Fraction Display Inconsistency

[RGyori]

I have been using VW2010's implementation of fraction display choices for a while now but have noticed an irritating inconsistency. Simply put, manually entered dimensions are displayed strictly as typed in the OIP ignoring the fractional display selection made in File>Document Settings>Units menu. Thus one can have a string of dimensions displaying fractions differently.

Am I to assume that even though I am directly editing a dimension the entered information is treated strictly as text, thus ignoring the fraction settings?

As of now the described graphic result effectively defeats the purpose of making alternate fraction display selections.

Bob

[Pat Stanford]

Can you post an image showing what you are seeing? I just did a chain dimension and I don't see a difference between manually entered and automatic. Can you post steps to replicate?

If you mean what I think you mean, I am not seeing it here.

[Ken]

Bob, it's the built-in Fractional Display for Dimensions that's not affecting your override in the OIP. This is one case where I cannot complain too much, although I agree with how inconsistent a combo dim string can be.

Before this fractional display was a feature, I was using a font called Helvetica Fractions. It was a separate purchase at some odd $29. It allowed fractional displays with any numerator and denominator in two styles ? horizontal or angle separator. It was system wide usage, so you could do it in MS Word, etc. I even switched globally to Helvetica font for all my drawings.

However, it was not always easy to use. Ugggh.

And it could NOT be entered in VW as dimensional override. It didn't effect dimensions at all, so I had to manually place opaque text blocks on dimension lines when showing fractions was critical.

Now we have dimensional fractions Vectorworks. No more need for Helvetica Fractions! Woohoo! The font doesn't load in OS 10.6 anyway. Good riddance.

Now the workaround is reversed:

• Duplicate your dimension in place (option click)
  
• The dim you want to show fractions:
  • Delete its constraints if necessary (the duplicate should be clear)
    
  • Double-click on it to change its value
    
  • Set its line thickness to 0.00 for invisibility
    
  • Send to Front (if not already there) to mask the other dim

  [*] The other dim shows just the lines, so uncheck its Show Dim Value

It's not technically kosher, but it's pretty.

[RGyori]

Pat and Ken, thanks for the replies.

Pat, I have attached a simple example illustrating my problem. How do I edit the center (red) dimension to a fractional number other than the displayed dimension and have it display correctly?

Editing the dimension via the OIP treats the result as a text object and the resulting fraction does not match. Double-clicking and editing the red dimension results in a correct fractional display but the dimension string changes to the new dimension. Associative dimensions are turned off.

Is there something I'm missing? (Not that it has ever happened before!)

Bob

[Pat Stanford]

I can't get it to work either. I would file a wish and a bug on this.

1. WISH: Dimensions should automatically convert fractions in Leader/Trailer fields to stacked dimensions

2. BUG: Dimensions don't allow entry of unicode characters in Leader/Trailer fields.

Attach your sample file to both reports.

[RGyori]

Thanks for the confirmation Pat. I submitted both the wish and bug list item.

Bob