Create aligned dimensions

Available with Standard or Advanced license.

Aligned dimension tools create dimensions that measure the true distance along a constructed baseline. The tools are available in the Create Features pane with feature templates that create features on dimensions layers.

Before finishing a dimension, you can edit a construction point by hovering over it until the pointer changes to a vertex symbol. To move it, click and drag the pointer. To delete it, right-click and click Delete Vertex

Note:

Dimension features are symbolized with properties stored with the feature class as dimensions styles. You can modify an existing dimension using standard editing tools to customize the styling and geometry.

Aligned

The aligned dimension tool creates an aligned dimension with extension lines using three points. The first two points define the baseline start and end point. The third point locates the dimension line height and resulting extension lines.

Aligned dimension created at an angle.

1. If the current map does not contain a dimension feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane , and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a dimension feature class, right-click the database, click New and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is autogenerated for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Create Features pane.
   1. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu and enable your snapping preferences.
   2. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the pane, choose a dimension feature template, and click Aligned Dimension .
   • To customize the dimension style, click the Active template button .
4. Create the dimension.
   1. Click the map to create the start baseline point.
   2. Move the pointer and click the map to create the end baseline point.
   3. Move the pointer to preview the dimension line height.
   4. Click the map to create the dimension.

Simple aligned

The simple aligned dimension tool creates an aligned dimension with no extension lines using two construction points. The first point defines the baseline start point. The second point defines the baseline end point and automatically finishes the feature.

Simple aligned dimension created at an angle.

1. If the current map does not contain a dimension feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane , and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a dimension feature class, right-click the database, click New and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is autogenerated for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Create Features pane.
   1. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu and enable your snapping preferences.
   2. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the pane, choose a dimension feature template, and click Simple Aligned ..
   • To customize the dimension style, click the Active template button .
4. Create the dimension.
   1. Click the map to create the start baseline point.
   2. Move the pointer and click the map to create the end baseline point and finish the dimension.

Free aligned

The free linear dimension tool creates a horizontal or vertical linear dimension using three construction points. Specifying a fourth construction point creates a rotated linear dimension. If you specify too few or too many points, the tool does not create a dimension.

Aligned dimension created at an angle.

Simple aligned dimension created at an angle.

1. If the current map does not contain a dimension feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane , and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a dimension feature class, right-click the database, click New and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is autogenerated for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Create Features pane.
   1. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu and enable your snapping preferences.
   2. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the pane, choose a dimension feature template, and click Free Aligned Dimension .
   • To customize the dimension style, click the Active template button .
4. Create the dimension.
   1. Click the map to create the start baseline point.
   2. Move the pointer and click the map to create the end baseline point.
   3. To finish the dimension without extension lines, click Finish or press F2.
   4. To specify the dimension line height and draw extension lines, move the pointer, click the map, and click Finish or press F2.

Perpendicular aligned

To manually create an aligned dimension perpendicular to an existing dimension, constrain the baseline end point perpendicular to the existing dimension line.

The diagram shows a simple aligned dimension and the three steps to create it perpendicular to an existing dimension line.

The following steps create simple aligned dimensions. You can also create perpendicular aligned dimensions with extension lines.

1. If the current map does not contain a dimension feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane , and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a dimension feature class, right-click the database, click New and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is automatically created for the new layer.

2. Confirm snapping is enabled for the dimension layer.
   1. On the View tab, in the Windows group, click Contents .

      The Contents pane appears.

   2. Click List by Snapping .
   3. Check the dimension layer.
3. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, click the drop-down arrow, and enable the following snap agents.
   1. Enable Edge to snap to an existing dimension baseline.
   2. Enable Vertex to snap the start point to an existing dimension end point or start point.
   3. Move the pointer back to the map.
4. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
5. On the pane, choose a dimension feature template, and click Simple Aligned .
6. Create the dimension.
   1. Click the start or end point of an existing dimension to create the start baseline point.
   2. Right-click the existing dimension line, and click Perpendicular or press the P key, to constrain the new dimension line perpendicular.

      

   3. Move the pointer and click the map to create the end baseline point.

Continue dimensions

Continued dimensions are multiple dimensions placed end to end. To create continued aligned or continued simple aligned dimensions, set the construction tool to continue dimensions after each consecutive click.

Tip:

To create continued dimensions manually, snap the baseline start point to the previous existing baseline end point, and right-click and click Parallel or press the E key to constrain the dimension line parallel to the corresponding existing dimension line.

The diagram shows a simple aligned dimension and the three steps to create it parallel to an existing dimension line.

1. If the current map does not contain a dimension feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane , and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a dimension feature class, right-click the database, click New and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is automatically created for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, click the drop-down arrow, and enable the following snap agents.
   1. Enable Edge to snap to an existing dimension baseline.
   2. Enable Vertex to snap the start point to an existing dimension end point.
   3. Move the pointer back to the map.
3. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
4. On the pane, choose a dimension feature template, and click Simple Aligned .
   1. Click the Active template button .
   2. Click Simple Aligned .
   3. Scroll down to the bottom of the pane, click Aligned Dimension , and check Continue Dimensions.

      

5. Create the dimensions.
   1. Click the map to create the start baseline point.
   2. Move the pointer and click the map to create the end baseline point.

      The start point for the next dimension is automatically created at the endpoint.

   3. Move the pointer and click the map again to create the baseline end point for the next dimension.

      Note:

      If you are creating continued aligned dimension with extension lines, snap the third construction point to the vertex of the existing dimension line.

   4. To stop creating continued dimensions press Esc.

Baseline aligned

To create multiple aligned dimensions measured from the same location, snap the baseline start point to the existing dimension and constrain the baseline end point parallel to the existing dimension line.

The diagram shows a baseline aligned dimension and the four steps to create it parallel to an existing dimension line.

1. If the current map does not contain a dimension feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane , and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a dimension feature class, right-click the database, click New and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is automatically created for the new layer.

2. Confirm snapping is enabled for the dimension layer.
   1. On the View tab, in the Windows group, click Contents .

      The Contents pane appears.

   2. Click List by Snapping .
   3. Check the dimension layer.
3. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, click the drop-down arrow, and enable the following snap agents.
   1. Enable Edge to snap to an existing dimension baseline.
   2. Enable Vertex to snap the start point to an existing dimension start point.
   3. Move the pointer back to the map.
4. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
5. On the pane, choose a dimension feature template, and click Aligned Dimension .
6. Create a simple aligned dimension perpendicular to an existing dimension line.
   1. Click the start point of an existing dimension to create the start baseline point.
   2. Right-click the existing dimension line, and click Parallel or press the E key, to constrain the new dimension line.

      

   3. Move the pointer and click the map to create the end baseline point.
   4. Move the pointer to preview the dimension line height.
   5. Click the map to create the dimension.