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dual dimension

dual dimension

dual dimension

(OP)
Can someone tell me how I can display dimensions on a drawing in both metric and inches?

RE: dual dimension

RMB on a dimension then select properties.  Their should be a button dual dimensions. circa 2003

RE: dual dimension

The only drawback is it will only show metric as primary (top), inches on bottom. I sent in an enhancement request to SolidWorks.

RE: dual dimension

In Tools/Properties/Document Properties, there is a checkbox to make all dimensions appear this way.

What drawback are you talking about ctopher?

Jason Capriotti
Smith & Nephew, Inc.

RE: dual dimension

If you have an ANSI dwg, how would you set the dual dimensions to show metric on the bottom as default?

RE: dual dimension

I tried that and it will make inches on top in parenthesis, metric on bottom. All other dim's will be in metric. It is not what it should be with ANSI settings.

RE: dual dimension

I’ve contemplated sending an enhancement request in regards to dual dimensioning as well.  Hey, when I need to dimension in angstroms and nanometers, I’m all set, and I appreciate the flexibility.

But I could really use one more:  Custom units.   

AutoCAD (forgive me, father) had this functionality and it really came in handy at times.  There was a property for the Alternate Dimension named “Alt Dim Scale.”  Basically it multiplied the scale value by your primary dimension and used the result for your Dual Dim.  

The beauty of this is that you’re not limited to hard-coded ratios like SW is offering.  

If I’m dealing with a part I know will shrink by a given factor, I can show on my drawings the process (pre-shrink) dimensions as the primary and the finished (post-shrink) dimensions as the dual dim, just by specifying that unique factor somewhere in the dual dim settings.

System: Dell Precision 650—Intel Xeo @ 2.66 GHz with 1/2G RAM
OS: Windows 2000 SP3
Graphics: NVidia Quadro FX 500 128Mb (OpenGL set to Solidworks)
Version: Solidworks 2005, SP0

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