Dimension Arrows

Enhancing your plot with dimension arrows

 

Dimension Arrows are plot items that are used to enhance the selected plot sheet, giving an indication of the real-world measurements, defined by the lengths of the arrows. Dimension arrows can be used to indicate a distance or dip in 2D (in the plane of the sheet's section) or 3D by snapping to data points. Plot sheets can contain multiple dimension arrows. Plot item information is stored within the project file, attached to the sheet in which it was created. This information is not available in other sheets.

 

Adding a New Dimension Arrow

  1. In the Plots window, ensure the Page Layout mode is NOT set (if active, select theManageribbon andLayout Mode)

  2. Select the section view that you wish to enhance.

  3. Using theManageribbon, selectDimension Arrowfrom thePlot Itemdrop-down list

  4. Define a series of points on your section (using  the cursor or a digitizer) to determine the start and end of the overlay string. If digitising, the points that are entered can be relevant to any known reference points on the hardcopy plot, and the revealed on-screen distance used to determine the accuracy of the digitiser's calibration.

  5. You will see cross-hairs on screen representing the position of digitized vertices. When complete, right click and select Apply (to create an open string) or End & Close Line (to automatically create closed string) , and a line spanning these markers will be created, labelled with the represented real-world distance.

Dimension Arrow Units

The following procedure assumes that at least one Dimension Arrow has already been created:

  1. If not already displayed, enable the Properties control bar by selecting theViewribbon'sActivatemenu, thenProperties

  2. Select the Dimension Arrow (left-click).

  3. In the Properties control bar, check that the Units property parameter is set to [Yes] .

  4. Dimension overlay units are now enabled. To disable them, set the Units property back to [No].

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The displayed Dimension Arrow units are picked up from the settings defined in the Home ribbon | Tools | Options dialog's Data tab.

 

Rotating Plot Items

All plot items can be rotated, either during or after insertion, when in Page Layout Mode. Only plot items with a green rotation symbol can be rotated. This is done by using a click-and-rotate action on the rotation symbol when the rotation cursor (curved two headed arrow) is displayed. This symbol is shown below associated with a Scale Bar:

Releasing the left mouse button will set the plot item with the new orientation.

 

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Insert Dimension Arrow Dialog