Allows you to place dimensions using the current AutoCAD/BricsCAD or MicroStation text style.

Dimensioning Objects Outside a Panel

Overall dimensions can also be placed for any object that is not contained within a panel (such as an arrow or shield moved or copied outside a sign) by clicking the object.

Place Dimensions Dialog Box

View/Edit Settings

Click this button to change the dimensions parameters that were set in Program Settings' Dimensions - Design Category.

Dimension Settings Dialog Box

Plot scale and Plotted text height

GuideSIGN Plus controls the height of the text for creating dimensions using the values indicated in the Plot Scale and Plotted Text Height boxes. Set the Plot Scale value to the scale the drawing will be plotted at, and then set the Plotted Text Height value to the actual height you want the dimension text to be when it is plotted at the plot scale.

Color and Style

The Color list allows you to select the color for all dimension elements including text, lines, and arrow heads.

The Style list allows you to specify whether the dimensions are drawn with arrows or ticks, and whether the dimension lines are broken or continuous.

Letter positions

To have the letter position dimensions drawn in the sign when dimensions are placed or updated, click the desired style in the Letter positions list, and then select the Letter positions check box below. The Letter positions styles are described in the table below.

Coords / Panel	X coordinates of each letter measured from the edge of the sign.
Coords / String	X coordinates of each letter measured from the start of the text string Text components combined into one object recognized by the software. Text strings are created by using Text Styles in the Place Highway Text tool or by creating them in the Highway Text - Advanced dialog box.
Spaces Between	Horizontal distances from the start of one letter to the start of the next one.
Word Lengths	Lengths of words.
Letter Widths	Widths of letters.

Units of measure (MicroStation Only)

Determines how the sign dimensions will be displayed in the drawing. The options are Program units, Master units, Sub units, and Master-Sub units. The latter three settings always use two decimal places of precision. The Program units setting will use 1 foot = 12 inches or 1m = 1000 mm depending on the Units setting in the Panel Styles dialog box (i.e. either inches or millimeters respectively).

This setting also determines the units used in the Place Report and Place Object Dimensions tools.

Inches display

Determines the way inch dimensions are displayed in dimensions and reports. The options are Inches/Tenths (tenths of inches) and Inches/Eighths (eighths of inches).

Dimension Sides

Dimensions are normally placed around all four sides of a sign panel. However, in some cases (e.g. if two sign panels are set together) the Dimension Sides check boxes may be selected or cleared so the dimension sides will not overlap an adjacent panel when placed.

The Dimension Sides check boxes are normally selected automatically. The Dimension Sides check boxes should normally be all selected. Clearing any of the check boxes allows dimensions to be manually shut off on the corresponding side(s).

Clearing any of the Dimension Sides check boxes also prevents adjacent panels from being dimensioned automatically. This can be useful for placing border specs on only certain panels in an arrangement where several panels are touching.

Dimension Display Options

To have the various dimension options displayed in the drawing, select the desired check boxes in this area. The dimension display options are described in the table below.

Text above dimension line	Places the text of all the width and height dimensions above the dimension lines.
Multiple horizontal dimension lines	Adds dimension lines for each horizontal line of content (text, arrows, shields, etc.) in the panel.
Horizontal extension line breaks	Draws a gap in the horizontal extension lines between successive vertical dimension lines.
Letter positions	Displays letter positions above each letter in the sign, measured from the left side of the panel.
Symbol names	Displays symbol names below each symbol’s height dimension.
Widths	Displays the width of each text string and symbol below the height dimension.
X coordinates	Displays the X coordinate of the lower left corner of each text string and symbol.
Border specs	Displays the sign border radius (R), thickness (TH) and distance inset from the panel edge (IN).
Panel style	Displays the name and M.U.T.C.D. Edition from which the panel was created.
Aligned text	Rotates the vertical dimension text to be aligned with the dimension line.
Show font	Displays the font letter series next to the dimension for a line of text.
Overall Dim (inch)	Displays the overall width and height of the sign panel in inches. When this check box is cleared, the overall dimensions are displayed in feet and inches. This option is ignored when the units are set to mm (see Program Settings' General - Design).

Save as Program Settings defaults

Select this check box to save the current dimensions settings as the Program Settings defaults.

Examples

The first of the following examples shows typical sign dimensions. The second example shows objects dimensioned outside a sign panel.

Place Dimensions example (panel)

Place Dimensions example (objects)