Reference, Staggered

Incremental & Reference Dimension > Reference, Staggered (Annotate Menu)

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This command can be used to create a reference (aka common datum or absolute) dimension using multiple, staggered dimension lines.

1.	Enter start point

The dimension line's start point can be entered using the mouse, by clicking anywhere in the drawing.

After identifying the distance to be measured, the position of the dimension lines must be specified. To do this, several points have to be entered.

2.	Enter dimension line direction

The dimension line direction is determined by a point which, together with the start point of the distance to be measured defines a straight line in whose direction the dimension should run. This point can be entered using the mouse, by clicking anywhere in the drawing.

3.	Enter dimension line position

The position of the dimension line is determined by the position of a point through which it should run. If a particular distance has been entered, then the point shows the approximate position of the dimension line. This point can be entered using the mouse, by clicking anywhere in the drawing.

4.	Enter reference point

Reference points, which each define a dimension end point, can be entered using the mouse, by clicking anywhere in the drawing. Each reference point entered creates a new dimension line.

Reference points input is ended by clicking the right mouse button. Unlike most other commands, this does not lead to the previous entry being ignored; instead the dimension is inserted into the drawing. If required, this can be undone using the Undo command.

The dimension is not automatically assigned to the current layer. Instead, the command Layers > Defaults is used to decide whether they should be assigned to the current layer, or another specified layer. The same goes for pens, which can be assigned using the command Pens > Defaults.

Note: A dimension contains two sets of properties - one for the dimension line, and one for the dimension text. For example, this makes it possible to show the dimension text in a different color to the dimension line. Or assign the dimension text to a different layer from the dimension line. If the command Edit Properties is used on a dimension, you can change between the two sets of properties using the tabs in the dialog which appears, and view or alter both sets of properties separately.