Expand IntroductionIntroduction
Expand AdministrationAdministration
Expand User InterfaceUser Interface
Expand SolidWorks FundamentalsSolidWorks Fundamentals
Expand Moving from 2D to 3DMoving from 2D to 3D
Expand AssembliesAssemblies
Expand CircuitWorksCircuitWorks
Expand ConfigurationsConfigurations
Expand SolidWorks CostingSolidWorks Costing
Expand Design CheckerDesign Checker
Expand Design Studies in SolidWorksDesign Studies in SolidWorks
Collapse Detailing and DrawingsDetailing and Drawings
Expand DFMXpressDFMXpress
Expand DriveWorksXpressDriveWorksXpress
Expand FloXpressFloXpress
Expand Import and ExportImport and Export
Expand Model DisplayModel Display
Expand Mold DesignMold Design
Expand Motion StudiesMotion Studies
Expand Parts and FeaturesParts and Features
Expand RoutingRouting
Expand Sheet MetalSheet Metal
Expand SimulationSimulation
Expand SimulationXpressSimulationXpress
Expand SketchingSketching
Expand Sustainability ProductsSustainability Products
Expand SolidWorks UtilitiesSolidWorks Utilities
Expand TolerancingTolerancing
Expand TolAnalystTolAnalyst
Expand ToolboxToolbox
Expand WeldmentsWeldments
Expand Workgroup PDMWorkgroup PDM
Expand TroubleshootingTroubleshooting
Glossary
Hide Table of Contents

Baseline Dimensions

Baseline dimensions are reference dimensions used in drawings. You cannot change their values or use the values to drive the model.

When creating baseline dimensions, you define a baseline position with the first selection and select subsequent locations to dimension. All values are measured from the initial baseline.

Baseline dimensions are automatically grouped, and they are spaced at the distances specified in Tools > Options > Document Properties > Dimensions under Offset distances.
You can also dimension to midpoints when you add baseline dimensions.

Creating Baseline Dimensions

To create a baseline dimension:

  1. Click Baseline Dimension Tool_Baseline_Dimensions_Relations.gif on the Dimensions/Relations toolbar, or click Tools > Dimensions > Baseline.
  2. Click the edge or vertex you want to use as a baseline.
  3. Click each of the edges or vertices you want to dimension.

    If you select an edge, dimensions are measured parallel to the selected edge. If you select a vertex, dimensions are measured point-to-point from the selected vertex.
    baseln1.gif
    Edge as baseline
    baseln2.gif
    Vertex as baseline

Adding Dimensions to Existing Baseline Dimensions

To add new dimensions to an existing set of baseline dimensions:

  1. Right-click on one of the existing baseline dimensions and click Add To Baseline.

    The cursor changes to pointer-baseline-dimension.png and the Baseline tool activates.

  2. Click new elements in the drawing view to add to the baseline dimensions.

    As you add new elements to the baseline, the set of baseline dimensions reorders to accommodate the additional dimensions.

    To specify spacing in baseline dimensions, use Tools > Options . On the Document Properties tab, click Dimensions and in Offset distances, set the spacing.

Auto Arranging Baseline Dimensions

To auto arrange baseline dimensions:

  1. Select the baseline dimensions.
  2. When the dimension palette rollover button tools_Dim_Palette_rollover_button.gif appears, move the pointer over the button to view the dimension palette.
  3. On the dimension palette, click Auto Arrange Dimensions dim_pal_auto_arrange.gif.


Provide feedback on this topic

SOLIDWORKS welcomes your feedback concerning the presentation, accuracy, and thoroughness of the documentation. Use the form below to send your comments and suggestions about this topic directly to our documentation team. The documentation team cannot answer technical support questions. Click here for information about technical support.

* Required

 
*Email:  
Subject:   Feedback on Help Topics
Page:   Baseline Dimensions
*Comment:  
*   I acknowledge I have read and I hereby accept the privacy policy under which my Personal Data will be used by Dassault Systèmes

Print Topic

Select the scope of content to print:

x

We have detected you are using a browser version older than Internet Explorer 7. For optimized display, we suggest upgrading your browser to Internet Explorer 7 or newer.

 Never show this message again
x

Web Help Content Version: SOLIDWORKS 2013 SP05

To disable Web help from within SOLIDWORKS and use local help instead, click Help > Use SOLIDWORKS Web Help.

To report problems encountered with the Web help interface and search, contact your local support representative. To provide feedback on individual help topics, use the “Feedback on this topic” link on the individual topic page.

0.20.59