Modifying a Dimension System

This task will show you how to modify a dimension system or a dimension within a dimension system.
  In our example we chose to create a stacked dimension system and to perform the following actions:
Open the Brackets_views03.CATDrawing document.

  1. Create a stacked dimension system including several dimensions as shown below.
 

Moving a Dimension System
 

  1. Click over the dimension system to select it.
    The whole system is highlighted.

  2. Drag the whole system below the drawing.

  3. Click in the free space to end the stacked dimension system selection.
 

Moving a Dimension
 

  1. Right-click on the Dimension system and select Properties in the contextual menu.

  2. In the System tab, set the Offset mode to Free, then click on OK.
    See Editing Dimension System Properties for further information on the Properties' dialog box.

  3. In the Tools toolbar, click Dimensions system selection mode to deactivate the dimension system.

  4. Select several dimensions and drag them above the dimension system.

  5. Click in the free space to end the dimension selection.
Moving a dimension can be performed only on stacked dimension system.
 

Aligning a Dimension System
 

  1. Make sure Dimensions system selection mode is activated in the Tools toolbar.

  2. Click over the dimension system to select it.

  3. Right-click and select Align into System.
    The dimensions are aligned into the system as before.


     
You can perform an Align into System on a whole system as well on several dimensions after multi-selecting them. To do so, set the system's offset mode to free (see Editing Dimension System Properties), then click on the Dimensions system selection mode to deactivate the dimension system. The dimensions you selected are aligned into a system of their own as shown below.

 

Restoring a Value Position
 

  1. Make sure Dimensions system selection mode icon is activated in the Tools toolbar.

  2. Right-click on the Dimension system and select Properties in the contextual menu.

  3. In the System tab, set the Dimension values alignment at 10mm from the Reference line.


     

  4. Click on Apply to visualize the Dimension values alignment.

  5. Click on the Dimensions system selection mode to deactivate the dimension system.

  6. Move some of the dimensions.

  7. Click on the Dimensions system selection mode to activate the dimension system again.

  8. Right-click on the dimension system and select Restore Value Position.
    The dimensions' values are back to their initial position.


     

  9. Click on the Dimensions system selection mode to deactivate the dimension system.

  10. Drag several dimension values to modify their position.


     

  11. Multi-select the dimensions.

  12. Right-click and select Restore Value Position in the contextual menu.
    The dimensions' values are centered back in the system.
 

Adding a Dimension into a System
  You have to select the icon corresponding to create the dimension system you would like to modify i.e. a chained, cumulated or stacked dimension system.
 

  1. Make sure Dimensions system selection mode is activated in the Tools toolbar.

  2. In the System tab, set the Offset mode to Constant, then click on OK.
    See Editing Dimension System Properties for further information on the Properties' dialog box.

  3. Go to menu Insert>Dimensioning>Dimensions and select Stacked dimensions.

  4. Select the system you want to insert a dimension to.

  5. Select the geometry to dimension.


    The new dimension is inserted into the system and is automatically aligned into the system.
 

Deleting a Dimension from a System
 

  1. Make sure Dimensions system selection mode is deactivated in the Tools toolbar.

  2. Select a dimension.
    Note that only the selected dimension is highlighted, not the whole system.

  3. Press Del key.
    The dimension system is updated accordingly automatically aligned.
Should you want to delete the whole dimension system, make sure Dimensions system selection mode icon is activated in the Tools toolbar and press Del key.
 

Copying a Dimension System
 

  1. Make sure Dimensions system selection mode is activated in the Tools toolbar.

  2. Select the geometry and its associated dimension system and click on the Copy icon.

  3. Create a new view and select it.

  4. Click on the Paste icon:
    The geometry and its dimension system is pasted in the view.
If the dimension system offset mode is set to Free, modifying one or several dimensions of the system will not impact the system 's alignment.

If the dimension system offset mode is set to Constant, an automatic line-up is applied to dimension lines and values in case you perform any of the following action:

  • Adding a dimension to a system
  • Deleting a dimension to a system
  • Updating the 3D geometry
  • Applying a style to a system

For more information on the Constant and Free Offset mode, refer to the Editing Dimension System Properties section.