when are we going to get dimension where the extension lines trim themselves at an intersection,or at least a tool that allows us to easily trim and intersection? I've have been waiting so long for this feature. Its really annoying to have to drop or draw extension lines when you have a heavily dimensioned detail.
Until MicroStation can do this try using the technique I describe in the Jog in dimension line thread
-Roy
that's a useful tip, but it not what i was looking for. I'm looking for a way to break an extension or dimension line when another extension line crosses it. right now i need to either drop the dimension and break the line, or stretch the extension line up and draw my own extension line to break. it would be nice if i could just pick a tool and click click, done.
I think the competition can do this.
If Autocad is the competition you have in mind, it does not break dimension lines. I am not aware of any cad apps that do. I think it is generally acceptable if dimension lines cross each other. By using appropriate line weights the dimensions can be readily distinguished from the features they apply to. Would you be willing to post a screen capture of your drawing so we can see what is causing your problem?
Neil Wilson (aka Neilw)
Power Civil v8i 08.11.07.245
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018
thats curious becuase i have opened some autocad files and the dimension have been broken yet the remain intact, when i went to move the dimenion the break disapeared. this is while using Mstn to open the dwg.
i have done this myself so im not sure how it was accomplished
see the pic attached, i want to break a few of the extension lines where they all cross without dropping the dimensions
Autocad has the "Break" command that allows you to mask out part of an extension line without having to explode the dimension object.
In MicroStation we use the command "change dimension extension toggle" to hide the extension line we want to break then manually draw the extension line in with a break. Not the best thing in the world but allows us to break and extension line if needed without having to drop the dimension object itself.
I was not aware of the "Break" option. I'll have to investigate that. Meanwhile, as you mentioned masking, why not create a mask for the places where you need to hide a piece of line? At least you wouldn't have to drop the dims.
I do realize this is a CR, but I doubt we'll see a fix anytime soon so you'll have to come up with a workaround that is somewhat efficient.
I find the little black circle ordered to display between the dimensions, the current quickest solution.
Hi mwr...
I see now that the DIMBREAK command was added to Autocad in the 2008 release. I was not aware of it as we have not been keeping current with every Autocad release. That one slipped under my radar so I learned something new here.
There is another related CR that I feel strongly about..assocated parallel dimensions. I was absolutely shocked to learn that Microstation cannot create parallel dimensions that maintain alignment when the geometry changes. This should be a given for any CAD application, yet I have had members of the development team tell me that it needs to be a CR to get it implemented. That just leaves me bewildered. Why would we NOT want the dimensions to remain parallel? The way it is now, a line could be moved just slightly and user would have no visual cue that the dimension was no longer giving it's true length. This is just not acceptable. I could see the potential for a lawsuit.
Roy..
The little black circle is a good suggestion. How could a user know it was there?