Setting dimensions as viewable

Viewable dimensions are the dimensions that you most often work with and that are essential for your work in structure design and modification.

To make a dimension viewable means to make it appear on the screen when you right-click in the graphical area, and then:

• (outside components) Check Show Dimensions.
• (in components) Check Show Dimensions, and then check Dimensions on the component's View menu.

To set a dimension as viewable

OUTSIDE COMPONENTS

1. In the graphical area, right-click, and then check Show Dimensions.
2. In the graphical area, right-click, point to Show, and then click Hidden Objects.

All viewable and hidden dimension lines appear.

3. Right-click the hidden dimension that you want to make viewable, and then click Show on the context menu.

IN COMPONENTS

Normally, dimensions are set to be viewable or non-viewable (hidden) while the component is being created. Based on standard designer practice, the component designer decides which dimensions to make viewable and which not. When you choose to use a component in a design, you may want to alter the original set of viewable and hidden dimensions.

IMPORTANT: The procedure for making component dimensions viewable applies per component — you need to apply it to each component whose dimensions visibility you want to alter.

1. In the graphical area, right-click, and then check Show Dimensions.
2. Right-click the component, point to View, and then check Dimensions on the context menu.
3. Right-click the component, point to View, and then check Hidden Objects.

NOTE: After you have selected the component (Step 2 and 3), as an alternative you can also click Dimensions on the contextual edit bar, and then consecutively check Dimensions and Hidden Objects in the dropdown menu that appears.

Now all the component dimensions — viewable and hidden — are displayed.

4. Locate the hidden dimension that you want to make viewable, right-click it, and then click Show on the context menu.

Now the viewable dimensions will appear when you right-click in the graphical area, check Show Dimensions and also check Dimensions on the component's View context menu.