Managing Dimension Chain Styles in BIM Drawings

Use the BIMDimensionStyle command to work with dimension chain styles in BIM drawings.

BIM dimension styles define the following properties:

  • Number of dimension chains

  • BIM entities to dimension

  • Dimension points to detect on BIM entities

  • Distance between dimension chains

  • Fixed or variable extension lines

The BIMDimensionStyle command displays the BIM Style Manager dialog box that groups the tools necessary for managing dimension chain styles.

To create a new dimension chain style:

  1. Do one of the following:

    • On the ribbon, click BIM > Annotate > BIM Dimension Style icon_bimdimensionedit_add_point .

    • On the menu, click BIM > Dimension > Dimension Style.

    • Type BIMDimensionStyle.

  2. In the BIM Style Manager dialog box, select Dimension Chain Styles and click Add style plus_1 .

    A new dimension chain style appears in the left panel. You can rename it and set up the new dimension style.

To rename a dimension chain style:

  1. Do one of the following:

    • On the ribbon, click BIM > Annotate > BIM Dimension Style icon_bimdimensionedit_add_point .

    • On the menu, click BIM > Dimension > Dimension Style.

    • Type BIMDimensionStyle.

  2. In the BIM Style Manager dialog box, in the left panel, right-click the dimension chain style to rename and select Rename from the context menu.

  3. In the Rename Style dialog box specify a new name for the selected dimension chain style and click OK.

To delete a dimension chain style:

  1. Do one of the following:

    • On the ribbon, click BIM > Annotate > BIM Dimension Style icon_bimdimensionedit_add_point .

    • On the menu, click BIM > Dimension > Dimension Style.

    • Type BIMDimensionStyle.

  2. In the BIM Style Manager dialog box, in the left panel, right-click the style to delete and select Delete from the context menu.

  3. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

To modify a dimension chain style:

  1. Do one of the following:

    • On the ribbon, click BIM > Annotate > BIM Dimension Style icon_bimdimensionedit_add_point .

    • On the menu, click BIM > Dimension > Dimension Style.

    • Type BIMDimensionStyle.

  2. In the BIM Style Manager dialog box, in the left panel, click the style to modify.

  3. On the right panel, do the necessary settings:

    • Display tab. Lets you specify the number of dimension chains the style creates, the BIM entities and the points to dimension.

    • Properties tab. Lets you adjust the dimension chains aspect. You can modify the distance between dimension chains and remove duplicate chains.

  4. Click OK.

Display Tab

You can modify dimension chain styles using the settings in the BIM Style Manager dialog box.

Chain

Lets you specify the number of dimension chains the style creates. A dimension style can have up to ten dimension chains. Each dimension chain automatically detects dimension points for the BIM entities specified in the style.

Apply to

Lets you specify the BIM entities to dimension.

  • Search. Lets you search the category of BIM entities in the list.

  • Show selected. Displays in the list only the categories of BIM entities the dimension chain detects.

  • The list of categories lets you specify the categories of BIM entities the dimension chain will automatically detect.

    For example, to define a chain for dimensioning walls, enable the Wall option.

Points

Groups options for specifying the points to dimension for entities the dimension chain detects.

  • Overall. Overall boundary of the specified BIM entity.

  • Bounding box. Bounding box of the specified BIM entity.

  • Center points.

  • MID points.

  • END points.

  • Filter. This option is available for Walls only.

Properties Tab

Groups options for adjusting the dimension chains aspect.

Dimension Style

Sets the dimension style.

Fixed distance between chains

Specifies the distance between the dimension chains.

Use fixed length on extension lines

When enabled, the dimension style creates dimension lines with extention lines of a specified length.

Fixed length on extension lines. Lets you specify the length of the extension lines.

Remove duplicate chains

When enabled, removes duplicate dimension lines from the drawing.

In Leave, specify the dimension line to keep.

  • Furthest

  • Nearest

Access

Command: BIMDimensionStyle

Menu: BIM > Dimension > Dimension Style

Ribbon: BIM > Annotate > Dimension Style

Related Topics

Modifying Existing Dimensions for BIM Entities

Automatically Dimensioning BIM Drawings

Parent Topic

Dimensioning BIM Drawings