Generating Dimensions Semi-Automatically

This task will show you how to generate dimensions step by step from the constraints of a 3D part. Only the following constraints can be generated: distance, length, angle, radius and diameter.
Constraints may be of three kinds: created manually via the Sketcher workbench or via the 3D part, or created automatically via internal parameters.
Open the GenDrafting_part.CATDrawing. In this sample, constraints were created manually.

Go to Tools > Options > Mechanical Design > Drafting > Generation tab. Select the Analysis after generation check box, and clear the Filters before generation check box.

  1. Select the views on which you want to generate dimensions. For example, the front view.

  2. Click Generate Dimensions Step by Step in the Generation toolbar.

    The Step-by-step generation dialog box displays and will remain displayed until the end of the dimension generation.

  3. Select the Visualization in 3D check box to see the constraints corresponding to the dimensions to be created on the views.

  4. Select the Timeout check box. The default timeout is set to two seconds (2s).
    Enter the timeout value you need for example, three seconds (3s).

  5. Click the Next Dimension Generation button to start the dimension generation.

    Dimensions appear one after the other on the views.

    Now, you might need to pause the generation for modifying the dimension position for example.

  6. Click the Pause in Dimension Generation button . The generation is paused.

  7. Select  the dimension to be modified.

  8. Drag the dimension to its new position.

    Note that, at this step (pause), you can perform all kinds of modifications, not only on the current dimension but also to other dimensions, before the dimension generation. You can select not only the current dimension but also other dimensions.
    • If you want the dimension last generated before you clicked the Pause in Dimension Generation switch not to be generated on the view:

      Click the Not Generated option in the Step by Step Generation dialog box. The constraint  is automatically excluded and the dimension will not generated.

    • If you want the currently generated dimension to be transferred (via the Transfer icon):

      Click the Transfer icon from the Step-by-Step Generation dialog box. Then, select the frame of the view in which the current dimension, or the dimension last created, is to be pasted.

    • If you want to modify the graphical attributes of the current dimension:

      Apply the desired attributes in the required Properties toolbar.

  9. Click the Next Dimension Generation button again and continue the process.

    The dimensions are automatically generated on all the views.

    The dimensions appear as shown, for example, on the front view documented in this particular case.

    The Generated Dimensions Analysis dialog box showing the dimensions and constraints generated for each part (in this case, there is only one) is automatically displayed. This dialog box is described in detail in Dimension Generation Analysis.
Note that you can stop the generation at any time by clicking or, on the contrary, accelerate the process by clicking .