Spot.pngPlacing a dimension tape

Mode

Tool

Tool set

Modes for Creating lines

Dimension Tape

DimTape_tool.png 

Dims/Notes

Spotlight software users can place a dimension tape object on the drawing to quickly indicate the approximate location of objects that don’t require final alignment until after installation is completed.

DimTape_Ex.png 

To create a dimension tape:

Click the tool and mode.

Click to place the object in the drawing, click again to set the length and rotation, and click a third time to establish the position. The first time you use the tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default parameters. The parameters can be edited later from the Object Info palette.

The dimension tape’s text font, size, and style are controlled with the Text menu, and attributes such as pen color, line type, and fill are controlled with the Attributes palette.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Tape length

Enter the length of the dimension tape in document units

Dist. between Hash Marks

Enter the distance between hash marks

Number of subdivisions

Enter the number of evenly spaced subdivision marks between hash marks

Height of hash marker

Enter the height of the hash marks

Height of subdivision marker

Enter the height of the subdivision marks

Number in negative direction

Extends the numbers in a negative direction; by default, the numbers increase in the direction the tape was drawn

Number placement

Select whether to place the numbers above or below a horizontal line, or to the right or left of a vertical line

Mark from center

Extends numbers in both directions from the center of the tape; if 0 should be located off-center, enter the offset

If you need to indicate a specific location on the tape to mark the placement of an item, right-click on the dimension tape object and select Add Specific marker from the context menu.

The specific marker is a separate object from the dimension tape it is associated with, and its pen, line type, and fill attributes are edited independently. The placement of the specific marker and the length of its line can be edited with control points, and its position on the tape can be modified in the Object Info palette. To remove a specific marker, move its control point past the end of the dimension tape object, or select it and press the Delete key.

 

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