Datasheet

DIMASSOC has three settings:
• 0—Dimensions are exploded as they’re placed, which is a bad idea unless you have a
very good reason.
• 1—Dimensions have the traditional defpoint association, but they’re not associated
with objects and aren’t connected to Model Space when a dimension is placed in
Paper Space.
• 2—Dimensions move with objects and reflect true size when placed in Paper Space.
DIMSCALE
This variable controls all size dimension variables, such as DIMTXT, DIMASZ, DIMEXE,
DIMEXO, DIMTVP, DIMTSZ, and DIMGAP. In the past, for Model Space plotting,
DIMSCALE was set to the reciprocal of the plot scale to be used. If plotting will reduce a
drawing 48 times to fit on a sheet of paper, you must first increase the size of the dimen-
sions 48 times so they’ll be readable. DIMSCALE is set to 1 if dimensions are placed in
Paper Space (which I don’t recommend).
The system that I do recommend is to place dimensions in Model Space and to plot from
Paper Space. For that purpose, setting a DIMSCALE of 0 before dimensioning allows you
to add dimensions in viewports with different zoom magnifications and have them all
come out the same size. Select Scale Dimensions To Layout in the Dimension Style Man-
ager dialog box on the Fit tab. See Chapter 6 for detailed information on plotting.
Settings Commands
This section discusses some of the system variables (the setvars) in AutoCAD, but cer-
tainly not all of them. What follows are the settings that people sometimes overlook or
that I have specific recommendations about.
System variables control the appearance or behavior of AutoCAD. You normally set
these by making a selection in an appropriate dialog box, but they can also be set from the
command line. Old-time users probably do this a lot by typing the variable name quickly.
If I want to change my linear unit precision to check something, I type LUPREC and then
type 8. When I have the information I want, I undo that action or type LUPREC again.
Many offices still use the once-standard practice of setting DIMSCALE to a value that reflects
the reciprocal of the plot scale. This is a legacy of the old days of AutoCAD when such prac-
tice was required. If you choose to change this practice, you should do so in the context of a
complete overhaul of office standards. Such an overhaul should, of course, include all
affected parties.
32 ■ chapter 1: AutoCAD Productivity
09939c01.qxd 12/5/06 3:59 PM Page 32