2011

Table Of Contents
arrowhead size, and offsets, such as the extension line origin offset. You should
set these sizes and offsets to values that represent their actual plotted size.
Dimension scale does not apply the overall scale factor to tolerances or
measured lengths, coordinates, or angles.
NOTE You can use annotative scaling to control the overall scale of dimensions
displayed in layout viewports. When you create annotative dimensions, they are
scaled based on the current annotation scale setting and automatically displayed
at the correct size.
Setting dimension scale depends on how you lay out your drawing. There are
three methods used to create dimensions in a drawing layout:
Dimension in model space for plotting in model space. This is the
traditional method used with single-view drawings. To create dimensions
that are scaled correctly for plotting, set the DIMSCALE system variable to
the inverse of the intended plot scale. For example, if the plot scale is 1/4,
set DIMSCALE to 4.
Dimension in model space for plotting in paper space. This was the
preferred method for complex, multiple-view drawings prior to AutoCAD
2002. Use this method when the dimensions in a drawing need to be
referenced by other drawings (xrefs) or when creating isometric dimensions
in 3D isometric views. To prevent the dimensions in one layout viewport
from being displayed in other layout viewports, create a dimensioning
layer for each layout viewport that is frozen in all other layout viewports.
To create dimensions that are scaled automatically for display in a paper
space layout, set the DIMSCALE system variable to 0.
Dimension in layouts. This is the simplest dimensioning method.
Dimensions are created in paper space by selecting model space objects or
by specifying object snap locations on model space objects. By default,
associativity between paper space dimensions and model space objects is
maintained. No additional scaling is required for dimensions created in a
paper space layout: DIMLFAC and DIMSCALE do not need to be changed
from their default value of 1.0000.
NOTE When you dimension model space objects in paper space using associative
dimensions, dimension values for the display scale of each viewport are
automatically adjusted. This adjustment is combined with the current setting for
DIMLFAC and is reported by the LIST command as a dimension style override. For
nonassociative dimensions, you must set DIMLFAC manually.
Set the Scale for Dimensions | 999