You can set dimension placement to free
or fixed, and control the space between parallel dimension lines, and the location of the
dimension in relation to the object it is dimensioning. You can also select whether to place
short dimension text inside or outside the dimension.
In single-part, assembly and cast unit drawings,
the dimension placement settings can be defined in an open drawing, saved into a
dimension properties file, and applied in dimensioning rule properties, or taken
into use in the detailed object level properties. In general arrangement drawings,
most of the settings can be defined on the drawing and view level, but placement
settings on the object level only.
Remember that in addition to dimension placement
settings, the placement is also affected by Protection settings. Tekla Structures uses the protection settings to prevent marks and dimensions from being
placed in protected areas.
To adjust dimension placement settings in an open drawing and save the settings for later use:
-
Click a dimension in the
drawing.
If the property pane is not open, double-click the dimension.
-
Go to the
Placing section and enter the desired space between two parallel dimension lines in
Dimension lines spacing.
-
In the Short dimensions list, select whether to place short dimension text inside or outside of the
dimensions.
-
Define the Placing method:
- Free lets Tekla Structures to decide the location and direction
of the dimension based on the direction settings.
- Use Fixed to place the dimension in any location. When you use the setting
Fixed, the dimension stays where you place it even though you update the
drawing, whereas with Free, Tekla Structures tries to find the optimal place for the
dimension.
- The option direction options
define where Tekla Structures places dimensions relative to
the dimensioned object. You can select either Negative direction or Positive direction, or both. Positive direction places the dimension further away from and Negative direction closer to the dimensioned object. This setting affects the Free setting as well.
-
In Distance s, enter the empty margin that you want to have around the dimension. If Tekla Structures cannot place the dimension at the minimum distance, it
moves the dimension by the value you enter in the Distance s box. Tekla Structures tries to place the dimension using the
Distance s value until it finds a place for the dimension.
-
In Distance d min, enter the closest distance from the part Tekla Structures uses to
place the dimension.
-
Save the dimension properties
using Save
. You can also give
the dimension properties another name and save in another file.
-
Click Modify to modify the selected dimension properties in the open drawing.
The dimensions are placed according the
changes you made. Now you have a dimension properties file that you can load whenever
you need to adjust the dimension placement settings in the same way. For example, you
can load these properties while
adjusting Dimensioning rule properties, or in an open general arrangement drawing in the Dimension Properties dialog.
