DraftSight Dimension Tools: Auto Dimension and Smart Dimension

In this quick tip, learn how to quickly add dimensions to your DraftSight drawings using two very helpful tools: Auto Dimension and Smart Dimension.

Auto Dimension

The Auto Dimension tool creates Baseline, Continued, and Ordinate dimensions for your selected entities. 

Before using the Auto Dimension tool, you must create a Bounding Box around your sketch entities. (Figure 1)

Figure 1: From the Annotate toolbar, click on the Create Bounding Box icon

After clicking Create Bounding Box (Figure 1), window-select all entities in the drawing view. This creates a dashed line surrounding the sketch representing the Bounding Box. (See Figure 2)

Figure 2: Completed Bounding Box, ready for the Auto Dimension tool

After creating the Bounding Box, select the Auto Dimension tool (Figure 2). In the Auto Dimension Tool are three options for Vertical and Horizontal Dimension Schemes: Baseline, Continue, and Ordinate. (Figures 3, 4, & 5)

Figure 3: Baseline Dimension scheme

Figure 4: Continue dimension scheme, note the layout changes from that of the Baseline version

Figure 5: Ordinate Dimension Scheme

Prior to applying the dimension scheme, click Preview to test the Auto Dimension Scheme. In this example, we will select the Ordinate Dimension Scheme (Figure 5). When happy with the selection, click Apply and Close to complete the command.

After applying the dimensions, the Bounding Box is still visible in the model space. 

As you can see in Figure 6, the Bounding Box will not be visible in the Sheet Space or printed drawing.

Figure 6: Sheet View – Verifying the Bounding Box is not visible

Smart Dimension

The next tool is the Smart Dimension Tool. The interface is like that of SOLIDWORKS. Click Smart Dimension in the Annotation Tools (Figure 7) and click on the sketch entities. The Smart Dimension tool automatically generates linear, diameter, and radius dimensions. (Figure 8)

Figure 7: Location of the Smart Dimension Tool 

Figure 8: Easily detail drawings using Smart Dimensions 

Easily Detail your 2D Drawings in DraftSight

Use either the Smart Dimension or Auto Dimension tools to quickly annotate your drawings. While the Auto Dimension tool quickly dimensions your drawing view in a few steps, the Smart Dimension tool gives you the ability to fine-tune the appearance of your dimension scheme.  

I hope you found this DraftSight quick tip helpful. Check out more DraftSight tutorials below.

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