Dimension Leaders PropertyManager

In the Dimension Leaders PropertyManager, you can specify the display of dimensions.

To open this PropertyManager:

Select one or more dimensions, then click Leaders in the Dimension PropertyManager.

If you select multiple dimensions, only the properties that apply to all the selected dimensions are available.

Witness/Leader Display

The type of arrows and leaders available depends on the type of dimension selected. See Example: Dimension Line Terminology.

Arrow Placement You can specify placement of arrows with respect to the dimension extension lines: Outside PM_arrow_outside_dim.gif, Inside , Smart PM_arrow_smart_dim.gif, Directed Leader .

Smart specifies that arrows automatically appear outside of extension lines if the space is too small to accommodate the dimension text and the arrowheads.

A Directed Leader can be oriented at any angle with respect to the surface of the feature and can be placed in an annotation plane parallel to the feature axis.
leader_directed.gif

Circular arrowhead handles dim_arrow_handle_circle.gif appear on dimension arrows when you select dimensions. The pointer changes to Pointer_Arrowhead_Direction.gif when it is over the arrowhead handles. When you click on arrowhead handle (either handle if there are two for the dimension), the arrows flip outside or inside.
Ordinate chain Select to chain ordinate dimensions. See Example: Dimension Scheme Types.
Style You can choose separate styles for each arrow when there are two arrows for a dimension. This feature supports the JIS dimensioning standard. Two lists appear in the Dimension PropertyManager only when separate styles are specified by the dimensioning standard.
Radius Specifies that the dimension on an arc or circle displays the radius.
dim_radial.gif
Diameter Specifies that the dimension on an arc or circle displays the diameter.
dim_diameter.gif
Linear PM_Linear_WitnessLeader.gif Specifies the display of a diameter dimension as a linear dimension (not radial).
DIAM_LIN.gif DIAM_RAD.gif
Linear Radial
Foreshortened PM_Foreshortened_WitnessLeader.gif Specifies that the radius dimension line is foreshortened (broken). This is helpful when the centerpoint of a radius is outside of the drawing or interferes with another drawing view. See Document Properties - Diameter Dimensions.
Use the dimension handles to reposition the center and bends.
dim_foreshortened.gif
If you move a diameter dimension into a view where it does not fit, it is foreshortened. dim_foreshortened2.gif
When you dimension to a foreshortened radius or diameter, the dimension also appears as a zigzag.
Solid Leader Specifies the display of a solid line across the circle for radial dimensions. Not available with ANSI standard.
SLDLDR1.gif
Open Leader PM_OneArrowOpenLeader.gif  
One Arrow / Solid Leader PM_OneArrowSolidLeader.gif  
One Arrow / Open Leader PM_OneArrowOpenLeader.gif  
Two Arrows / Solid Leader PM_TwoArrowsSolidLeader.gif  
Two Arrows / Open Leader PM_TwoArrowsOpenLeader.gif  
Perpendicular to Axis PM_PerpendicularToAxis.gif (Available if you select Linear PM_Linear_WitnessLeader.gif for a radial dimension)
Perp_To_Axis.gif
Multi-jog Leader PM_dim_Leader_Multijog.gif (Available for diameter, radius, and chamfer dimensions and hole callouts) See Setting Multiple Jogs in Dimension Leaders.
DIM_Leader_PM_multijogleader.gif
Parallel to Axis PM_ParallelToAxis_WitnessLeader.gif (Available if you select Linear PM_Linear_WitnessLeader.gif for a radial dimension)
Parallel_To_Axis.gif
Arc extension line or opposite side
Controls the radial dimension leader:
  • Where possible, it is applied to an arc extension line.
  • If not possible, it is attached to the opposite side of the arc.
Arc extension line or opposite side selected Arc extension line or opposite side cleared
Use document second arrow Specifies that a diameter dimension (not displayed as linear) with outside arrows follows the document default setting for a second arrow.
To specify the document default setting, select Display second outside arrow in one of the following: To override the document default, clear Use document second arrow, then select Display second outside arrow to turn the arrow display on or off.
2NDARO1.gif 2NDARO2.gif
Second arrow ON Second arrow OFF
Use document bend length Uses the value for Bent leader length in Document Properties - Dimensions. When cleared, you can specify the dimension bent leader length. Enter a value in the box.
Extend bent leader to text If selected, this option specifies that shoulders of bent leaders for radius, diameter, chamfer, and hole callouts meet and align with the end of the text in the appropriate line of text.
  • Left- and right-sided leaders set to Top Justify center to the top line of text in the dimension.
    leader-left-left-top.png leader-right-top.png
  • Left- and right-sided leaders set to Bottom Justify center to the bottom line of text in the dimension.
    leader-left-right-bottom.png leader-right-bottom.png
If this option is cleared, the shoulders of bent leaders stop at the dimension text bounding box.
leader-left-top-legacy.png
To set a default option, click Tools > Options > Document Properties > Dimensions. Under Bent leaders, select Extend to text.

Leader Style

Use document display Select to use the style and thickness configured for the selected dimension type:

Clear to set leader style tools_options_frameleaderstyle.gif, thickness line_thickness.png, or color .

Break Lines

Break Lines Select for the dimension and extension lines to break when crossing other dimension or extension lines in drawings.
You can choose for the extension lines to break only when crossing arrowheads. See Document Properties - Dimensions and select Break only around dimension arrows.
break_lines_selected.gif
Selected
break_lines_cleared.gif
Cleared
When the dimension lines are broken, they break around lines that are nearby. If a dimension is moved significantly, it may not break around the new nearby dimensions. To update the display, unbreak the dimension lines and then break them again.
Use document gap Uses the value in Document Properties - Dimensions.
Gap Enter a value if you do not use the document default.
Break extension lines Breaks extension lines around dimension lines and other extension lines.
break-extension-lines-only.gif
Break dimension line Breaks the dimension line around other dimension lines and other extension lines.
break-dimension-lines-only.gif

Custom Text Position

  Radial Dimension Text
Solid Leader, Aligned Text PM_SolidLeader_AlignedText.gif
Broken Leader, Horizontal Text PM_BrokenLeader_HorizText.gif
Broken Leader, Aligned Text PM_BrokenLeader_AlignedText.gif

Arc Condition

You can set how to dimension between arcs or circles.

First or Second arc condition Select Center, Min, or Max.
When you are dimensioning distances to arcs or circles, the following options are available:
  • First Arc Condition specifies where on the arc or circle the distance is measured.
  • Second Arc Condition specifies where on the second item the distance is measured, when both items are arcs or circles.
In these examples, the First arc condition is Center, and the Second arc condition is set as noted.
DIM2CIR1.gif DIM2CIR2.gif DIM2CIR3.gif
Center (default) Min (closest point) Max (farthest point)