On every dimension line you use, a label is placed along it showing details about that line/angle/leader. These labels can show a range of different items such as units, decimals, notations etc.
For example, the default text on a dimension could simply just display, as shown, 1472.9 or it could include a leading notation, have a different colour, be placed on an angle or even include a trailing units e.g. 1472.9mm.
You can also easily change the default dimension label to show a different number of decimal places or fractions and extra details. We do this by using the label details in combination with a format string, as discussed below, which is a special text code containing formatting information.
Units displayed (metric or imperial) depend on Length Units you have selected in File Options.
If using imperial, see the tutorial on Imperial Measurements.
Once we have figured out the format string to use, it gets entered in the Text edit box of the Line Label page of the dimension's property sheet.
Each dimension line (Dim Line) can have a different label format using the drop list for selection. Example, Base_Cabinets and Benchtops.
To create your own default, edit the Dimension Tool - see Dimensions tutorial.
A label is placed along dimension lines showing details that can be customised before or after placement.
DimSet - Before and After Placement
Before Placement - Open the DimSet Tool by right clicking on the 'Dimension Set' icon. Tools are displayed with a blue background.
After Placement - Open by selecting dimension line on the drawing and then from the right click menu select 'Format DimSet'. The only visible difference is that the background is displayed in light grey.
The DimSet has four control pages which allows you to control all aspects of dimensioning lines. Click on links for detailed discussion on each of the following:-
Example
Simply turn On/Off the dimension lines using the check boxes.
In this example, Benchtop dimension lines will not be displayed.
Every format string has a particular structure, which indicates that it is a format string and not a regular section of text.
Format strings must start with a percentage sign ( % ) and must end with the letter 'F' in upper or lower case.
There are a number of optional elements though, two of which are the period (or full-stop) and the forward-slash ( / ). These are called the remainder characters, and indicate that decimal places or fractions are to be used.
If you use a remainder character, you can also include a precision number after it (but before the 'F' at the end) to indicate the precision e.g %.2F which, when you use decimals, determines the number of decimal places to display. With fractions, the precision number is the maximum denominator.
So the general structure of a format string is:-
This will be made clear in the examples below.
Result | Format Used | Comment | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
No format used (default) | With the default precision and no units shown | ||
%.0f | no decimals, hide units | Since precision was specified as "no decimal places", note that the number has been rounded, not just cut off. | |
%.2F | 2 decimal places, show units | Shows the current units being added to the label with 2 decimal places. | |
Start Text %.f End Text | custom text before and after format |
Shows that you can still have other text in a dimension label. The text is printed as it appears, except the format string is replaced with the dimension length. The format string is only replaced once, and if no format string is explicitly included it is appended at the front of the label. | |
%/32F | accurate to 1/32", show units |
With fractions, the precision indicates the smallest fraction to use (1/32" in this case). Fractional remainders are always simplified, i.e. 14/32" will be written as 7/16". |
Elevation Item Labels follow the same rules as discussed here for Dimension Line Labels.
Example Elevation Item with Labels
In this example the Text displayed is ...
- formula controlled to display 2 decimal points with Length Units i.e. mm [%.2F] and;
- set to an angle of 180 degrees.