Dimensioning messages

Messages appear in the status bar at the bottom, as a tooltip at a field or as a prompt of the browser. The texts are reproduced here as the program shows them; placeholders such as n or A stand for the respective value.

While dimensioning#

Dimension — snap mode → automatic#

On starting the tool. The snap is set to automatic; on leaving, the previous snap returns. No action needed.

Click the 2nd point for the dimension...#

The first point of a point-to-point dimension is set (with point snap or in empty space). Click the second point.

Position the dimension line or click a 2nd element...#

An element is chosen. A click in empty space places the element dimension; a click on a second line yields angle or parallel distance; a snapped point beside the line yields the distance line–point.

Position the dimension line (H/V automatic)...#

Both points are set. The pointer position decides horizontal, vertical or aligned — see Dimension types.

Position the dimension line...#

Parallel distance or distance line–point: click the position of the dimension line.

Choose the angle sector with the mouse, then click...#

Two non-parallel lines are chosen. Move the pointer into the desired one of the four sectors and click.

Dimension placed / Angular dimension placed / Distance dimension placed / Arc length dimension placed#

The dimension is set. For element and angular dimensions Edit dimension opens at the same time.

Element: element dimensioning not possible — right-click → Explode converts it to lines/arcs; point snap (endpoints) always works#

Cause: The click hit an element that cannot be dimensioned as a whole — polyline, spline, ellipse or point; the element type stands at the beginning of the message.

Remedy: Right-click → Explode breaks the polyline into lines and arcs that can be dimensioned individually. Or dimension the endpoints with point snap as a point-to-point dimension; that works with every element.

Polyline: element dimensioning exists only for line, circle, arc and rectangle / Block: the elements inside the block cannot be dimensioned individually#

Since program version v3.0.40 the same reason appears in the tooltip at the pointer as soon as it hovers, in dimension mode, over an element that cannot be dimensioned as a whole; a ⛔ sign leads the line. Until then the hint appeared only once in the status bar, which one does not watch while drawing. Blocks get their own text.

Below it the tooltip names the remedy right away: Remedy: right-click → Explode converts it into lines/arcs — or dimension points via point snap (endpoints, midpoints); for a block the way via point snap, or select the block → right-click → Explode.

Identical point — click a different point#

Cause: In series mode the same point was clicked twice. Remedy: Click a different point.

The point lies on the line — no distance possible#

Cause: The snapped point lies on the first chosen line; a perpendicular distance would be 0.

Remedy: Snap a point beside the line, or position the line itself for a linear dimension.

Error: no intersection / Error: invalid angle geometry#

Cause: For the angular dimension no intersection or no sector can be formed from the two lines (lines practically parallel or degenerate). The command ends.

Remedy: Choose two lines that clearly intersect; dimension parallel lines with the parallel distance.

Arc length dimension: please click an arc#

Cause: The click for the arc length dimension hit no arc. Remedy: Click an arc; the arc length dimension does not dimension circles.

Position the dimension arc outwards and click…#

Arc chosen; click the position of the dimension arc.

Angle from 3 points#

Messages of the Angle from 3 points command.

Angle from 3 points: click a point on the 1st leg… / Angle from 3 points: click a point on the 2nd leg…#

The vertex, or the first leg point, has been set. Click a point in the direction of the named leg; its distance does not matter.

Position the dimension arc and click…#

All three points are set. The distance of the pointer from the vertex is the radius of the dimension arc; the side decides whether the enclosed angle or the angle over 180° applies (Which side).

Point coincides with the vertex — click a different point#

Cause: The leg point sits exactly on the vertex; that gives no direction.

Remedy: Click another point. The tool stays in the same step, the progress so far is not lost.

Both legs point in the same direction — click a different point#

Cause: The second leg point lies in the same direction as the first; the angle would be 0°.

Remedy: Click a point in the direction of the second leg.

Angle dimension from 3 points placed#

The dimension is set. Unlike the angular dimension over two lines no Edit dimension dialog opens: the dimension is always driven. Since program version v3.0.33 the message stays visible and is no longer replaced by Ready right away.

Chain and baseline dimensions#

Chain dimension: click 1st point (use snap)... / Baseline dimension: click base point (use snap)...#

Start of the series mode.

Dimension n placed — click next point, ESC finishes · Chain dimension inserted · Chain extended to the new point#

Counter of the series; every further point needs one click.

Dimension series finished#

Esc or a tool change has ended the series.

Only chain dimensions can be subdivided#

Cause: Insert chain dimension… was called for a dimension that is not a chain member.

Click the point for the new chain dimension (use snapping), ESC cancels / Insertion cancelled#

After Insert chain dimension…: click the point. Inside a member it is split (Chain dimension inserted), outside the chain it is extended (Chain extended to the new point). Esc cancels and reports Insertion cancelled.

Point coincides with a chain point — please click a point in between#

Cause: The click hit an existing chain point; nothing to split there. Remedy: Click between two points.

Dimension chain dissolved — n individual dimensions#

Right-click Dissolve dim. chain or Explode has made the members individual dimensions.

Dialog Edit dimension#

Dimension is now DRIVING / Dimension is now DRIVEN (reference) / Dimension is now DETACHED (free value)#

Confirmation of the mode change, see Modes.

Driven (reference) dimension — not editable#

Tooltip at the value field: driven dimensions show the measured value. For your own value switch to driving or detached.

empty = dimension line only#

Placeholder in the value field with detached: without text only the dimension line remains.

Invalid value — the dimension stays driven#

Cause: The entered driving value is 0, negative or (angle) 360° and more. Remedy: Enter a positive value; angles below 360°.

Dimension text updated#

OK has applied the changes.

Dimension type: Radius (R) / Dimension type: Diameter (⌀)#

Confirmation of R ⟷ ⌀.

Dimension arrow inside / Dimension arrow outside / Dimension arrow side 1 hidden / Dimension arrow side 2 shown#

Confirmation of the arrow buttons.

Please enter a tolerance class first (e.g. H7 for a hole, g6 for a shaft)#

Cause: ⚙ determine without a class. Remedy: Enter the class in the Class field.

No valid nominal size available to determine#

Cause: The value field contains no positive number.

Class „H7" for nominal size 40 mm not found in toleranzen.json — add it there if needed#

Cause: The tolerance table toleranzen.json in the program folder does not know the class or the nominal size range.

Remedy: Enter the deviations by hand, or extend the table on the server.

Hole H7 @ 40 mm → upper +0.025 / lower 0 mm#

Result of ⚙ determine; Hole for capital letters, Shaft for lower-case letters.

Attributes and selection#

Dimension attributes adopted (driven, size, mm)#

After Pick up J on a dimension: mode, text height and unit apply to the next dimensions.

n dimension(s) adjusted#

Apply in the settings dialog or a dimension style in the attribute panel has changed the selected dimensions.

Apply dimension attributes: choose dimensions — Enter or right-click accepts, ESC cancels#

Cause: Apply was clicked without selected dimensions; the program is in post-selection. Remedy: Click dimensions and confirm with Enter. If nothing is chosen: Please choose at least one dimension — ESC cancels.

Reposition dimension point (with snap) — release to place · Move the arrow angle...#

A reference-point grip of a point-to-point dimension is being dragged; the binding is released and sought anew at the target.

1 dimension selected / n dimensions selected / 1 chain dimension selected / n chain dimensions selected#

Header of the Properties panel.

Dimension settings and styles#

Dimension settings saved#

OK in the dialog.

Saved as default — these values apply at the next start#

★ Save as default.

★ Factory preset — it is part of the delivery and cannot be overwritten or deleted. Change the values as you like and save them under your own name with “Save as…”.#

Tooltip when choosing a factory style; store your own values with Save as….

Please select a dimension type first#

Cause: Save without a chosen style.

Factory type — use “Save as…” to modify / Factory presets cannot be deleted / Name is a factory preset — please choose another name#

Cause: A factory style is to be overwritten, deleted or its name used for an own style. Remedy: Choose your own name.

Dimension style name#

Prompt of Save as….

Dimension style “Name” saved / Dimension style “Name” deleted / Dimension style “Name” applied / Delete dimension style “Name”?#

Confirmations and prompt of the style buttons.

Dimension style not found#

Cause: A style is to be applied that no longer exists on this computer.

To back#

n dimensions/GD&T moved to the lowest Z level (z)#

Confirmation of Dimensions to back.

Everything is already on the lowest Z level (z)#

Nothing to do; no undo step.

Feature control frames and datum features#

Datum feature: click point on the element (use snap)... / Datum feature A: click position of the box (ESC cancels) / Datum feature A placed#

The three steps of the datum feature.

Datum feature A changed#

Apply in the Datum feature dialog.

Identifier A is already in use. Use anyway?#

Prompt when renaming to a letter already in use.

Warning: datum A is still used by tolerance frames.#

Cause: A datum feature was renamed or deleted although feature control frames still name the letter. Remedy: Switch the frames to the new datum by double-clicking them.

Feature control frame: click arrow target on the element... / Feature control frame: click position (ESC cancels)#

The steps of the feature control frame.

Tolerance frame placed — click the next arrow target (ESC ends) / Tolerance frame placed — click the next position (ESC ends)#

The frame is placed; the tool waits for the next identical frame.

Feature control frame changed#

Apply in the Edit feature control frame dialog.

Form tolerances are specified without a datum (ISO 1101). / Orientation, location and run-out tolerances require a datum.#

Hints in the dialog; the datum fields are disabled for form tolerances.

Note: no datum features yet — create them with the "Datum feature" tool (A, B, C…).#

In the Feature control frame dialog as long as the drawing contains no datum feature.

Clipboard and blocks#

Cut: please select elements first (dimensions and hatches travel with their elements)#

Cause: Cut without selected elements. Dimensions alone cannot be cut; they follow their elements.

Restored from blocks: n dimensions, m hatches#

On exploding a block: the dimensions stored in the block are dimensions of the drawing again.