Dimension properties

Use dimension properties to view and modify the appearance, placement, and contents of the dimensions.

To open dimension properties:

Click a dimension in an open drawing. If the property pane is not open, double-click the dimension. The properties specific to the selected dimension are displayed.
In an open drawing, go to the Dimensioning tab, hold down Shift and click one of the dimensioning commands. The center of gravity dimension properties are displayed in a dialog box of their own.
Select one of the dimension types from the drawing property pane object type list. There are five sets of dimension properties available: Straight dimension, Curved dimension, Angle dimension, Radial dimension, and Rebar dimension mark.
In an open drawing, go to Quick Launch, start typing dimension properties, and select Dimension properties from the list. The dimension properties dialog box is displayed.
To open the Dimension Properties dialog box for general arrangement drawings before creating a drawing, go to the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties > GA drawing, and then click Dimension....
To open the Dimension Properties dialog box for general arrangement drawings when the drawing is open, double-click the drawing background and select Dimension....

All of the dimension settings are described below. Note that all of the settings are not available for all dimension types.


Setting	Description
Save, load and search properties in property pane	To load predefined properties, select the properties from the list. To save the modified properties, click . You can also save the properties with another name. To search for a property, start typing the property name.
Rebar (available for rebar dimensions only)
Dimension to	Specifies whether dimensions are created between All rebars or between the Start and end rebars only.
Part edge	Add closing dimensions to the edge of the part in rebar group dimensions. This setting is only available if Dimension to is set to All rebars.
Subgrouping	Specifies whether subgroups are created for different rebar spacings within a rebar object so that dimension marks can display the subgroup properties. Subgrouping is only available when Dimension to is set to All rebars.
Extension line to visible rebar	Display extension lines to the visible rebars.
Tapered dimension type	Specifies whether skewed dimensions have Straight or Skewed representation.
Curved dimension type	Specifies whether curved dimensions have Straight or Curved representation.
Dimension line
Straight dimension	Set the dimension type for straight dimensions. Relative: Add point to point dimensions. Absolute: Dimension from a common start point. Relative and absolute: Combination of point to point and common start point. US absolute: Dimension from a common start point, which includes a running dimension mark (RD). US absolute 2: Similar to US absolute, but it changes short dimensions to relative. Absolute with short relatives: Similar to Absolute, but it changes short dimensions to relative. Also called internal absolute. This option may show both dimensions, but it does not show relative dimensions when the dimensions are long. This option shows the absolute dimensions inside the dimension lines. Absolute with all relatives above: Similar to Relative and absolute, but it places the relative dimensions above the absolute. Elevation Create an elevation dimension at a picked point. This type is only available in the dimension properties of manual dimensions in drawing mode.
In X direction	This setting is available in the GA drawing dimension properties only. Override the straight setting for horizontal dimensions. If you use the blank option, Tekla Structures uses the Straight option settings. The x direction usually means dimensions parallel to the drawing x axis.
Curved dimension	Available for curved dimensions. Define whether to use angle units or distance units for curved dimensions.
Angle dimension	Available for angle dimensions. Define the appearance of angle dimensions. Degrees on side Degrees at angle vertex Triangle Triangle with degrees
Triangle base length	Available for angle dimensions. Define the base length of a triangle.
Line color	Define the color of the dimension line.
Arrow	Select the dimension line arrow type. You can also create arrow types of your own, see Customize dimension line arrows. In the GA drawing dimension properties, you can also separately select the dimension arrow type for US Absolute dimensions and Level dimensions.
Arrow height	Set the height for the arrowhead.
Arrow length	Set the length for the arrowhead.
Short extension line	Define whether Tekla Structures should create extension lines all of the same length, or use the short extension line automatically if the dimension line falls on a grid line. If you want to exaggerate dimensions, you need to set this option to No.
Dimension value
Font color	Select the color for the dimension mark text.
Font, Font height	Select the font to be used in the dimension mark. You can also change the font height.
Place on line (Place in GA drawing dimension properties)	Define how the dimension mark is placed relative to the dimension line: Above dimension line or On dimension line.
Background (Background mask in GA drawing dimension properties)	Select Opaque to hide the area of the drawing that is covered by the dimension mark. Select Transparent to show the drawing content in the dimension mark background so that drawing linework is visible.
Frame	Define a frame for the dimension mark or select None. Underline Rectangle Rounded rectangle Sharpened rectangle
Units	Define the units used in dimensioning. automatic uses the units defined in the model. mm (millimeters) cm (centimeters) m (meters) ft-in (feet and inches) Inches are converted into integer feet, and the remaining inches are shown in inches. cm / m (centimeters and meters) Dimensions under 100 cm are shown in centimeters, and dimensions above 100 cm are shown in meters. Millimeters are shown as superscript. in (decimal) (inches, decimals used) ft (decimal) (feet, decimals used)
Precision	Define dimension precision: rounding, imperial units. The following are for defining precision with rounding. For example, with precision 0.33 the actual dimension 50.40 is shown as 50.33. 0.00 0.50 0.33 0.25 The following are for imperial units: 1/8 1/16 1/32 The following are for defining precision without rounding: 1/10 1/100 1/1000
Format	Define the dimension format: the number of decimals and their appearance. ### ###[.#] ###.# ###[.##] ###.## ###[.###] ###.### ### #/# The following is only available for straight dimensions: ## ^#/##.## ^#
Digit grouping (Use grouping in GA drawing dimension properties)	Select Yes to group long dimension values.
Combine equal dimensions	Combine equal dimensions. The options are Off, 360, and 360=180. The accuracy of combining equal dimensions is 0.1. This setting is not available in GA drawing dimension properties.
Minimum number to combine	Define the minimum number of dimensions to combine. This setting is not available in GA drawing dimension properties.
Show numeric value	Select the check box to show the numeric value in dimensions. This setting is not available in GA drawing dimension properties.
Tags and Content of tag (not available in GA drawing dimension properties, or for some dimension types)
Dimension tag editor	The Content of tag section is displayed when you click a tag container. (1) Available tag containers around the dimension line. Click a tag container to select it. Use the red delete button in the upper-right corner of the container to remove the contents. You can enter text or click the button and select the desired elements from the element list. In tags, you cannot use template attributes such as `MODEL_TOTAL` that refer to the whole model. Tags only check the information from the object in the drawing, and not from the whole model. (2) Prefix tag (3) Postfix tag (4) Dual dimension tag (5) Part count check box: When you click a tag container, the Part count check box becomes available. When you select the check box, the selected tag shows the part count. (6) Dual dimension check box: When you click the dual dimension tag container (4), the Dual dimension check box becomes available. When you select the check box, dual dimensions will be applied. (7) Property file: Load a set of predefined dimension tag contents. You can also save the tag contents. (8) Object type: Define the type of the building object that you are dimensioning. The options are Part, Bolt, Rebar, Surface treatment, and Pour object. This setting is not available when you have selected a dimension in an open drawing. (9) Tag editor for adding content in dimension tags. You can drag elements to another location inside one tag container. Click the red delete button in the upper-right corner to delete the element. (10) Element list. Click the button to open the element list, and then select the elements to add in the current tag container. (11) The % button shows the current zoom level in the preview. You can zoom in or out by scrolling the middle mouse button. Click the button to zoom to best fit. (12) Search box for searching elements. Enter the element that you want to locate. If you do not find the desired user-defined attribute in the list, you can type the name of the attribute in the search box and press Enter to add it. (13) If you have already added an element in a tag, the element is marked with text In use in the element list.
Font color, Font, Font height	Define the font, font color and font height for the whole tag or for the selected tag elements.
Frame, Frame color	Define a frame and frame color for the whole tag container or for a single tag element.
Units, Format	Set the unit and format for length or diameter elements.
Rotation	Set the dimension tag rotation. The options are: Parallel to dimension line does not rotate the tag. This is the default value. Perpendicular to dimension line rotates the tag. This setting is not available for the prefix, postfix, or dual dimension tag.
Excluded tags	Select a drawing view Filter that removes the defined content from tags.
Curved dimension tag type	Available for curved dimensions only. Select a tag type for a curved rebar dimension line. The tag type controls how the tags are aligned to the dimension. The options are: Horizontal or vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal or vertical with extension line Follow curve Follow along curve
Exaggeration (not available in GA drawing dimension properties, or for some dimension types)
Exaggerate short dimensions	Specified exaggerates short dimensions to make them easier to read.
Direction	Select the direction of the exaggeration: Left / Down, Right / Up or Both.
Origin	Set the Origin: : The origin is near the dimension line. : The origin near the measured object.
Position	Set the desired position for the exaggerated dimension.
Plate side marks (not available in GA drawing dimension properties, or for some dimension types)
Side mark type	Specified creates plate side marks to plate dimensions. Select the left and right plate side mark type, and specify the color, size and offset for the mark. The offset means the distance of the mark from the dimension line. Automatic is only available in intelligent drawings, that is when the advanced option `XS_INTELLIGENT_DRAWING_ALLOWED` is set to `TRUE`.
Placing
Dimension line spacing	Define the space between parallel dimension lines. In manually created dimensions, this setting works only if dimension Placing is set to Free.
Short dimensions	Define the text location of short dimensions: : text is inside the dimension lines : text is outside the dimension line
Placing method	Free lets Tekla Structures decide the location and direction of the dimension based on the direction setting. Fixed allows you to place the dimension at any point. This setting is not available in GA drawing dimension properties.
Negative direction,Positive direction	Define the side of the dimensioned object on which Tekla Structures places the dimensions. These settings are not available in GA drawing dimension properties.
Position	The position can only be defined if you have selected Free as the placing method. Distance s is the empty margin that you want to leave around the dimension. This is called Search margin in GA drawing dimension properties. Distance d min is the minimum distance of the dimension from the part. This is called Minimum distance in GA drawing dimension properties.