AutoCAD Command List and

Explanations
Act. 6
Dimension Styles:

ALIGNED DIMENSION Command:

AutoCAD Command List

The Aligned Dimension command creates dimensions that are aligned with an element being dimensioned.

To select the Aligned dimension command you can:

select Aligned under the Dimension Menu,

OR

type dimali or dal at a Command: prompt,

OR

clicking on the the Aligned dimension button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

--Prompt: Command: Type dimali and Enter.

--Prompt: Specify first extension line origin or <select object>: Use an Osnap to select the first extension line
origin.

--Prompt: Specify second extension line origin: Select the second extension line origin.

--Prompt: Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: Pick the desired position for the dimension text.

--Prompt: Dimension text=<dimension value>: AutoCAD indicates the numeric value of the dimension selected.
Press Enter to accept.

ANGULAR DIMENSION Command:

AutoCAD Command List

The ANGULAR DIMENSION command creates dimensions that indicate the angle between two elements.

To select the Angular dimension command you can:

select Angular under the Dimension Menu,

OR

type dimang or dan at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the the Angular dimension button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

--Prompt: Command: Type dimang and Enter.

--Prompt: Select arc, circle, line, or <specify vertex>: Click on the first element you want to use for one side of the
angle.

--Prompt: Select second line: Click on the second element you want to use for the other side of the angle.

--Prompt: Specify dimension arc line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: Click the LEFT mouse button on the desired
position for the dimension text.

--Prompt: Dimension text= <dimension value>: AutoCAD indicates the numeric value of the angle selected. Press
Enter to accept.

BASELINE DIMENSION Command:

AutoCAD Command List

A BASELINE Dimension allows you to create stacked dimensions located off of the same extension line. See
FIGURE below.

EXAMPLE:
of a BASELINE Dimension

To access the Baseline dimension commands you can:

select Baseline under the Dimension> Menu,

OR

type dimbase or dba at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the Baseline dimension button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

--Prompt: Command: Type dimbase and Enter.

--Prompt: Specify a second extension line origin or [Undo/ Select] <Select>: Either indicate the origin of the
second extension line or use the type s for the Select option to select an extension line to use as the base of the
Baseline dimension.

*NOTE: If you activate the Baseline command immediately after adding a dimension you wish to link a Baseline
dimension to, you only have to select the SECOND extension line origin for the Baseline dimension. If, however, the
extension line you are using as a base was added much earlier, use the Select option and pick the extension line you
wish to use as a base for the Baseline dimension.

*If you choose the Select option:

-- Prompt: Select base dimension: Select the extension line that will be used as the base.
--Prompt: Specify a second extension line origin or [Undo<Select] <Select>: Select the second extension line
origin.

--Prompt: Dimension text = (dimension value). Press Enter to select the dimension.

DIMCENTER DIMENSION Command:

AutoCAD Command List

The CENTER dimension command draws a center mark at the center of a selected circle or arc.

To access the Dimcenter command you can:

select Center Mark under the Dimension Menu,

OR

type dce at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the the Dimcenter button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

--Prompt: Command: Type dimcenter and press Enter.

--Prompt: Select arc or circle: Click on the edge of the desired circle or arc.

The center mark will appear.

CONTINUE DIMENSION Command:

AutoCAD Command List

The CONTINUE dimension command allows you to create dimensions in an aligned row. See Figure below.

To access the Continue dimension you can:

select Continue under the Dimension Menu,

OR

type dimcont or dco at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the Continue button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

—Prompt: Command: Type dimcont and Enter.

—Prompt: Specify first extension line origin or <select object>: Select an location for the first extension line using
an Osnap or coordinate. NOTE: this prompt will not appear if you add a first dimension and immediately attach a
continue dimension to it.

—Prompt: Specify a second extension line origin or [Undo/Select]<Select>: Either press Enter to use the
SELECT option and click on the extension line that the Continue dimension will be connected to or select the
second extension line origin if the Continue dimension you are adding is being attached to the last dimension
you placed.

—Prompt: Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text /Angle/Horizontal/ Vertical/Rotated]: Select an location
for the second extension line using an Osnap or coordinate.

—Prompt: Dimension text = Dimension Value:

*If you choose the Select option to add a dimension which is continuous with the last dimension placed:

--Prompt: Specify a second extension line origin or (Undo/<Select>): Select the second extension line origin
and press Enter.

DIAMETER DIMENSION Command:

AutoCAD Command List

The DIAMETER dimension command allows you to place diameter dimensions on circles or arcs (arc should
be more than 180 degrees).

To access a Diameter dimension you can:

select Diameter under the Dimension Menu,

OR

type dimdia or ddi at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the Diameter dimension button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

—Prompt: Command: Type dimdia and press Enter.

—Prompt: Select arc or circle: Click on the edge of the arc or circle.

—Prompt: Dimension text=<dimension value>: AutoCAD indicates the diameter of the selected feature. Press Enter
to accept.

—Prompt: Dimension line location (Mtext/Text/Angle): Click the mouse in the location where you wish to locate the
dimension and press Enter.
*NOTE: if you wish to add text to the dimension, select the Mtext option at this prompt and then press Enter. See
Tutorial 6 for detailed directions for using the Mtext option

LEADER DIMENSION Command:

AutoCAD Command List

The LEADER dimension command creates leader lines that can be used to add notes and dimensions to a
drawing.

To access a Leader dimension you can:

select Leader under the Dimension Menu,

OR

type lead at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the Leader button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

—Prompt: Command: Type lead and press Enter.

—Prompt: Specify leader start point: Click on an element or use an Osnap to select a leader origin.

--Prompt: Specify next point: Click the mouse to indicate the location for a bend in the leader line.

—Prompt: Specify next point or [Annotation/Format/

/Undo] <Annotation>: Click the mouse to indicate a second bend or press Enter to accept the Annotation option
so that you can type the text you wish to add at the end of the leader line, or type f and press Enter to select the
Format option (see information on the Format options below).

*NOTE: You can make as many bends in a leader as you need.

If Annotiontion option is selected:

—Prompt: Enter first line of annotiation text or <options>: press Enter to select Options

or start typing text and then press Enter.

If text was entered at the last prompt, the next prompt reads:

—Prompt: Enter next line of annotation text: Add additional text or Enter to exit the command.

Leader Options:

Selecting FORMAT- produces the prompt:

—Prompt: Spline/STraight/Arrow/
None/<Exit>: (See option explanations below.)

Option functions:

Spline/Straight-Spline produces a curved (spline) leader line. Straight produces a straight leader line.
Arrow/None-Allows you to remove or add Arrows at the end of the leader line. The default is with an Arrow.

Annotation-Prompts for text at the end of the leader.

Mtext-Brings up a text editor window that allows you to enter text for the leader.

Copy-Allows you to copy text, Dtext, or Mtext from the drawing to be placed at the end of the leader.

Block-Allows you to place a previously created BLOCK at the end of the leader.

None-Draws the leader with no annotation.

Undo-Allows you to undo the last bend (vertex) you added to a leader line.

LINEAR DIMENSION Command:

AutoCAD Command List

LINEAR dimensions allow you to place Horizontal and Vertical dimensions onto a drawing.

To access a Linear dimension you can:

select Linear from the Dimension Menu,

OR

type dimlin or dli at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the Linear button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

—Prompt: Command: Type dimlin and Enter.

—Prompt: Specify first extension line origin or <select object>: Select the first end (extension line origin) of the
element you wish to dimension.

—Prompt: Specify second extension line origin: Select the second extension line origin of the element you want
to dimension.

—Prompt: Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle/

Horizontal/Vertical/
Rotated]: Click the left mouse on the screen to locate the dimension text. THIS PROMPT MAY NOT ALWAYS
APPEAR if you use certain types of Osnap.

—Prompt: Dimension text = dimension value: press ENTER to exit command.

RADIAL DIMENSION Commands:

AutoCAD Command List

A RADIAL dimension allows you to place a radius dimension on an arc.

To access a Radius dimension you can:

select Radius under the Dimension Menu,

OR

type dimrad or dra at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the Radius button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

—Prompt: Command: Type dimrad and Enter.

—Prompt: Select arc or circle: Click on the arc you wish to dimension.

—Prompt: Dimension text = dimension value. AutoCAD indicates the numeric value of the radius of the feature you
selected.

—Prompt: Specify dimension line location [Mtext/Text/Angle]: Click the Left mouse button on the screen to locate
the position for radius text.

*NOTE: If you wish to add text to the dimension, select the Mtext option under the last prompt.

DIMENSION TEXT EDIT Command:

AutoCAD Command List

The DIMENSION TEXT EDIT command allows you to change the position or orientation of the text for a single
dimension.

To access the Dimension Text Edit command you can:

select Align Text under the Dimension Menu,

OR

type dimtedit or dimted at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the Dimension Text Edit button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

—Prompt: Command: Type dimtedit and press Enter.

—Prompt: Select dimension: Click on the dimension text you wish to move.

—Prompt: Specify new location for dimension text or [Left/Right /Home/Angle]: Either select an option or slide
the mouse to the new location for the dimension text and click the Left mouse button.

Options:

Left—Moves the dimension number to the far left of the dimension line.

Right—Moves the dimension number to the far right of the dimension line.

Home—Returns a dimension who's position has been modified to its original position.

Angle—Allows you to change the angle of the text number.

Center—Moves the dimension to the center of the dimension line.

DIMENSION UPDATE Command:

AutoCAD Command List

The UPDATE dimension command allows you to modify existing dimensions to match changes in a
dimension style.

*NOTE: Prior to using this command, you need to have made the modifications to the dimension style that is assigned
to the dimension. Then you can use the Update command to apply these changes to specific dimensions.

To access the Update commands you can:

select Update under the Dimension Menu,

OR

type update at a Dim: prompt,

OR

click on the Update button on the Dimensioning toolbar.

--Prompt: Command: Type dim and press Enter.

--Prompt: Dim: Type update and press Enter.

--Prompt: Select objects: Click on the dimension/s you wish to update to the new style settings.

--Prompt: Select objects: Continue selecting dimensions or press Enter to end the selection process. Dimensions will
be updated to match the changes in the dimension style.