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USES OF CADD
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OBJECTIVES
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General Objectives

To understand methods of using texts and dimensions.

Specific Objectives

At the end of the unit you will be able to :

describe how text styles are set up;
choose either a single or multiline text for in text drawing;
define concept of dimensions and how they are used;
create and apply dimension style overrides by using either the commands line or dialog box
method.

INPUT

7.0 INTRODUCTION

AutoCAD provides various ways to create text. The simple line text use simple entries. Longer entries with
internal formatting use the multiline text. All entered text may use the current text style, which establishes the
default font and format settings.

Dimensioning is the process of adding measurement annotation to a drawing. AutoCAD provides many ways
to dimension objects and many ways to format dimensions. You can create dimensions for a wide variety of
object shapes in many different orientations.

7.1 AN OVERVIEW OF NOTES AND LABEL

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In AutoCAD there are two types of text object. They are the single line and multiline text. The single line
text makes distinct object for each line of text whether the line is one letter or many words. This type of
text is useful for titles of drawings, titles of views within a drawing, room labels and short notes.
Dimensions and longer notes are done with multiline text. AutoCAD treats a whole body of multiline text
as one object, whether the text consists of one letter or many paragraphs. The two types of text share
the same text styles, but each has its own command for placing text in the drawing.

7.1.1 Setting Up Text Styles

In AutoCAD, a text style consists of a combination of a style name, text font, height, width factor,
oblique angle and a few mostly static settings. Before the styles for any drawing are set up, one
has to determine how high the text letters need to be. To determine, this one needs to decide the
scale at which the final drawing will be printed.

Continued Next Page

Now that you have a

good idea of the height
you need, its time to
define a new text
style.but.HOW?

To define a text style

1. Type st, then enter or select Format from the format menu text style. This will
start the style command and bring up the Text Style dialog box (Refer to Figure
7.1.1). In the Style Name area, you will see the default Standard text style.
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Figure 7.1.1 - The Text Style dialog box, where text styles are set up

2. Move down to the Font area and click the Font Name drop down list to open it. A list
of fonts will appear and the number of choices will depend on what software is
installed in your computer. Choose your font name.

3. Then you can click the Font Style to choose a text style like regular, italic or bold.
4. Press the Tab Key to the next text box. The height setting is highlighted at the default
of 00.
5. You wont need to change any of the other parameters that define the new Text Style.
They can all stay at their default settings.
6. Click Apply in the upper-right corner of the dialog box. The label text style is saved
with the current drawing, and becomes the current text style.

7.1.2 Create Text

You can create text using several methods depending on your needs. You can choose either the
single or multiline text. For short entries that do not require multiple font or lines, create a single
line text. For long, complex entries click multiline or paragraph text.

To create single line text

The Single-Line Text command can be initiated using any of the following methods :
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i. From the Draw menu, choose Text. Then choose Single Line Text.
@
ii. You can click the single-line icon on the Draw Toolbar.

Single-line

@
iii. You can type Dtext at the command line.

To create multiline text

The Multiline Text command can be initiated
using any of the following methods :

i. From the Draw menu, choose Text. Then

choose Multiline Text.

@ ii. You can click the multiline icon on the Text Toolbar

Multiline @
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iii. You can type _mtext at the command line.

After creating a multiline commad, click at the graphic window that shows the Multiline Text
Editor. If you have not set up your text in the text style, you can set up your font style, text
height, spacing and others in this text before you use the multiline text. Figure 7.1.2 shows the
Multiline Text Editor.

Figure 7.1.2 - Mulitiline Text Editor

7.1.3 Text Justification

To justify a text, the single line and multiline text commands can be used.

Text justification using the Single-line Text command

When the Dtext command is used the default justification point is the lower-left corner of the line of text.
Look at Figure 7.1.3. At the Dtext prompt you have Justify/Style. Type j, then Enter to get the next
command line which has many justification options.
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Justification
options

Figure 7.1.3 - Command Window for Dtext

Most of these options are presented in Figure 7.1.4. The dots are in three columns - left, center and right
and four rows - top, middle, lower and bottom. The names of the justification location are based on these
columns and rows. For example TL for Top Left, MR for Middle Right etc.

Figure 7.1.4 - The justification point on a line of text

Text justification using the Multiline Text command

AutoCAD offers nine justification settings for multiline text. They are the same with the single-line text
options. The settings are top left, top center, middle left, middle center, middle right, bottom left, bottom
center and bottom right.

Examples of justification options of multiline text

The number of CAD The number of CAD The number of CAD

users in Malaysia grew as a
result of the construction
boom in the 1990. Tens of
million of Ringgit were
spent in foreign exchange
buying CAD software.
Globally, this industry
may have result in a
cumulated amount of
billions of USD in the last
20 years.
users in Malaysia grew as a
result of the construction
boom in the 1990. Tens of
million of Ringgit were
spent in foreign exchange
buying CAD software.
Globally, this industry may
have result in a cumulated
amount of billions of USD in
the last 20 years.
users in Malaysia grew as a
result of the construction
boom in the 1990. Tens of
million of Ringgit were
spent in foreign exchange
buying CAD software.
Globally, this industry
may have result in a
cumulated amount of
billions of USD in the last
20 years.
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top left : top center : top right :

left- aligned centered right- aligned

HOW TO JUSTIFY USING

THE MULTILINE TEXT
COMMAND..???

If a single word is longer than the width of the paragraph,

the word will extend beyond the paragraph boundary. To
overcome the problem..

1. From the Draw menu, choose text. Then choose the multiline text.
2. Specify the text boundary location and other properties as needed.
3. In the multiline text editor, create text.
4. Choose the Properties tab.
Select one of the nine justification options in the Justification box.
5. Choose OK.

ACTIVITY 7A

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

BEFORE YOU CONTINUE WITH THE
NEXT INPUT!
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7.1 Differentiate the use of single-line text and multiline text.

7.2 Give the three (3) things you can set up in the Text Style dialog box.
a) ..
b) ..
c) ...

7.3 The statements below are TRUE about texts, except

A. The font text can be set up before or after typing a text.
B. A text style dialog box can be derived from the Format Menu.
C. Normally, a single-line text can be used to write a long text.
D. A single-line and multiline text can share the same text style.

FEEDBACK TO
ACTIVITY 7A
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7.1 The single-line text is used for short entries that do not require multiple fonts or lines and is most
convenient for labels, whereas multiline type is used for long complex entries, creating
multiline or paragraph text.

7.2 a) Font Name

b) Font Style
c) Font Height

7.3 C. Normally, a single-line text can be used to write a long text.

INPUT
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7.2 CONCEPTS OF DIMENSION

Dimensions are the final ingredients to be added to your drawing. Every dimension variable has a
default setting, and these as a group comprise the default Standard dimension style. As in defining text
styles, the procedure is to make a copy of the Standard dimension style and rename the copy in effect,
making a new style that is a copy of the default style.

7.2.1 Overview Dimensions

You can choose all the standard types of dimension from the dimension menu or shortcut icons
from the dimension toolbars. Figure 7.2.1 shows the Dimension Toolbars.

Figure 7.2.1 - Dimension Tollbars

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AutoCAD provides three basic types of dimensioning which are the linear, radial and angular. Dimensions
can be horizontal, vertical, aligned, rotated, ordinate, baseline or continued. You can use a type of dimension
with just a click of the mouse:
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Linear Dimension

Angular Dimension
Aligned Dimension

Baseline Dimension
Radius Dimension

Continued Dimension
Diameter Dimension
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7.2.2 Parts of a Dimension

Dimensions have several distinct elements; dimension text, dimension lines, arrowheads, and
extension line. The parts of the dimension are shown in Figure 7.2.2.

Dimension
Dimension Text
Line
250
Extention
Line
Arrowhead

Figure 7.2.2 - The parts of a dimension

7.2.3 Create Linear Dimensions

You can create linear dimensions with horizontal, vertical and aligned dimension lines. These linear
dimensions can also be stacked or they can be created from end to end.
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Horizontal And Vertical Dimensions

AutoCAD automatically applies a horizontal
or vertical dimension according to the
extension line origins that you specify and the
location where you select an object. However
you can override this as you create the
dimension by specifying whether the
dimension is horizontal or vertical. For Figure 7.2.3 - Horizontal Dimension
example, in the following instruction, a
horizontal dimension is drawn by default
unless you specify a vertical one. Figure
7.2.3 and 7.2.4 show the horizontal and
vertical dimensions.

Figure 7.2.4 - Vertical Dimension

Aligned Dimensions
In aligned dimensions, the dimension line is
parallel to the extension line origins. Figure
7.2.5 shows an example of aligned
dimension.

Figure 7.2.5 Aligned Dimension

Continued Dimensions
With the continue command, you can create
dimension along a wall of a building very
quickly , just by picking points. AutoCAD
assumes that the last extension line specified
for the previous dimension will coincide with
the first extension line of the next dimension. If
the extension line you need to continue from is
not the last one specified, press enter, then Figure 7.2.6 Continued Dimension
pick the extension line. Continue with the
command. Figure 7.2.6 shows an example of
continued dimension.
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Baseline Dimensions
The Baseline command is which all
dimensions begin at the same point. Each
dimension is stacked above the previous one.
Because of the automatic stacking you can
use the baseline command for overall
dimensions. Figure 7.2.7 shows an example of
the baseline dimension.

Figure 7.2.7 - Baseline Dimension

7.2.4 Create Radial Dimensions

On the Dimension toolbar, there are icons for Radius and Diameter dimensions. They both operate in
the same way and are controlled by the same setting. The example in Figure 7.2.8 and 7.2.9 show the
radius and diameter dimension.

Figure 7.2.8 - Diameter Dimension Figure 7.2.9 - Radius Dimension

7.2.5 Create Angular Dimensions

The angular dimension is the only basic dimension type that uses angles in the dimension text instead
of linear measurement. The angular dimensions measure the angle between two lines or three points.
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Dimension Lines
If you use two straight, nonparallel lines to
specify an angle, the dimension line arc spans
the angle between the two lines. An example is
shown in Figure 7.2.10.

Figure 7.2.10 - Dimension line

Dimension Circles and Arcs

If you use an arc and a circle or three points to
specify an angle, AutoCAD draws the
dimension line arc between the extension
lines. The extension lines are drawn from the
angle endpoints to the intersection of the
dimension line arc. An example is shown in
Figure 7.2.11.

Figure 7.2.11 - Dimension Line Arc And Circle

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ACTIVITY 7B

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEFORE

YOU CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT INPUT!

7.4 Label the types of dimensions below:

h)

a)
g)

b)

f)

c)
e)
d)

7.5 Complete the following sentences with the correct words

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a) The dimensions are important to show ......... for all lines we use in drawing.
b) There are two types of linear dimension, ........... and . .
c) .command is which all dimensions begin at the same point and .
command is used to show the dimension along a wall of a building very quickly, just by
picking points.

FEEDBACK TO ACTIVITY
7B
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7.4 a) Horizontal linear e) Radius

b) Diameter f) Vertical linear
c) Baseline g) Aligned
d) Continued h) Angular
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7.5 a) measurement annotation

b) vertical dimension, horizontal dimension
c) baseline, continued

SELF-ASSESSMENT
7

You are approaching success. Try all the questions in this self-assessment section and check your
answers with those given in the Feedback on Self-Assessment 7 on the next page. If you face any problem,
discuss it with your lecturer. Good luck.

7.1.
GENERAL NOTES:
1. All work shall be in accordance with the
2002 Ed. Uniform Building Code and all local
ordinances.
2. Roof can be built to be steeper for climates
with heavy snowfall.
3. Solar panels available for installation on roof.
4. All windows to be double-paned.
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Type the above text using the following commands:

Use single spacing
Text height from 5 t0 12 in Arial font name and regular style.
Use justify multiline text: Top Center

7.2 Look at Figure 7-16. Use the grid and spacing of 20 units to determine all the dimensions.
7.3 Then reproduce the views shown with the full dimension of the drawing.

Figure 7-16 The object with grid lines

FEEDBACK TO
SELF-ASSESSMENT 7

Have you tried the questions????? If YES, check your answers now.

7.1.
GENERAL NOTES:
3. All work shall be in accordance with the 2002 Ed.
Uniform Building Code and all local ordinances.
4. Roof can be built to be steeper for climates with
heavy snowfall.
3. Solar panels available for installation on roof.
4. All windows to be double-paned.
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7.2 A figure with complete dimensions: