Available with Standard or Advanced license.
Aligned dimensions measure the true distance between dimension begin point and endpoint. The dimension line is drawn parallel to the invisible baseline defined by these points. Align dimension tools are available in the Create Features pane with dimension feature templates.
When you create aligned dimensions, consider the following:
- To override dimension properties or change tool settings, click the Active template arrow
. - To create a series of dimensions that automatically begin at the endpoint of the previous dimension, check the Continue Dimensions check box on the dimension tool tab, in the Active Template view. This setting can be saved with a feature template.
- To change the text font size, right-click the feature class in the Catalog pane and click Dimension Feature Class Properties
.Note:
The reference scale property defines the scale at which dimension features appear at their intended size. The reference scale is defined when the dimension feature class is created and is read-only. To change the reference scale, use the Update Annotation Reference Scale tool.
Create an aligned dimension
The Aligned Dimension tool 
creates an aligned dimension with extension lines. You can create aligned dimensions at any angle or constrain them parallel or perpendicular to other dimensions, and line or polygon features.
The following diagrams illustrate the basic steps to create an aligned dimension:
| Aligned dimension | Aligned dimension constrained parallel |
|---|---|
|
Tip:To create dimensions that measure the horizontal distance between dimension extension lines irrespective of the y-coordinates of the begin point and endpoint, use the linear dimension tools. |
To create an aligned dimension, complete the following steps:
- Add your dimension feature data and configure settings for editing.
Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable and the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing.
To snap dimension geometry to other dimensions, turn snapping on and enable the Vertex
and Edge 
snap agents. - On the ribbon Edit tab, click Create
in the Features group.The Create Features pane appears.
- Click a dimension feature template in the Create Features pane.
To show only dimension templates, click the Filter button
and click Filter By > Dimension. To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box 
and enter your search criteria. Search is not case sensitive. - Click the Aligned Dimension tool .
- To apply a custom text value, or change the display of the dimension line, marker symbols, or extension lines, click the Active template arrow .
To type feature attribute values or change tool settings, click the tabs described in the following table:
Tab Description Attributes
Attribute values assigned to the feature.
Aligned Dimension
Optional tool settings.
To create a series of dimensions that automatically begin at the endpoint of the previous dimension, check the Continue Dimensions check box.
- Click the map or snap to an existing dimension to create the dimension begin point.
- Move the pointer and click the map to create the dimension endpoint.
To constrain the endpoint parallel or perpendicular to an existing dimension, or to a line or polygon feature, right-click the feature geometry, and click Parallel
or press P, or click Perpendicular 
or press E, respectively. - Move the pointer until the preview displays the dimension line at the correct height and click the map.
Create a simple aligned dimension
The Simple Aligned tool 
creates an aligned dimension with no extension lines. You can create simple aligned dimensions at any angle or constrain the dimension parallel or perpendicular to other existing dimension lines.
The following diagrams illustrate the basic steps to create a simple aligned dimension:
| Simple aligned dimension | Simple aligned dimensions constrained parallel and perpendicular |
|---|---|
|
|
To create a simple aligned dimension, complete the following steps:
- Add your dimension feature data and configure settings for editing.
Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable and the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing.
To snap dimension geometry to other dimensions, turn snapping on and enable the Vertex
and Edge snap agents. - On the ribbon Edit tab, click Create in the Features group.
The Create Features pane appears.
- Click a dimension feature template in the Create Features pane.
To show only dimension templates, click the Filter button
and click Filter By > Dimension. To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box and enter your search criteria. Search is not case sensitive. - Click the Simple Aligned tool .
- To apply a custom text value, or change the display of the dimension line, marker symbols, or extension lines, click the Active template arrow .
To type feature attribute values or change tool settings, click the tabs described in the following table:
Tab Description Attributes
Attribute values assigned to the feature.
Simple Aligned
Optional tool settings.
To create a series of dimensions that automatically begin at the endpoint of the previous dimension, check the Continue Dimensions check box.
- Click the map or snap to an existing dimension to create the dimension begin point.
- Move the pointer and click the map to create the dimension endpoint.
To constrain the endpoint parallel or perpendicular to an existing dimension, or to a line or polygon feature, right-click the feature geometry, and click Parallel
or press P, or click Perpendicular or press E, respectively.
Create a free aligned dimension
The Free Aligned Dimension tool 
allows you to create either an aligned dimension or a simple aligned dimension depending on when you click Finish 
or press F2. If you click a third vertex to create extension lines, the preview turns off.
To create a free aligned dimension, complete the following steps:
- Add your dimension feature data and configure settings for editing.
Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable and the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing.
To snap dimension geometry to other dimensions, turn snapping on and enable the Vertex
and Edge snap agents. - On the ribbon Edit tab, click Create in the Features group.
The Create Features pane appears.
- Click a dimension feature template in the Create Features pane.
To show only dimension templates, click the Filter button
and click Filter By > Dimension. To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box and enter your search criteria. Search is not case sensitive. - Click the Free Aligned Dimension tool .
Tip:
This tool is not visible by default. To show the tool, click the Active template arrow
and click the Active Template Options menu 
. Click Properties 
, and click the Tools tab on the Template Properties dialog box. - To apply a custom text value, or change the display of the dimension line, marker symbols, or extension lines, click the Active template arrow .
Note:
The Continue Dimensions tool mode is not available with this construction tool.
- Click the map or snap to an existing dimension to create the dimension begin point.
- Move the pointer and click the map to create the dimension endpoint.
- To create a simple aligned dimension with no extension lines, click Finish or press F2.
To create an aligned dimension with extension lines, move the pointer until the preview displays the dimension line at the correct location, click the map, and click Finish
or press F2.To move a vertex before finishing the dimension, hover over the vertex until the pointer changes to the directional cursor
and drag it.Caution:
If you specify too few or too many vertices, the tool fails to create dimensions.
To delete a vertex, hover over the vertex until the pointer changes to the directional cursor
, right-click, and click Delete Vertex 
.