The Dimension Rule Manager allows you to customize the behavior and appearance of dimensions. The Dimension Rule Manager displays the annotation modules for the selected template, and allows you to edit the properties that each module uses.
Annotation modules are used within dimension rules to analyze, place, and position dimensions. The software processes annotation modules in dimension templates according to the type of the annotation module. For more information on the different types of annotation modules and how the software processes them, see Annotation Modules.
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The modules that display depend on the template that you have selected for editing.
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Depending on the template you open, the module you select, and your settings for properties in the Dimension Rule Manager, the list of available properties can change.
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The Dimension Rule Manager does not display properties and modules that are unavailable for the template you are modifying.
Dimension rules and the properties that define them are organized into the following categories:
Content Module
Gathers the information to display within a label or dimension. Additionally, a content module specifies dimension styles.
Annotation Control Generator
Creates an annotation control object, either as a label control object or dimension control object, which the system uses to represent each individual label or dimension. The annotation control object then manages the list of positioning modules that can use that particular annotation and keeps track of the annotation's current position at any point in time.
Point Generator
Gathers data from the 3D geometry and places points on 2D objects that need labels, dimensions, or matchlines.
Geometric Analyzer
Evaluates the points placed by the point generator module. The selected module groups or deletes points as needed. This module does not create any annotations.
Positioning Module
Determines the position of a dimension.
The lists below contain some of the common properties for the corresponding module type:
Content Module Properties
For information about content modules, see Content Module (Properties tab).
Represents the SmartSketch drawing layer on which the software places the dimensions for the selected template.
Preserve Text Orientation (preserveTextOrientation)
Determines whether or not text always uses the dimension style setting in the label template .xml file.
Defines the appearance of a leader line. To choose a default style delivered with the software, select the style to apply to the leader line.
Annotation Control Generator Module Properties
For more information, see Annotation Control Generator Module (Properties tab).
Aligns dimension chains that have matching projection angles if the alignment does not overlap another element, such as a label or a model graphic.
Places dimensions that measure horizontal distances on the drawing sheet.
Places dimensions that measure vertical distances on the drawing sheet.
Determines the order in which the software places an annotation based on available clear space and proximity to other annotations.
Displays the Internal Dimension, External Dimension, Range Offset, and Trim Witness properties.
Determines the inward distance from the matchline for the boundary between objects meant for internal (inside the view) and external (margin) dimensioning.
Point Generator Properties
For information about point generation modules, see Point Generator Module (Properties tab).
Determines whether to offset the dimension value from points placed for the profile sketch dimension, or to offset the dimension from the edge of the range.
Point Location (pointLocation)
Indicates the position of dimension points placed by the Horizontal Routable Object (DrawingPGRoutableObjHoriz) point generator module. Select Top, Center, or Bottom.
Geometric Analyzer Properties
For more information about geometric analyzer modules, see Geometric Analyzer Module (Properties tab).
Display Overall Dimensions (overall)
Places an additional dimension over each dimension chain cluster identified by the rule.
External Dimension (externalDimension)
Place dimensions connecting to points outside of a certain inward distance from the matchline, as specified by Range Offset.
Internal Dimension (internalDimension)
Places dimensions connecting to points inside a certain inward distance from the matchline, as specified by Range Offset.
Keep Left or Right Duplicate (keepLeftOrRightDup)
Eliminates points from dimensioning consideration when multiple pairs of points are aligned at identical Y positions along a horizontal axis.
Keep Top or Bottom Duplicate (keepTopOrBottomDup)
Eliminates points from dimensioning consideration when multiple pairs of points are aligned at identical X positions along a vertical axis.
Maximum Dimension Offset (maxDimOffset)
Determines the maximum linear paper space distance between consecutive witness lines in a linear distance dimension group.
Maximum Witness Length (maxWitnessLength)
Controls the length of witness lines so that you can determine how far across the drawing the line is drawn. Points that fall outside the maximum witness length are eliminated from consideration.
Minimum Dimension Distance (minimumDimension)
Determines a minimum dimension distance. If a dimension is less than the specified distance, then the software does not place a dimension in the drawing. If a dimension is less than the specified distance and is part of a dimension chain, then the software absorbs that dimension into the larger dimension.
Specifies the positional orientation of the dimension with respect to the dimensioned object.
Overall Offset (overallOffset)
Determines the offset for the overall dimension from the dimension chain.
Determines whether or not a dimension witness line extends into the drawing view to the dimensioned object or stops at the drawing view.
Positioning Module Properties
For information about positioning modules, see Positioning Module (Properties tab).
Specifies a portion of the height of a dimension value as the basis for the increment used to find clear space in which to position the dimension.
Specifies the maximum distance from the dimension line to the nearest point in the dimension chain.
Specifies the minimum distance from the dimension line to the nearest point in the dimension chain.
Perimeter Offset (perimeterOffset)
Specifies either the distance from the edge of the view to the dimension line, or the distance from the edge of the view to the edge of the label that is closest to the view.