Dimensioning

For dimensioning or actually measuring objects, there are a number of options available in pCon.planner and pCon.planner PRO. The table below shows the differences and similarities between the two versions.

Dimensioning or measuring tool	Available in pCon.planner	Available in pCon.planner PRO
Dimensioning as oriented	Yes	Yes
Rotated dimensioning	No	Yes
Wall dimensioning	Yes	Yes
Measure Tape	No	Yes
Angle measurement	No	Yes
Dimension Styles	No	Yes

Start this type of dimensioning from the

icon in the Drawing Elements group, Insert tab. The tool enables you to dimension the object according to its orientation; see the following illustration.

1.Having started the tool, establish the initial point of the first dimensioning.

2.Move the mouse to the endpoint of the first dimension. In the picture above it would be a length of two meters.

3.Clicking the mouse fixes the endpoint of this length.

4.By moving the mouse, you can set the distance between the dimension and the object it applies to. Alternatively, enter the distance in figures and confirm with the Enter key. Step 5 will not then apply.

5.Now fix this distance by clicking the mouse.

The tool will stay active until you deactivate it using the Esc key or the Cancel context menu item.

Dimensioning already created can be adapted both in length measured and distance from the object. This is how:

1.Select the dimensioning to be changed.

2.Click on the hammer symbol (shown in the left-hand image below). Three blue dots will appear as shown in the right-hand image. These can be clicked to alter the dimensioning as oriented.

Start this type of dimensioning from the

icon in the Drawing Elements group, Insert tab. The tool enables you to dimension objects after an angle has once been specified in a linear orientation, as shown in the illustration below.

pCon.planner_Dimensioning_08

1.Having started the tool, establish the initial point of the first length to be dimensioned (see image: starting point of dimensioning).

2.Now move the mouse to the endpoint of the length for dimensioning and click to fix that point (see image: endpoint of dimensioning).

3.Now move the mouse and set the angle of dimensioning (see image: angle of dimensioning) which is relevant to the current dimensioning procedure.

4.The angle can be fixed with a click.

5.By moving the mouse, you can set the distance between the dimension figure and the object it applies to. Alternatively, enter the distance in figures and confirm with the Enter key. Step 6 will not then apply.

6.Now fix this distance by clicking the mouse.

The tool will stay active until you deactivate it using the Esc key or the Cancel context menu item.

There is a tool in the Room group (Insert tab) for automatic dimensioning of walls.

1.Click on the Wall Dimension button to start the tool.

2.Moving the cursor over a Wall makes a blue line appear on its long outer edge. This is the signal that dimensioning can be carried out.

3.Click on one of the blue lines and move the mouse to set the distance between dimension marking and Wall. Alternatively, enter the distance in figures and confirm with the Enter key. Step 4 will not then apply.

4.Another click and the actual dimensioning of the Wall will be visible.

The tool will stay active until you deactivate it using the Esc key or the Cancel context menu item.

The Measure Tape tool enables certain distances to be measured in the course of planning without leaving behind any marked dimensions, as would be the case if the tools for rotated or oriented dimensioning were used. The distances measured with the Measure Tape are saved to the clipboard.

1.Click on the Measure Tape item in the Tools group, Edit tab.

2.Click to define the start point of the measurement.

3.Use the mouse to move along the line in the desired direction.

4.Now click the left mouse button again to fix the endpoint of the line to be measured.

Optional:

5.To show the measurement in your drawing, press Ctrl+V in combination.

6.The text that appears near the cursor can be positioned wherever you wish. Just move the cursor and then click to confirm the position.

pCon.planner offers dimensioning of angles using either three points or two lines. The latter is particularly suitable if there are no details on the intersection point of the angle.

The following images show the application of the tool for dimensioning the angle using three points (left-hand image) and two lines (right-hand image).

1.Click on the icon to start the tool.

2.Now click to set the angular point.

3.Two more mouse clicks enable you to define the successive arms of the angle.

4.Then the angle dimension will be seen and can be moved around with the mouse, then fixed with a click.

5.The angular dimensioning tool will stay active so that you can dimension as often as you like. To cancel, either press Esc or select Cancel from the context menu.

When setting the intersection point for the angle or the two points on the arms, you can make use of an object’s Snap Points.

To make alterations to dimension lines already created, select it and then click on the icon. This is also described here.

1.Click on the icon to start the tool.

2.Two further clicks allow you to establish each of the angular points necessary to use of the tool. To set them, it is possible to make use of an object’s Snap Points.

3.Then the angle dimension will be seen and can be moved around with the mouse, then fixed with a click.

4.The angular dimensioning tool will stay active so that you can dimension as often as you like. To cancel, either press Esc or select Cancel from the context menu.

To make alterations to dimensionings already created, select it and then click on the icon. This is also described here.

The Dimension Styles dialog, opened by clicking on the button of the same name in the Object group, Edit tab, offers the possibility of customizing the appearance of the dimension markings in the plan as a whole.

The dialog will always make two styles available (Standard and X3G_DEFAULT_DIM_STYLE), whatever DWG file has been loaded. If you open a file which uses a different style, this will be automatically shown in the dialog and can be changed as necessary.