How To Control Dimension Text Placement

Question

mstn V8i SS3 
 How can I control the placement of text in my dimension? Of course, once placed, it'd be great to be able to drag it where I want it, but the whole dimension moves. 
 See attached unacceptable result of using Dimension Element, Dimension Size Perp-Line. These lines that are 3 ft. apart should have the dimension outside. The arrows should be outside, too. 
 Setting the text location to Outside in the dimension style editor dialog doesn't do a thing, as far as I can tell. Changing the orientation to Horizontal moves the arrows out, but with no lines (just the arrowhead), and the text text is still too big to fit with the two lines being dimensioned. 
 Is there some simple setting I am overlooking? 
 thanks, david

Andrew Bell · Accepted Answer

What you should be looking at to achieve this is to start with using a new Dimension Style. Under the Geometry tab you will see there are Fit Options for how the Text and Leaders operate based on a Minimum Distance that you supply. In the below Dimension Style I have selected the option for the Terminator to Move First when the Minimum Leader distance is below 2.5 master units (or metres). 
 
 The Help Documentation describes the capabilities for each of the options that can be selected here.

Control 
 
 Description

Text/Terminator

Selects the minimum fit dependant on the text, terminator or combination.

Text Moves First &mdash; As extension lines move closer together, the terminators (and leaders) stay between the extension lines until the dimension text, minimum leaders, and terminators no longer fit. At this point the terminators (and leaders) move to the outside of the extension lines and only the text remains between them. When the distance between the extension lines is too small for even the text alone to fit, the text is moved outside with the leader lines.

Terminator Moves First &mdash; The Terminator moves first and the text remains between the extension lines.

Smallest Moves &mdash; The smaller of the text width and terminator moves first.

Both Move &mdash; The text and terminator both move if either doesn't fit between extension lines.

Text Inside &mdash; Text is forced to move inside the extension lines

Term. Outside &mdash; Terminator (and leaders) are outside of the extension lines, and the dimension text remains between the extension lines. There is no dimension line.

Term Inside &mdash; Terminators (and leaders) remain inside the extension lines. This can be useful when the dimension text must remain above the dimension line.

Term. Reversed &mdash; Terminators and a short leader are moved to the outside of the extension lines. There is a dimension line. This can be useful when the dimension line must extend beyond the extension line. 
 When terminators are outside the extension lines, the leader length is set with Min(imum) Leader field.

Min. Leader

Sets the space, in text width units, between extension lines and dimension text.

I hope this information is of assistance.

Lorys · Answer

If you do a search here and include askinga their is a very long complex command string on for inside and one for outside , this can be put onto F keys and toggled during placement in the preview mode so you can choose which to accept.. I dont have the scripts right now but if you really cant find them let me know and I'll dig them out of my archives..