How to Use Dimension Styles in BricsCAD

Quick answer: DIMSTYLE opens the Drawing Explorer’s Dimension Styles dialog, where you can create, edit, rename, delete, and compare dimension styles, define child styles and overrides, and copy styles between drawings.

Setting a Dimension Style Current

First method: right-click the dimension style field in the Status Bar and select a style from the context menu.

Second method: launch DIMSTYLE (the current style is marked in the Current column), then click that column for the style you want.

Creating a New Dimension Style

1. Launch DIMSTYLE.
2. Select an existing style to use as a template for the new one.
3. Click New, or right-click an existing style and choose New from the context menu.
4. Type a name in the Name field.
5. Define the new style’s settings.

The Save to new style option in the context menu offers an alternative: creating a new style as a direct copy of the one you’ve selected.

Creating a Dimension Child Style

Every dimension style can have a child style for each dimension type: Linear, Angular, Radius, Diameter, Ordinate, and Leader. If the current style has a child defined for a given type, that child style gets used automatically whenever you create a dimension of that type.

1. Select the parent style, right-click, and choose New child style; a context menu lists the dimension entity types.
2. Select a type; the child style’s name becomes <parent style>:<dimension entity type>.
3. Select the child style and define only the properties that need to differ from the parent for that specific dimension type.

Editing a Dimension Style

1. Launch DIMSTYLE.
2. Select the style.
3. Adjust its settings.
4. Close the Drawing Explorer.

Defining Dimension Style Overrides

1. Launch DIMSTYLE.
2. Select the style.
3. The first line of the style list reads <overrides on dimstylename>.
4. Define your overrides.
5. Close the Drawing Explorer.

Creating dimensions with overrides in place isn’t recommended. Use overrides to test changes without touching the current style’s actual definition, then use Save overrides to current style or Save to new style to keep them permanently. Be careful: setting a different style current discards any unsaved overrides.

Renaming a Dimension Style

1. Launch DIMSTYLE.
2. Select the style.
3. Right-click and choose Rename.
4. Type the new name and press Enter.

Copying Dimension Styles Between Drawings

1. Open both the source and target drawings.
2. Launch DIMSTYLE; both open drawings appear in the Open drawings list.
3. Select Dimension styles under the source drawing.
4. Select the style(s) to copy, holding Ctrl for multiple.
5. Click and hold on one of the selected styles, drag the selection onto the target drawing, then release.

Comparing Dimension Styles

1. Launch DIMSTYLE.
2. Click the first style, then hold Ctrl and click additional styles; their properties display side by side, with any differing settings highlighted.
3. Optionally hold Ctrl to add or remove styles from the comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my overrides if I switch to a different dimension style? They’re discarded, so save them first with Save overrides to current style or Save to new style if you want to keep them.

Do child styles apply automatically, or do I have to select them manually each time? Automatically, if the current style has a child defined for a dimension type, it’s used the moment you create a dimension of that type.

How do I copy a dimension style from one drawing into another? Open both drawings, launch DIMSTYLE, select the style under the source drawing in the Open drawings list, and drag it onto the target drawing.

How can I see exactly which settings differ between two dimension styles? Select both (holding Ctrl for the second), and their properties display together with any differing settings highlighted.