Create aligned dimensions

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 Forward.
  • 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 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 Aligned 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 dimensionAligned dimension constrained parallel

Aligned dimension created at an angle.
The diagram shows the three steps to create an aligned dimension.

Aligned dimension constrained parallel with the dimension line height snapped to another dimension.
The diagram shows the four steps to create an aligned dimension with the begin point snapped to an existing dimension, the endpoint constrained parallel, and the dimension line height snapped to an existing dimension.
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:

  1. 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 Vertex and Edge Edge snap agents.

  2. On the ribbon Edit tab, click Create Create Features in the Features group.

    The Create Features pane appears.

  3. Click a dimension feature template in the Create Features pane.

    To show only dimension templates, click the Filter button Filter and click Filter By > Dimension. To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box Find and enter your search criteria. Search is not case sensitive.

  4. Click the Aligned Dimension tool Aligned.
  5. To apply a custom text value, or change the display of the dimension line, marker symbols, or extension lines, click the Active template arrow Forward.
    Dimension properties

    To type feature attribute values or change tool settings, click the tabs described in the following table:

    TabDescription

    Attributes Attributes

    Attribute values assigned to the feature.

    Aligned Dimension 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.

  6. Click the map or snap to an existing dimension to create the dimension begin point.
  7. 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 Parallel or press P, or click Perpendicular Perpendicular or press E, respectively.

  8. 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 Simple Aligned Dimension 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 dimensionSimple aligned dimensions constrained parallel and perpendicular

Simple aligned dimension
The diagram shows the two steps to create a simple aligned dimension.

Point-to-point dimension
The diagram shows the three steps to create an aligned dimension with the begin point snapped to an existing dimension and the endpoint constrained parallel.
Perpendicular dimension.
The diagram shows the three steps to create an aligned dimension with the begin point snapped to an existing dimension and the endpoint constrained perpendicular.

To create a simple aligned dimension, complete the following steps:

  1. 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 Vertex and Edge Edge snap agents.

  2. On the ribbon Edit tab, click Create Create Features in the Features group.

    The Create Features pane appears.

  3. Click a dimension feature template in the Create Features pane.

    To show only dimension templates, click the Filter button Filter and click Filter By > Dimension. To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box Find and enter your search criteria. Search is not case sensitive.

  4. Click the Simple Aligned tool Simple Aligned Dimension.
  5. To apply a custom text value, or change the display of the dimension line, marker symbols, or extension lines, click the Active template arrow Forward.
    Dimension properties

    To type feature attribute values or change tool settings, click the tabs described in the following table:

    TabDescription

    Attributes Attributes

    Attribute values assigned to the feature.

    Simple Aligned Simple 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.

  6. Click the map or snap to an existing dimension to create the dimension begin point.
  7. 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 Parallel or press P, or click Perpendicular Perpendicular or press E, respectively.

Create a free aligned dimension

The Free Aligned Dimension tool Free Aligned Dimension allows you to create either an aligned dimension or a simple aligned dimension depending on when you click Finish 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:

  1. 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 Vertex and Edge Edge snap agents.

  2. On the ribbon Edit tab, click Create Create Features in the Features group.

    The Create Features pane appears.

  3. Click a dimension feature template in the Create Features pane.

    To show only dimension templates, click the Filter button Filter and click Filter By > Dimension. To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box Find and enter your search criteria. Search is not case sensitive.

  4. Click the Free Aligned Dimension tool Free Aligned Dimension.
    Tip:

    This tool is not visible by default. To show the tool, click the Active template arrow Forward and click the Active Template Options menu Menu. Click Properties Properties, and click the Tools tab on the Template Properties dialog box.

  5. To apply a custom text value, or change the display of the dimension line, marker symbols, or extension lines, click the Active template arrow Forward.
    Dimension properties
    Note:

    The Continue Dimensions tool mode is not available with this construction tool.

  6. Click the map or snap to an existing dimension to create the dimension begin point.
  7. Move the pointer and click the map to create the dimension endpoint.
  8. To create a simple aligned dimension with no extension lines, click Finish 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 Finish or press F2.

    To move a vertex before finishing the dimension, hover over the vertex until the pointer changes to the directional cursor 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 Directional cursor, right-click, and click Delete Vertex No.

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