Setting the appearance of dimension lines in the 3D model

You can set how you want the dimension lines to the 3D model to appear on the screen and when the 3D model view has been printed out. You can set global visualization settings for the dimension lines, which apply to each 3D model you create, but also you can override these dimension lines color and font on a case by case basis.

To set default dimension lines visualization

1. Do any of the following:

• On the Tools menu, point to 3D Presenter, and then click View Options, and in the dialog box that appears, click the Dimension tab.
• In the 3D area, click View Options, and then click the Dimensions tab.

The 3D Model Dimensions Options dialog box appears.

Text	Sets the font and color for the text over the dimension line.
Font	The font in which the text will appear on the screen and when printed out.
Color	The color in which the text will appear on the screen and when printed out.
Zoomable text	Select the check box to make the dimension line text grow and shrink as you zoom in and out of the 3D model.
Text follows point of view	When you rotate the 3D model, the text that accompanies dimensions lines rotates too, positioning itself so as to let you read it most comfortably.
Overall dimensions follow point of view	When you rotate the 3D model, the overall dimensions you have added to the model move, too, positioning themselves so as to always appear in front of the panels and visible to you.
Overall dimensions spatial positioning	Select how you want EngView to position overall dimensions. The options are; Facing the user: All three dimension lines start from one point. Along the XY plane: The dimensions are positioned on the plane formed by the x (measuring the width) and y (measuring the height) dimensions; the z dimension (measuring the depth) is positioned so as not to stand in the way of panels. Along the XZ plane: The dimensions are positioned on the plane formed by the x (measuring the width) and z (measuring the depth) dimensions; the y dimension (measuring the height) is positioned so as not to stand in the way of panels. TIP: Spend some time playing with the three positioning options to choose the one that is right for your case.
Units	Set the units for how the dimension lines are measured (distance and angle). NOTE: To use the globally set measurement units, in the dropdowns, select Default.
Distance	In Units, set the measurement units for measuring the dimension lines. In Display, set the number of digits to the right of the decimal separator.
Angle	In Units, set the measurement units for measuring the dimension angles. In Display, set the number of digits to the right of the decimal separator.
Show system units	Select to view the symbols for the units of measurement — mm, in, dm, and so on.
Show alternative units	Select to start setting alternative units of measurement that differ from the globally set alternative units.
Arrows	Set how you want to view the dimension line ends (arrows).
Display size	The arrow size on the screen in pixels
Print size	The arrow size when the 3D model is printed out
Lines	Set the thickness and color for the dimension lines.
Thickness	How thick the lines appear on the screen.
Color	The color in which dimension lines will appear on the screen and when printed out.

2. Adjust the settings as you want them to be, and the click OK.

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Customizing an individual dimension line

You can set an individual dimension line its own font and color, as well as set how the line displays information.

• On the 3D model, right-click a dimension line, and then click Properties.

The Dimension Text Properties dialog box appears.

Overrides	Set your own font and color for the dimension line text.
Font	Sets the font in which the text will appear on the screen and when printed out.
Color	Sets the color for the dimension lines on the screen and when printed out.
Distance Units	Settings for the use of units of distance measure lines. NOTE: On the right, you see globally set alternative units.
Override	Click Override to enable changing the display of the measurement units symbol for the current dimension line (mm, cm, in).
Override	Click Override to enable the customization for the display of or hiding the alternative units of measurement.
Display format	In the drop-down list, select the format that you want to use for displaying dimension line information. Consider the options: <default> The dimension line information is displayed in the format [value measurement units]. For example, 61 mm. \v To the left of the forward slash, add any text you want to see in front of the dimension value (displayed by /v). For example, if you type Width= \v and the measured value is 120, the text over the dimension line will read: "Width=120".

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Customizing multiple dimension lines

You can select more than one dimension line at a time and set properties for them. The properties then apply to all the selected lines.

1. Do any of the following:

• Press CTRL, and use the mouse to select the dimension lines you need.
• In the tabular area, go to the Dimensions tab and locate the dimension lines, press CTRL, and select the dimension lines one by one.

The Dimension Text Properties dialog box appears.

2. Set the properties that you need.

NOTE: If earlier you have set different properties for the dimension lines and then select them together, the dialog box that appears uses special two-tone icons for the properties that have different settings for the lines. In this case, the changes that you will make will overwrite the earlier settings for all the dimension lines.

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