Linear Diameter Dimension

Parent page: PCB Dialogs

The Linear Diameter Dimension dialog

Summary

This dialog provides controls to specify the properties of a Linear Diameter Dimension object. A linear diameter dimension is a group design object. It allows for the dimensioning of an arc or circle with respect to the diameter, rather than the radius. The dimension can be placed either internally or externally.

Access

The Linear Diameter Dimension dialog can be accessed during placement by pressing the Tab key.

After placement, the dialog can be accessed in one of the following ways:

• Double-click on the placed linear diameter dimension object.
• Place the cursor over the linear diameter dimension object, right-click then choose Properties from the context menu.

Options/Controls

• Text Height - the current height of the dimension text characters. The character width used to display or print the text is automatically proportioned to this height. A minimum height of 36mil (0.9mm) will allow the string to be legibly photoplotted.
• Text Width - the current dimension text stroke width (the "thickness" of the lines used to produce the lettering).
• Arrow Length - the current arrow length. Note that the value entered into this field is applied only when the Arrow Position is set to Outside.
• Offset - the current arrow offset with respect to the dimension extension line. The offset is the distance between the arrow tip and the end of the extension line furthest from the object being dimensioned. If the value is increased, the extension line extends by the additional amount in order to meet the offset criteria.
• Line Width - the current arrow line width (the "thickness" of the lines used to produce the arrows).
• Text Gap - the current gap to the left and right of the dimension value text.
• Extension Width - the current width for the dimension extension lines.
• Arrow Size - the current arrowhead size. The size is measured as the distance between the arrow tip and the end of the arrow 'legs'.
• Pick Gap - the current pick gap value, which is is the distance between a dimension extension line and the object being dimensioned.
• Rotation - the angle of alignment of the dimension, measured counterclockwise in degrees from the horizontal.

Quickly change the units of measurement currently used in the dialog between metric (mm) and imperial (mil) using the Ctrl+Q shortcut. This affects the dialog only and does not change the actual measurement unit employed for the board as determined by the  and  buttons in the Home | Grids and Units area of the main menus.

Properties

• Layer - the layer to which the dimension is currently assigned. Dimensions can be assigned to any available layer. Click on the list to view and select a different layer from those currently defined for the board.
• Unit - the current unit that is selected for the calculation and display of the dimension value. Choose either Mils, Millimeters, Inches, Centimeters, or Automatic.

The Automatic setting follows the actual measurement unit employed for the board as determined by the  and  buttons in the Home | Grids and Units area of the main menus.

• Format - the current setting for the format of the dimension text. Use the associated drop-down to change the format as required. The options listed will depend on the chosen Unit and present based on the actual value for the current dimension. In generic terms, the available options are:
  • None - no dimension text is displayed.
  • Value Only - no units are displayed, only the dimension value (e.g., ø600.00).
  • Value and Unit - units are displayed after the dimension value (e.g., ø600.00mil).
  • Value and Bracketed Unit - units are displayed in brackets after the dimension value (e.g., ø600.00(mil)).

• Precision - the current setting for the number of decimal places to the right of the decimal point to which the dimension will be displayed. The maximum number of decimal places is 6.
• Text Position - the current position of the dimension text. Use the associated drop-down list to choose one of the following options:
  • Automatic - the dimension text will be placed in the most appropriate location with respect to the dimension, such that the text itself is always readable.
  • Aligned - Center - the dimension text will be aligned to the center of the dimension line.
  • Aligned - Top - the dimension text will be aligned above the dimension line and centered.
  • Aligned - Bottom - the dimension text will be aligned below the dimension line and centered.
  • Aligned - Right - the dimension text will be aligned to the right of the dimension line (outside of the extension line).
  • Aligned - Left - the dimension text will be aligned to the left of the dimension line (outside of the extension line).
  • Aligned - Inside Right - the dimension text will be aligned to the right of the dimension line (inside the extension line).
  • Aligned - Inside Left - the dimension text will be aligned to the left of the dimension line (inside the extension line).
  • Unidirectional - the dimension text will be aligned to the center of the dimension line, but will remain horizontal regardless of the dimension alignment angle.
  • Manual - the dimension text will be available for manual placement by the user directly in the workspace.
• Prefix - the prefix to the dimension value. This field is fixed with the character ø.
• Arrow Position - the current position of the dimension arrows. The available options are:
  • Inside - the arrows will be positioned inside the dimension's extension lines (pointing outwards).
  • Outside - the arrows will be positioned outside the dimension's extension lines (pointing inwards).

• Suffix - the current suffix to the dimension value.
• Locked - enable this option to protect the dimension from being edited graphically.

• Sample - this field presents a sample of how the dimension text will appear in accordance with specified Format, the fixed ø Prefix and any defined Suffix.
• Font -  select the desired font type:
  • TrueType -  select to use fonts available on your PC (in the \Windows\Fonts folder). TrueType fonts offer full Unicode support. 
  • Stroke - select to use Stroke fonts.

Select TrueType Font

• Font Name - use this field to choose the required TrueType font. The drop-down list is populated with TrueType and OpenType (a superset of TrueType) fonts found in the \Windows\Fonts folder. Note, the list will only include entries for detected (and uniquely named) root fonts. For example, Arial and Arial Black will be listed but Arial Bold, Arial Bold Italic, etc., will not. Use the Bold and Italic options to add emphasis to the text.
• Bold - enable this option to make the dimension text bold.
• Italic - enable this option to make the dimension text italic.

Select Stroke Font

• Font Name - use the drop-down to select the desired Stroke font. Choices are:
  • Default - a simple vector font designed for pen plotting and vector photo plotting.
  • Sans Serif - a complex font that will slow down vector output generation, such as Gerber.
  • Serif - a complex font that will slow down vector output generation, such as Gerber.