DIM (Command)

You can select objects or points on objects to dimension, and then click to place the dimension line. When you hover over an object, the DIM command automatically generates a preview of a suitable dimension type to use.

Supported dimension types include the following:

• Vertical, horizontal, and aligned linear dimensions
• Ordinate dimensions
• Angular dimensions
• Radius and jogged radius dimensions
• Diameter dimensions
• Arc length dimensions

Some DIM options set a mode of operation that persists until you change it, including

• Baseline linear or baseline angular dimensioning
• Continue linear or continue angular dimensioning
• Radius, diameter, jogged radius, or arc length dimensions

Some DIM options provide methods to edit dimensions including

• Align the dimension lines of selected dimensions to a reference or base dimension
• Offset the dimension lines of selected dimensions
• Specify a different layer for subsequently created dimensions

The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects

Defaults to an applicable dimension type for the objects you select and displays the prompts corresponding to that dimension type.

Object type	Default
Arc	Radius dimensions
Circle	Diameter dimensions
Line	Linear dimensions
Polyline	Linear or radius dimensions, depending on the segment selected

First extension line origin

Creates a linear dimension when you specify two points.

Angular

Creates an angular dimension showing the angle between three points by or the angle between two lines (same as the DIMANGULAR command).

• Vertex. Specifies the point to use as the vertex of an angular dimension.
• Specify first side of angle. Specifies one of the lines that defines the angle.
• Specify second side of angle. Specifies the other line that defines the angle.
• Angular dimension location. Specifies the quadrant and location for the arc dimension line.
  • Mtext. Edits the dimension text with the Text Editor contextual tab.
  • Text. Edits the dimension text in the Command window.
  • Text angle. Specifies the angle of the dimension text.
  • Undo. Returns to the previous prompt.
• Undo. Returns to the previous prompt.

Baseline

Creates a linear, angular, or ordinate dimension from the first extension line of the previous or selected dimension (same as the DIMBASELINE command).

Note: By default, the last created dimension is used as the base dimension.

• First extension line origin. Specifies the first extension line of the base dimension as the extension line origin for the baseline dimension.
• Second extension line origin. Specifies the next edge or angle to dimension.
• Feature Location. Uses the endpoint of the base dimension (ordinate dimension) as the endpoint for the baseline dimension.
• Select. Prompts you select a linear, ordinate, or angular dimension to use as the base for the baseline dimension.
• Offset. Specifies the offset distance from which the baseline dimensions are created.
• Undo. Undoes the last baseline dimension created.

Continue

Creates a linear, angular, or ordinate dimension from the second extension line of a selected dimension (same as the DIMCONTINUE command).

• First extension line origin. Specifies the first extension line of the base dimension as the extension line origin for the continued dimension.
• Second extension line origin. Specifies the next edge or angle to dimension.
• Feature location. Uses the endpoint of the base dimension (ordinate dimension) as the endpoint for the continued dimension.
• Select. Prompts you select a linear, ordinate, or angular dimension to use as the base for the continued dimension.
• Undo. Undoes the last baseline dimension created.

Ordinate

Creates an ordinate dimension (same as DIMORDINATE command).

• Feature location. Prompts for a point on a feature such as an endpoint, intersection, or center of an object.
  • Leader endpoint. Uses the difference between the feature location and the leader endpoint to determine whether it is an X or a Y ordinate dimension. If the difference in the Y ordinate is greater, the dimension measures the X ordinate. Otherwise, it measures the Y ordinate.
  • Xdatum. Measures the X ordinate and determines the orientation of the leader line and dimension text.
  • Ydatum. Measures the Y ordinate and determines the orientation of the leader line and dimension text.
  • Mtext. Displays the Text Editor contextual tab, which you can use to edit the dimension text.
  • Text. Customizes the dimension text at the Command prompt. The generated dimension is displayed within angle brackets.
  • Angle. Specifies the angle of the dimension text.
  • Undo. Returns to the previous prompt.
• Undo. Returns to the previous prompt.

Align

Aligns multiple parallel, concentric, or same datum dimensions to a selected base dimension.

• Base dimension. Specifies a dimension to use as basis for the dimensions alignment.
  • Dimensions to align. Selects the dimensions to align to the selected base dimension.

Distribute

Specifies the method on how to distribute a group of selected isolated linear or ordinate dimensions.

• Equal. Equally distributes all selected dimensions. This method requires a minimum of three dimension lines.
• Offset. Distributes all selected dimensions at a specified offset distance.

Layer

Assigns new dimensions to the specified layer, overriding the current layer. Enter Use Current or " . " to use the current layer. (DIMLAYER system variable)

Undo

Reverses the last dimension operation.