Modify dimension style properties

Available with Standard or Advanced license.

The Attributes pane Attributes allows you to change the dimension style assigned to a dimension feature or modify some of its display properties by clicking property presets or by typing values in the corresponding property fields. This pane is available on the ribbon Edit tab, in the Selection group.

Dimensions are annotation features with additional geometry. The elements of a dimension are illustrated in the following diagram:

Dimension elements

When you change or customize a dimension style, consider the following:

  • The Dimension tab contains controls to modify the style for a selected dimension feature and a drop-down arrow to choose from a collection of dimension styles stored with the feature class.
  • The Attributes tab provides an alternative to clicking controls and allows you to type the property values in the corresponding fields.
  • To add a dimension style or modify style properties that are not available on these tabs, right-click the feature class in the Catalog pane and click Dimension Feature Class Properties Dimension Feature Class Properties.

Change or modify a dimension style

To change or modify a dimension style, complete the following steps:

  1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

    Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

    Note:

    To migrate dimension features from ArcMap, create a backup and upgrade the feature class. Similarly, you might need to upgrade dimensions that were created with older versions of ArcGIS Pro. To learn more, see Management of dimension feature class properties.

  2. On the ribbon Edit tab, in the Selection group, click Attributes Attributes.

    The Attributes pane appears.

  3. Click the Change the selection tool Active Select in the tool pane and select the dimension feature.

    If you select more than one feature, reselect the feature. Alternatively, click the feature in the pane selection view to flash it in the map, right-click and click Only Select This List By Selection.

    The dimension feature highlights on the map.

  4. Click the Dimension tab.
    Dimension tab in the Attributes pane
  5. To change the dimension style, expand the Style section, click the drop-down arrow and choose the dimension style.
  6. To customize the selected dimension style, expand one or more of the sections and make the changes described in the following table:

    Text > Use system value

    Display the text using the current system value.

    Text > Use custom value

    Override the system text value with the text that is typed in the text box.

    Text > Text Angle

    Rotate the text to the angle that is typed in the text box.

    Note:

    This setting is ignored If the dimension style defines the text to be parallel with the dimension line.

    Reset Text Placement

    Reset the text to its default position.

    Dimension Lines > Line display

    Choose to display both dimension lines, just the begin or end line, or none of them.

    Dimension Lines > Symbol display

    Choose to display the symbol at both ends of the dimension line, just the begin or end line, or neither end.

    Extension Lines > Line display

    Choose to display both extension lines, just the begin or end line, or none of them.

    Extension Lines > Line angle

    Rotate the extension line angle relative to the dimension lines by the value typed in the box.

  7. If Auto Apply is not checked, click the Apply button.

Type dimension property field values

To type dimension property field values instead of using the controls, complete the following steps:

  1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

    Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

    Note:

    To migrate dimension features from ArcMap, create a backup and upgrade the feature class. Similarly, you might need to upgrade dimensions in older versions of ArcGIS Pro. To learn more, see Management of dimension feature class properties.

  2. On the ribbon Edit tab, in the Selection group, click Attributes Attributes.

    The Attributes pane appears.

  3. Click the Change the selection tool Active Select in the tool pane and select the annotation feature.

    If you select more than one feature, reselect the feature. Alternatively, click the feature in the pane selection view to flash it in the map, right-click and click Only Select This List By Selection.

    The dimension feature highlights on the map.

  4. Click the Attributes tab.
  5. Click the field for the display property you want to change and type the attribute values described in the following table:

    Field Property

    STYLEID

    ID of the dimension style.

    USECUSTOMLENGTH

    A value of 0 indicates that the feature's length is used for the dimension text; 1 indicates that a custom value is used for the dimension text.

    CUSTOMLENGTH

    Value used for the dimension text if USECUSTOMLENGTH is 1.

    DIMDISPLAY

    Null indicates that both dimension lines are displayed, 1 indicates that only the start dimension line is displayed, 2 indicates that only the end dimension line is displayed, and 3 indicates that none of the dimension lines are displayed.

    EXTDISPLAY

    Null indicates that both extension lines are displayed, 1 indicates that only the start extension line is displayed, 2 indicates that only the end extension line is displayed, and 3 indicates that none of the extension lines are displayed.

    MARKERDISPLAY

    Null indicates that both dimension line end arrow markers are displayed, 1 indicates that only the start dimension line end arrow marker is displayed, 2 indicates that only the end dimension line end arrow marker is displayed, and 3 indicates that none of the dimension line end arrow markers are displayed.

    TEXTANGLE

    Rotation angle of the text specified in radians. You can rotate the text separately only if you've defined a dimension style that does not have the text set to be parallel with the dimension line.

    Dimension style attributes
  6. If Auto Apply is not checked, click the Apply button.