Automatic Ordinate : Dialog

Access: Open this function from one of the following locations:

Click the button in the toolbar.
Select Symbols > Automatic Symbols > Automatic Ordinate from the menu bar.

Automatically create ordinate dimensions through circles, arcs, points, splines, and center lines.

Ordinate dimensions can be created in any direction and defined via view entities (two points or a line), allowing alignment with view rotation or angled details. You can also control the ordinate dimension's association with the view on the X-axis as well as its distance from selected points or the view. Additional functionality includes the option of displaying the Base Point dimension (zero point).

Preferences options enable you to set the default for the creation of ordinate dimensions close to the measured point or outside the view and also the default distance of the ordinate dimensions.

The dialog elements for this symbol are described below.

The Automatic Ordinate dialog is displayed:

When creating ordinate dimensions on Center Lines, the dimension lines start from the end of the center line, rather than the center of the circle, to create a clearer view. Note that this only works when Center Lines are selected in the dialog (in the Filter section) and Circles are not.

To edit (or to re-position) a symbol after it has been created:

Double-click the appropriate symbol. The relevant dialog associated with the symbol is displayed. This means that you are now in edit mode.

Edit the symbol elements and/or re-position the symbol as required.

Symbol Elements
Dialog Buttons

Symbol Elements

Select Base Point

Pick the dimension base point. This button is selected by default and can be reselected to pick a different base point.

Set Ordinate Direction

Define the direction of the dimension line by picking two points or a line.

Direction

Set the direction on the X, Y axis or both.

Ordinate

Set where the ordinate dimension will appear in relation to the view.

		Under View: Create dimensions below the view.				Left of View: Create dimensions left of the view.
		Above View: Create dimensions above the view.				Right of View: Create dimensions right of the view.
		Both Sides: Create dimensions both above and below the view.				Both Sides: Create dimensions both left and right of the view.

Multiple Dimensioning

Set multiple dimension ordinates for each point on the X or Y axis.

Options

Set the required option(s) for the operation.

Postfix	Add a postfix showing the number of points with the same dimension. Text can be added before and after.
Constant distance from view	Position the dimensions a constant distance from the view. The default option is set in the Preferences.
Close to Measured Point	Position the dimensions close to the measured point of the view. The default option is set in the Preferences.
Manual Distance	Set the distance from the view or from the measured point, to where the dimension will be placed. The default option is set in the Preferences.
Show Base Point Dimension	Display the Base Point, showing the Zero (0,0) ordinate on X, Y. This option is enabled (ON) by default.

Filter

Set the required filter option(s) to include or exclude geometric entities in the operation.

Arcs	When this checkbox is marked , include Arcs when adding the feature created by this operation.
Center Lines	When this checkbox is marked , include Center Lines when adding the feature created by this operation. For additional information on this option, see the explanation for including Circles, below.
Circles	When this checkbox is marked , include Circles when adding the feature created by this operation. In the Automatic Ordinate dialog, when the Center Lines checkbox is ON , and the Circles checkbox is ON , the ordinate dimension witness lines are created at the end of the center line symbols, with no overlap between them, as shown below. When the Center Lines checkbox is OFF , and the Circles checkbox is ON , the ordinate dimension witness lines overlap with the center line symbols, as shown below.
Manual Points	When this checkbox is marked , include Manually selected Points on the sketch/model when adding the feature created by this operation. When this option is selected, an adjacent Pick button is activated, enabling you to manually pick the required points.
Points	When this checkbox is marked , include Points on the sketch/model when adding the feature created by this operation.
Splines	When this checkbox is marked , include Splines when adding the feature created by this operation.

Dialog Buttons

	Restore Default: Reset all values and settings to the system defaults.
	OK: Accept the changes, perform the operation, and close the current dialog/task.
	Apply: Accept the changes, perform the operation, and keep the current dialog/task open.
	Cancel: Cancel all changes and close the dialog/task without saving the settings.

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.