Dimensioning: stacked fractions & movable dimension text

[Markus Barrera-Kolb]

I'm a new convert from AutoCAD, and one of the things I'm already missing greatly is the ability to place dimension text manually by just dragging it directly to another location, while leaving the dimension lines in the same place. Having to manually enter an offset in the Object Info pallette is quite cumbersome. Also you should be able to use a leader that's not just an extension of the dimension line. Together with the ability to stack fractional numbers and reduce the font size for fractions, this would make it much easier to dimension a dense floor plan (or any drawing with limited space and lots of dimensions). As it is, dimensioning in VectorWorks feels much clumsier than it did in AutoCAD.

['ilima]

The ability to also explode chain dimensions into individual, independently manipulatable dimensions would be great!

Stacked dimensions is a must!! There's just not enough space on most architectural plans not to have it!

[brudgers]

Chain dimensions can be decomposed. See the modify menu.

The nifty thing is that an aligned group of individual dimensions can be composed into a chain dimension.

If you want individual dimensions without decomposing, then select that mode when using the dimension tool.

All that said, it's clumsier in some ways, better in others.

Edited June 6, 2008 by brudgers

[Gytis]

Yes, please, to stacked dimensions and separate leader!

[Ray Libby]

markuskolb, hold the shift key down as you drag the dimension text to constrain the dimension line.

[Markus Barrera-Kolb]

Thanks Ray, but it's not that I'm having trouble keeping the dimension line in the same place -- rather, I'd like to have greater flexibility in placing the dimension text relative to the dimension line, and to be able to suppress the automatic lengthening of the dimension line if I choose to place the text beyond the witness line.

['ilima]

How would you compose a string of individual dimensions into a chain dimension? I tried using compose, under the modify menu but with no success.

any advice appreciated, thanks!!

Edited June 13, 2008 by limabean

[maarten.]

It should work normally. But make sure that they are on the same line, and that they have the same reference point.

[billtheia]

Yes, NNA, please add stacked fractions, moveable dimension text, and leaders to VW's dimensioning.