Configuring Draftsman Feature Control Frame Object Properties in Altium Designer

Parent page: Feature Control Frame

Draftsman object properties are definable options that specify the visual style, content and behavior of the placed object. The property settings for each type of object are defined in two different ways:

• Pre-placement settings – most Feature Control Frame object properties, or those that can logically be pre-defined, are available as editable default settings on the Draftsman - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog (access from the button at the top-right of the workspace). Select the object in the Primitive List to reveal its options on the right.
• Post-placement settings – all Feature Control Frame object properties are available for editing in the Properties panel when a placed Feature Control Frame indicator is selected in the workspace.

     The Feature Control Frame object default settings in the Preferences dialog and the Feature Control Frame mode of the Properties panel

View

• Additional Symbol – use the drop-down menu to select optional header graphic attributes that specify if the dimension/tolerance applies to the local area or to the complete physical item.
• Display Mode – sets the style of connection line between the frame and the object surface reference point.
• Elbow Length – sets the length of the horizontal part of the connection line when Display Mode is set to the Bent option.
• Composite Feature Control Frame – when checked, a single definition symbol applies to all row data in the Feature Control Frame.

Styles

• Line Style – the thickness and style of the line used to render the tabular frame and its leader line. Use the line weight drop-down menu to choose from a range of line thickness presets, and the line pattern menu to choose from a range of line styles. The associated color button () opens the color selector, where the line color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level, where 0% represents full transparency.
• Extension Style – the thickness and style of the line that automatically extends from an object edge when a Feature Control Frame attachment point is moved beyond the object's bounds. Use the line weight drop-down menu to choose from a range of line thickness presets, and the line pattern menu to choose from a range of line styles. The associated color button () opens the color selector, where the line color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level, where 0% represents full transparency.

 Arrow Style

• Head Style – select the drop-down to choose from a range of preset pointer styles (headers).
• Width – the width of the target pointer head, such as an arrow. This setting also defines the diameter of a round head style.
• Length – the length of the pointer head, such as an arrow.
• Full Length – the length of the arrow lines when positioned on the outside of the feature control frame.
• Use Document Font checkbox – when checked, the font used for the Feature Control Frame data is that defined by the document options. See the Document Font entry in General section of the Properties panel when in Document Options mode.
• Font (applies when Use Document Font not selected) – use the Font drop-down menus to choose the desired font type and size and select the lower buttons to enable text attributes. The Feature Control Frame graphic will proportionally scale with the font size. The associated color button () opens the color selector, where the line color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level, where 0% represents full transparency.

Selected Element

Applies to the data row in the Feature Control Frame that is currently selected. Click within the bounds of a frame row (element) to select it.

• Frame Number – the number of the currently selected element row in the Feature Control Frame.
• Symbol – the graphic symbol, as defined in the ASME Y14.5-2009 Dimension and Tolerancing standard, that indicates type of dimension or tolerance information in the selected frame row.
• Dimension Symbol (Properties panel only) – the type of relative dimensioning that is defined by the row data (such as machined Square or Diameter based cutouts).
• Tolerance (Properties panel only) – the acceptable variation (tolerance) in the row's specified numerical dimension. Use the associated drop-down menu () to select from a range of coded symbol modifiers, as defined by the ASME Y14.5-2009 Dimension and Tolerancing standard.
• Datum 1 (Properties panel only) – reference location for the selected dimension/tolerance, as specified by the entered Datum Feature label. Use the associated drop-down menu to select from a range of coded symbol modifiers.
• Datum 2 (Properties panel only) – a relative reference location for the selected dimension/tolerance, as specified by the entered Datum Feature label – for example, a parallel surfaces specification might apply to the faces at Datum 1 relative to Datum 2. Use the associated drop-down menu to select from a range of coded symbol modifiers.
• Datum 3 (Properties panel only) – an additional relative reference location for the selected dimension/tolerance, as specified by the entered Datum Feature label. Use the associated drop-down menu to select from a range of coded symbol modifiers.
• Add button (Properties panel only) – click to add a new data row (element) to the Feature Control Frame. Use the  button to remove the currently selected element.
• Up / Down buttons (Properties panel only) – click to move the selected element up or down by one count in the frame's row order.