DIMENSION - v14

dimension                  { f=<frag> }

or

dimension                  { f=<frag> }
data block;

 

Function

Add a dimension line to the model with optional annotation.  

 Parameters

f=

The fragment number of the dimension. (*)

Data Block

Phrases separated by commas and terminated by a ; or a blank line. Phrase options are:

 

a= <v>

Angle of the annotation in degrees. The default angle for line dimensions is parallel to the dimension line.

ar1=<value>

Set a small extra vertical line on the left line for all dimension styles. Update 12.4.1
Values TT | TM | TMO | TB | TBO | BI | BO | NONE

ar2=<value>

Set a small extra vertical line on the right line for all dimension styles. Update 12.4.1
Values TT | TM | TMO | TB | TBO | BI | BO | NONE

b

The annotation box is to drawn. (*)

c= <v> {a}

Character height, v must be positive. An "A" implies an actual size in mm. (*)

e= <vector>
| c(<arc-definition>)

Vector phrase describing the dimension line. The start of the dimension line is assumed to be current control. An arc definition may be used to indicate an angle dimension. Refer to the ARC command for details of arc definition. An A or $ preceding the vector phrase indicates an invisible or dotted dimension line.

fill=0|1|2

It is possible to specify an additional arrowhead type for all dimension styles. Where <n> represents a value 0,1 or 2 Update 12.3

intern=0|1|2

 INTERN makes it possible to specify a parameter which automatically adjusts the dimension line when the length, the height or the position of the text is modified and it can also automatically places the text beyond the start point or beyond the end point.

INTERN is extended in V14 to act on types 1,4,5,6,9,16,17,22 in addition to the existing 10,11,12,27,28 and 29 already present.

Intern=0, standard, i.e. no automatic placing of the text.

                     This is the default.

Intern=1,  text automatically placed beyond start point

Intern=2, text automatically placed beyond end point

j= m|tm|bm|tl|ml|bl

|tr|mr|br|i|il|im

The position of the control point relative to the "annotation box". The default value for a line dimension is BM, offset by half the character height from the dimension line.

m= <n>

The pen number of the annotation.

 

Note: the pen of the dimension line is the current pen.

o=n|e|s|w|p|u|i1

|i2|i3|i4|all

On which view(s) the dimension is to be shown. Unless predefined, the default is the current view.

q= a|r

Angle dimensions only. Which item is to appear in the associated annotation replacing any # character. The value A will use the arc subtended angle, the value R will use the arc radius. The default is A.

r= <v>

Character aspect ratio (width/height), v must be positive. (*)

t= <message> | $<file>{(u)}

A line of annotation text. If a line begins in $ the text is the contents of a text file (default extension DAT) used as an "instance", or expanded when the (U) option is used. A # in the annotation will for line dimensions draw the length of the dimension line. A # for an angled dimension will draw either the arc angle or radius. An empty message will signify the last line of text.

th= <n>

The pen thickness of the annotation.

 

Note: the pen thickness of the dimension line is the current pen thickness.

u

The annotation is to be underlined.

v= <vector>

Annotation control position. If omitted, the control position will be computed from the middle of the dimension line/arc. For line dimensions it will be offset by half the character height.
An environment variable DIMENSION_MID_POINT defines whether the calculation of the mid point includes or excludes the dimension arrows update v12.5.2

w= <v1> {,<v2>}

Stand off distances of witness lines. The default value of v1 is zero, of v2 is the value of v1. This parameter will be ignored for angle dimensions.

<= <n> {,<v> {a}}

The type and size of arrowhead 1. An A implies an actual size in millimetres.(*)

>= <n> {,<v> {a}}

The type and size of arrowhead 2. An A implies an actual size in millimetres. (*)

Examples

dimension
e=e2000, o=p, t='# mm', <=2, >=2;

dimension f=25
e=p10, c=2a, <=6,2a, >=6,2a,
w=200,250, t=$stdim;

dimension
e=c(m=p1,e=p2), t='radius #';

Notes

This command function also an  interactive mode which presents a series of dialogs to build the data block (see end of this topic below).

 

 (*) Default values can be set by the DEFAULT command and checked by the STATUS 7 command.

 

The syntax “A=P<n>P<m>” (i.e. A=P1P2) which was available in version 10 to specify the angle for the ANNOTATION, DIMENSION and MODIFY commands is no longer available. This change has been effected  primarily because of  the possibility of generating ambiguity in variable names.  The syntax “A=<v>” should be used as this notice makes clear that the previous syntax is no longer available.

 

Starting from Eagle V12.3.0.B03 and extended in later versions the Eagle dimension command has been extended to handle new dimension styles and optional parameters.  The new features are  designed to improve the range of  graphic representations.

Before introducing the extended dimension styles, the following illustration shows a list of ones previously available:

 

New Dimension Styles

Starting from Eagle V12.3.0.B03 and extend in 12.4.1 and again in 12.5.2 the Eagle dimension command has been enhanced to handle new dimension styles and optional parameters.  The new features are  designed to improve the range of  graphic representations.

 

Before introducing the extended dimension styles, the following illustration shows a list of the types available:

 

 

New Dimension Styles

Two additional dimension styles have been implemented.

Dimension style 25, which has the following appearance:

 

The above shapes for the dimension can be obtained either while creating the dimension, using the following syntax:

Dimension; s=c, e=e400, c=30, <=25,30, >=25,30, occ=p,t='#';

or using the MODIFY command after the creation, using the following syntax:

Modify <=25,30, >=25,30

 

Dimension style 26, which has the following appearance:

The above shapes for the dimension can be obtained both at definition of the dimension, using the following syntax:

Dimension; s=c, e=e400, c=30, <=26,30, >=26,30, occ=p,t='#';

or using the MODIFY command after creation, using the following syntax:

Modify <=26,30, >=26,30

This type-26 dimension is actually an extension of the type-10.

 

For both the additional dimension styles the dimension line is adjusted when the length, or the position, of the dimension text is modified.  This behavior is driven by means of a new setting of the dimension command (refer to “intern=” option described below).

In particular, if the dimension after its initial creation is the one shown below:

After the text position is changed with the following:

MODIFY V=e250,

Then the representation is the one shown below:

Or, in the case of the dimension type-26:

These existing types were extended further in version 12.3  to include the following styles:

Style 27, which is an evolution of style 13.

Style 28, which is an evolution of style 6.

Style 29, which is an evolution of style 17.

Style 30, which is an evolution of style 22.

Style 31, whose arrows are in antithesis to style 1.

Style 32, whose arrows are in antithesis to style 17.

Style 33, whose arrows are in antithesis to style 22.

 

The illustrations below pictures the extended styles:

and the following added by custom request

 

Small Vertical line

It is now possible to specify the presence of an extra vertical line for all dimension styles:

The above representation can be obtained using an additional primer for the DIMENSION or for the MODIFY commands:

MODIFY AR1=<value>, to set the small vertical line on the left side, and:

MODIFY AR2=<value>, to set the small vertical line on the right side of the dimension.

The corresponding graphic results are described below:

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=30,<=25,30,>=25,30,ar2=TT,w=-100,-100,occ=p,t='#';

or

Modify ar2=TT. Both will produce the following:

 

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=15,<=6,15,>=6,15,ar2=TTO,w=-100,-100,occ=p,t='#';

or

Modify ar2=TTO.

Will both produce the following:

 

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=30,<=25,30,>=25,30,ar2=TM,w=-100,-100,occ=p,t='#’;

or

Modify ar2=TM.

Will both produce the following:

 

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=15,<=6,15,>=6,15,ar2=TMO,w=-100,-100,occ=p,t='#’;

or

Modify ar2=TMO.

Will both produce the following:

 

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=30,<=25,30,>=25,30,ar2=TB,w=-100,-100,occ=p,t='#’;

or

Modify ar2=TB

Will both produce the following:

 

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=15,<=6,15,>=6,15,ar2=TBO,w=-100,-100,occ=p,t='#’;

or

Modify ar2=TBO.

Will both produce the following:

 

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=30,<=25,30,>=25,30,ar2=BI,w=-100,-100,occ=p,t='#’;

or

Modify ar2=BI. Both will produce the following:

 

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=30,<=25,30,>=25,30,ar2=BO,w=-100,-100,occ=p,t='#’;

or

Modify ar2=BO.

Will both will produce the following:

 

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=30,<=25,30,>=25,30,ar2=NONE,w=-100,-100,occ=p,t='#’;

or

Modify ar2=NONE.

Will both remove the line and producing the following:

This last type is the default value.

 

New Arrow types

It is also possible to specify a additional type for the arrowhead for all available dimension styles.

This parameter can be set either while creating the dimension, using the following syntax:

Dimension;s=c,e=e400,c=30,<=25,30,>=25,30,fill=<n>,occ=p,t='#’

or using the MODIFY command after the creation, using the following syntax:

Modify fill=<n>

Where the value of <n> can be 0, 1 or 2.

The three values will produce the following result:

 

N=0 (default)

N=1             

N=2             

 

Automatic adjustment on text changes

It is possible to specify a parameter which asks the program to automatically adjust the dimension line when the length, the height or the position of the text is modified and also automatically place the text beyond the start point or beyond the end point.

 

The parameter is applicable to dimension styles with external arrows and to styles 10, 11, 12 and the extended set 27, 28, 29 and 30.

 

The parameter is named “intern” and it has three possible values:

a. It is now possible to specify a new parameter for asking the program to automatically adjust the dimension line when the length, the height or the position of the text is modified and also to automatically place the text beyond the start point or beyond the end point.

The new parameter is applicable to those dimension styles with external arrows and also to styles 10, 11, 12 and for the new styles 27, 28, 29 and 30.

The new parameter is named “intern” and it has three possible values:

a. Intern=0, standard, i.e. no automatic placing of the text. This is the default.

b. Intern=1, text automatically placed beyond start point

c. Intern=2, text automatically placed beyond end point

 

This parameter can be set either while creating the dimension, using the following syntax:

Dimension

s=c,e=e200,c=30,<=12,30,>=12,30,w=-100,-100,v=(100,100,0),intern=1,t='400';

or using the MODIFY command after the creation, using the following syntax:

Modify intern=1

For instance, after having created a new dimension using the creation command specified above, we get the following result:

 

If after that we change the automatic placement of the dimension text using the following:

Modify intern=2

Then the program will automatically change not only the text position but also the extent of the dimension line, producing the following:

 

Offset to the start of the witness line

It is possible for all dimension styles to specify an offset value that will drive the display process in defining the starting point of the witness line.

This can be obtained using the DOFF primer for MODIFY command:

Modify doff=<value>

The result will be the following:

Where P1 is the geometry definition of the start of the witness line and the distance between P1 and P2 is the offset value specified by means of the DOFF primer of the MODIFY command.

 

Note that this is parameter only relates to the display process, while the dimension definition points remain still the same.

 

NOTE : Check with in Configuration Settings for details about resolving import anomalies of some files containing dimensions coming from earlier Eagle versions.

MAX_DIM_OFFSET=<value>

 

 

 or  INTERACTIVE MODE

 

dimension

Prompts           Keyboard Response

Vector to start of DIM ?

{ <vector> }

Vector phrase defining the start point of the dimension line. The default is current control.

Vector to finish of DIM ?

{ <vector> | C(<arc-definition>) }

Vector phrase defining the end point of the dimension line measured from the start point. The default is current control. An arc definition may be used to indicate an angle dimension. Refer to the ARC command for details of arc definition. The phrase may be preceded by A or $ to indicate invisible or dotted.

Arrowhead 1 ?

{ <n> {,<v> {A}}}

The arrowhead type and size at the dimension line start. An A implies actual size in millimetres. (*)

Arrowhead 2 ?

{ <n> {,<v> {A}}}

The arrowhead type and size at the dimension line end. An A implies actual size in millimetres. (*)

Occurrence ?

{ ALL } | { N|E|S|W|P|U|I<n> }

On which view(s) the dimension line is to be shown. Unless predefined, the default is the current view. (*)

Do you want text (Y or N) ?

{ Y|N }

The default answer is No.

Position Vector (default middle of DIM) ?

{ <vector> }

Annotation control position. If omitted the control position will be computed from the middle of the dimension line/arc. For line dimensions it will be offset by half the character height.

Angle (default parallel to DIM) ?

{ <v> }

Angle of the annotation in degrees. The default is parallel to the dimension line P.

Character Height ?

{ <v> {A}}

v must be positive. An "A" implies actual size in mm. (*)

Character Aspect Ratio ?

{ <v> }

Character width/height, v must have a positive value. (*)

Justification ?

{ M|TM|BM|TL|ML|BL|TR|MR|BR|I|IL|IM }

The position of the control point relative to the "annotation box". The default is BM for a line dimension.

Boxed (Y or N) ?

{ Y|N }

Whether the annotation box is to be drawn.(*)

Underlined (Y or N) ?

{ Y|N }

Whether or not the annotation is to be underlined. (*)

Text ?

{ <message> } | $<file>{(U)}

The annotation text, as many lines as required, terminated by ; or a blank line.
A # in the annotation will for line dimensions draw the length of the dimension line.
A # for an angled dimension will draw the arc angle.
If a line begins in $ the text is the contents of a text file (default extension DAT) used as an "instance", or expanded when the (U) option is used.

Notes

Typing ! in response to any prompt will abort the command. (Interactive Mode)

 

 (*) Default values can be set by the DEFAULT command and checked by the STATUS 7 command.

 

See also

arc, default(a,ab,c,j,occ,r,und,<>), qdimension, set(angle,cs,da,dao,do,ds,dt), text