Available with Standard or Advanced license.
Linear dimensions measure the horizontal, vertical, or rotated distance between dimension extension lines; they don't represent the true distance between begin point and endpoint. Linear dimension tools are available in the Create Features pane with dimension feature templates.
When you create linear 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 a linear dimension
The Linear Dimension tool 
creates a vertical or a horizontal dimension based on the relative position of the pointer to the baseline vertices. The third vertex creates the dimension line.
The following diagrams illustrate the basic steps to create a linear dimension:
| Horizontal linear dimension | Vertical linear dimension |
|---|---|
|
|
To create a linear 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 dimensions 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 Linear 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 features.
Linear 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.
The diagram shows the three steps to create and snap the dimension line to the previous linear dimension using the continue dimensions tool mode. - 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 location and click the map.
- To create a horizontal dimension, move the pointer vertically above or below the dimension begin point and endpoint.
- To create a vertical dimension, move the pointer horizontally to the left or right of the dimension begin point and endpoint.
Create a rotated linear dimension
The Rotated Linear Dimension tool 
creates a vertical or a horizontal linear dimension and allows you to rotate the extension lines after you set the dimension line height. The distance value updates as you rotate the unfinished feature.
The following diagram illustrates the basic steps to create a rotated linear dimension:
| Rotated linear dimension |
|---|
|
To create a rotated linear 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 Rotated Linear 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 features.
Rotated Linear 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 location and click the map.
- To create a horizontal dimension, move the pointer vertically above or below the dimension begin point and endpoint.
- To create a vertical dimension, move the pointer horizontally to the left or right of the dimension begin point and endpoint.
- Move the pointer until the preview displays the dimension line rotated at the correct angle and click the map.
Create a free linear dimension
The Free Linear Dimension tool 
allows you to create a linear dimension or a rotated linear dimension depending on when you click Finish 
or press F2. If you click a fourth vertex to further define the angle of rotation, the preview turns off.
To create free linear dimensions, 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 Linear 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 .
Note:
The Continue Dimensions tool mode is not available with this construction tool.
- Click the map to create the dimension begin point.
- Move the pointer and click the map to create the dimension endpoint.
- Move the pointer until the preview displays a horizontal or vertical dimension line at the correct location and click the map.
- To create a horizontal dimension, move the pointer vertically above or below the dimension begin point and endpoint.
- To create a vertical dimension, move the pointer horizontally to the left or right of the dimension begin point and endpoint.
- To create a linear dimension, click Finish or press F2.
To create a rotated linear dimension, move the pointer until the preview displays the dimension line rotated at the correct angle, 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 
.
Create an edge linear dimension
The Edge Linear Dimension tool 
creates a vertical or a horizontal linear dimension with the baseline begin point and endpoint vertices automatically created at the ends of a clicked edge of a line or polyline feature.
The following diagrams illustrate the basic steps to create an edge linear dimension:
| Edge linear dimension |
|---|
|
To create edge linear dimensions, 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 Edge Linear 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 .
Note:
The Continue Dimensions tool mode is not available with this construction tool.
- Click the edge of the line or polyline feature you want to dimension.
The baseline begin point and endpoint are automatically created at the ends of the clicked edge.
- Move the pointer until the preview displays the dimension line at the correct location and click the map.
- To create a horizontal dimension, move the pointer vertically above or below the dimension begin point and endpoint.
- To create a vertical dimension, move the pointer horizontally to the left or right of the dimension begin point and endpoint.