Adjust the spacing between dimensions to improve readability

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You can use grip editing to move dimensions to adjust the spacing between them.

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When you select a dimension, the entire dimension behaves as a single object

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because it is an associative dimension.

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You can then select either the dimension text grip or the dimension line grip to

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make that the hot grip and then drag the dimension line to a new position.

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This is a very handy way to move a single dimension.

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But if you want to adjust the spacing between several dimensions,

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there is an easier way

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on the annotate ribbon

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in the dimensions panel, click the dimension tool.

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The program prompts you to select objects

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or specify the first extension line origin.

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And there are also a number of options.

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Choose the distribute option,

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the program prompts you to specify the method to distribute

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dimensions and you can choose either equal or offset.

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Also note that in the command line,

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you can see the current offset distance

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equal, equally,

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distributes all of the dimensions you select

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and requires a minimum of three dimension lines

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offset, distributes all selected dimensions, a specified distance,

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choose equal

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the program prompts you to select dimensions to distribute

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and you can use any convenient object selection method.

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For example, use a crossing window to select all four dimensions below the object.

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The prompt repeats so that you can select additional dimensions.

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When you are done, selecting dimensions,

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either right click or press, enter

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the dimensions you selected are immediately distributed

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so that they are equally spaced between the first and last dimension.

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The command is still active,

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right click and choose the distribute option. Again,

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the program prompts you to specify the method to distribute dimensions.

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This time choose offset.

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The program prompts you to select a base dimension.

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The dimension that will not move,

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click to select the two unit dimension closest to the object.

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The program then prompts you to select the dimensions to distribute.

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And you can use any convenient object selection method.

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For example,

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use a crossing window to select all of the other dimensions below the object.

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You can even include the base dimension.

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The prompt repeats. So you can select additional dimensions.

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You could also choose the offset option and change the current offset distance.

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When you finish selecting dimensions, press enter,

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the dimensions are immediately distributed based on the current offset distance.

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When you are finished, you can press enter or escape to end the command.

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The offset option is particularly useful

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when working with annotative dimensions.

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For example, on the status bar, expand the annotation scale menu

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and change the annotation scale

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to 1 to 4.

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Since all of the dimensions are annotative they immediately resize

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but now they overlap each other.

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On the ribbon.

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Click the dimension tool again,

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right click and choose the distribute option

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and then choose the offset option.

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The program prompts you to select the base dimension.

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Click to select the dimension closest to the object,

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then use a crossing window to select the other dimensions.

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When you are finished, selecting dimensions, press enter,

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the dimensions are immediately distributed based

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on the current offset distance applied

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to the new annotation scale so that the dimensions no longer overlap.

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When you are finished,

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you can press enter or escape

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to end the command.

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Use the tool on the status bar to change the annotation scale back to a scale of 1 to 2.

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The dimensions immediately resize but are also

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displayed back at their original positions.

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You can also use the distribute option

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to adjust the spacing between ordinate dimensions.

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For example, on the ribbon,

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click the dimension tool again,

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right click and choose the distribute option

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and then choose the offset option.

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Select the X statum dimension above the object on the left as the base dimension.

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Then select the other X statum dimensions above the object

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and press enter

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the base dimension remains unchanged while the other dimensions

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are immediately distributed based on the current offset distance.

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Right click and choose undo to reverse the last dimension. Operation

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note that the dim command is still active.

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Choose the distribute option again

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this time,

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choose the equal option

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use a crossing window to select all of the X datum dimensions above the object.

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And then right click

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the dimensions at either end of the object remain unchanged

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while the ones between

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are now spaced equally

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when you are finished,

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press enter or escape

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to end the command.