Chapter 11 Style Manager ...
Page 612: ...572 Chapter 13 Content Creation Guidelines ...
Page 613: ...Conceptual Design 2 573 ...
Page 614: ...574 Chapter 14 Conceptual Design ...
Page 678: ...638 Chapter 16 ObjectViewer ...
Page 683: ...Designing with Architectural Objects 3 643 ...
Page 684: ...644 Chapter 18 Designing with Architectural Objects ...
Page 788: ...748 Chapter 18 Walls ...
Page 942: ...902 Chapter 19 Curtain Walls ...
Page 1042: ...1002 Chapter 21 AEC Polygons ...
Page 1052: ...Changing a door width 1012 Chapter 22 Doors ...
Page 1106: ...Changing a window width 1066 Chapter 23 Windows ...
Page 1172: ...1132 Chapter 24 Openings ...
Page 1226: ...Using grips to change the flight width of a spiral stair run 1186 Chapter 25 Stairs ...
Page 1368: ...Using the Angle grip to edit slab slope 1328 Chapter 28 Slabs and Roof Slabs ...
Page 1491: ...Design Utilities 4 1451 ...
Page 1492: ...1452 Chapter 30 Design Utilities ...
Page 1536: ...1496 Chapter 31 Layout Curves and Grids ...
Page 1564: ...1524 Chapter 32 Grids ...
Page 1611: ...Documentation 5 1571 ...
Page 1612: ...1572 Chapter 36 Documentation ...
Page 1706: ...Stretching a surface opening Moving a surface opening 1666 Chapter 36 Spaces ...
Page 1710: ...Offsetting the edge of a window opening on a freeform space surface 1670 Chapter 36 Spaces ...
Page 1956: ...1916 Chapter 42 Fields ...
Page 2035: ...Properties of a detail callout The Properties of a Callout Tool 1995 ...
Page 2060: ...2020 Chapter 45 Callouts ...
Page 2170: ...2130 Chapter 47 AEC Content and DesignCenter ...
Page 2171: ...Other Utilities 6 2131 ...
Page 2172: ...2132 Chapter 48 Other Utilities ...
Page 2182: ...2142 Chapter 51 Reference AEC Objects ...
Page 2212: ...2172 Chapter 52 Customizing and Adding New Content for Detail Components ...
Page 2217: ...AutoCAD Architecture 2008 Menus 54 2177 ...
Page 2226: ...2186 Chapter 54 AutoCAD Architecture 2008 Menus ...
Page 2268: ...2228 Index ...