PCB_Dlg-ChangeLeaderDimensionLeader Dimension_AD
Summary
This dialog allows the designer to specify the properties of a Leader Dimension object. A leader dimension is a group design object. It allows for the labeling of an object, point or area. The label text can be encapsulated in a circle, a square, or not at all, while the pointer can be an arrow or a dot.
Access
The Leader Dimension dialog can be accessed prior to entering placement mode, from the PCB Editor – Defaults page of the Preferences dialog. This allows the default properties for the leader dimension object to be changed, which will be applied when placing subsequent leader dimensions.
During placement, the dialog can be accessed by pressing the Tab key.
After placement, the dialog can be accessed in one of the following ways:
- Double-clicking on the placed leader dimension object.
- Placing the cursor over the leader dimension object, right-clicking and choosing Properties from the context menu.
- Using the Edit » Change command and clicking once over the placed leader dimension object.
Options/Controls
- Line Width - the current arrow line width (the "thickness" of the lines used to produce the arrow and connecting lines).
- Text Gap - the current gap between the dimension text and the last 'leg' of the leader line.
- Arrow Size - the current arrowhead size. The size is measured as the distance between the arrow tip and the end of the arrow 'legs'.
- Size - the current size of the circle (its diamater) or square (its edge length) that encapsulates the leader dimension text. This field comes into play when the Shape field is set to Round, or Square, respectively.
- Pick Gap - the current pick gap value, which is is the distance between the leader dimension arrow/dot and the object/point that the leader is associated with.
- 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).
Properties
- Layer - the layer the dimension is currently assigned to. Dimensions can be assigned to any available layer, click on the list to view and select a different layer, from all those currently defined for the board.
- Locked - enable this option to protect the dimension from being edited graphically.
- Text - the current label text for the dimension. The default text is String, change this as required.
- Dot - enable this option to use a dot-tipped leader. Disable to use an arrow-tipped leader.
- Size - with the Dot option enabled, use this field to determine the size of the dot, in terms of its diameter.
- Text Direction - the current position of the dimension text. Use the associated drop-down list to choose one of the following options:
- Aligned - the dimension text will be aligned with the angle of the last 'leg' of the leader line.
- Unidirectional - the dimension text will remain horizontal, irrespective of the dimension alignment angle.
- Manual - the dimension text will be available for manual placement by the user.
- Shape - use this field to determine whether or not a shape is used to encapsulate the dimension text. Available options are None, Round, and Square.
- Font - use this field to choose the type of font used for the dimension's text, either Stroke or TrueType. The dialog will present options based on the chosen type.
Select Stroke Font
This area of the dialog and its asscociated option are presented only when the Stroke option is chosen for the dimension text's Font.
- Font Name - use this field to choose the required Stroke font. Available options are Default, Serif, and Sans Serif. The Default style is a simple vector font which supports pen plotting and vector photoplotting. The Sans Serif and Serif fonts are more complex and will slow down vector output generation, such as Gerber.
Select TrueType Font
This area of the dialog and its asscociated options are presented only when the Truetype option is chosen for the dimension text's 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.