Display and edit PMI elements


In this section:
4.3.1. Show All and Hide All commands (PMI elements)
4.3.2. Show or Hide commands (PMI elements)

Most of the commands to manipulate the display of PMI annotations and dimensions are accessed through PathFinder. Some of these commands are also available on shortcut menus when an element is selected in the graphics window.

To

Do this

Locate a PMI dimension or annotation in the graphics window.

Point to the PMI element name anywhere on PathFinder (for example, Balloon 1), and then look in the graphics window to see what is highlighted.

Show or hide all PMI annotations or dimensions in the document.

  1. Expand the PMI node on PathFinder, and point to Annotations or Dimensions.

  2. From the shortcut menu, choose Show All or Hide All.

Tip:

A faster way to show and hide PMI elements is to use the check boxes in front of the element name.

Show or hide one PMI annotation or dimension in the 3D model graphics window.

On PathFinder, set or clear the check box in front of the PMI element name.

Switch between editing the formatting or the value of a selected PMI dimension using the Modify button on the command bar.

Tip:

Depending on the dimension type and where you click, a single click can display all of the dimension editing functions, or display only the dimension value edit box. You also can use Alt+click to get the opposite behavior. See the table in Dimension value edit controls.

To edit a driving dimension value:

  1. In the graphics window, click the dimension to activate it.

  2. Click the dimension text or dimension line.

  3. In the on-screen dimension value edit box, type the new value and press Tab or Enter to save it.

Change the side of the model affected by the dimension edit. This includes a symmetric edit.

Note:

See Using PMI dimension selection cursors in the PMI edit handles and cursors help topic.

In the graphics window:

  1. Click the dimension text.

  2. Do either of the following:

    • Click the dimension 3D terminator (arrow or sphere) on the side that you want to apply the dimension edit.

    • Click the arrow button on the value editing handle box.

Change which of the following is shown in the document: PMI dimension values, names, or formulas. (This is not valid for annotations.)

Point to any dimension. Right-click and choose one of the following:

  • Show All Values

  • Show All Names

  • Show All Formulas

Note:

These settings are mutually exclusive. If values are shown, then names and formulas are not. One of these must be shown at all times.

Move the dimension terminators.

  1. In the graphics window, place your cursor on a dimension terminator. Do not click.

  2. Press the left mouse button as you drag the terminator.

Tip:

You also can the terminator handle and choose the Flip Terminators command from the dimension format menu.

PMI edit handles and cursors

Move a PMI dimension or annotation.

Reposition PMI text, lines, and arrows

Move PMI elements in 3D

Rename an annotation or dimension. This renames the element wherever it occurs.

  1. On PathFinder, point to the PMI element name you want to rename, and from its shortcut menu, choose Rename.

  2. Type the new name, and then press Enter

Delete an annotation or dimension. This removes it everywhere it is used.

On PathFinder, point to the PMI element name you want to delete, and from its shortcut menu, choose Delete.

Edit the properties of a PMI dimension or annotation.

Example:

You can apply fractional formatting to a linear dimension using the Units tab in the Dimension Properties dialog box.

To learn how to do this, see Format a fractional dimension.

  1. Point to the specific PMI element name (for example, Balloon 1), and from its shortcut menu, choose Properties.

  2. In the Dimension Properties dialog box or the annotation-specific dialog box that appears, make changes to the PMI element properties.

Add property text to a PMI callout or balloon.

  1. Choose the Balloon command or Callout command from the PMI tab on the command ribbon.

  2. In the annotation dialog box, click the Property Text button .

Copy and paste property text into a PMI dimension prefix.

  1. Select and copy the desired property text from the Select Property Text dialog box.

  2. Choose a dimension command from the ribbon.

  3. On the command bar, click the Prefix button .

  4. Paste the property text into the desired prefix, suffix, superfix, or subfix text box.

Convert property text associated with a selected dimension or annotation to static text.

Point to the specific PMI element name (for example, Callout 3), and from its shortcut menu, choose Convert Property Text.

Convert all property text associated with PMI elements in the document to static text.

Choose PMI tab→Property Text group→Convert All.

Update all property text associated with PMI elements in the document.

Choose PMI tab→Property Text group→Update All.

Find all model views where a PMI annotation or dimension is used.

On PathFinder, point to a PMI element name. This highlights the PMI element name in all model view collections where it is used.

Add an annotation or dimension to a defined model view.

  1. In PathFinder, point to the specific PMI element, and from the shortcut menu, choose Add To Model View.

  2. In the Add To Model View dialog box, select the view names the element is to be added to, and then click OK.

Remove an annotation or dimension from a defined model view.

  1. Point to the specific PMI element, and from the shortcut menu, choose Remove From Model View.

  2. In the Remove From Model View dialog box, select the view names the element is to be removed from, and then click OK.

Set default PMI text size.

Change PMI text size.

Change individual PMI element text size.

In the graphics window, right-click a PMI element, and then choose Properties. Change the Font Size option as follows:

  • For dimensions, click the Text tab.

  • For annotations, click the Text and Leader tab.

Change the colors of PMI driving and driven dimensions.

Note:

You cannot override PMI color through individual properties.

To learn about the different colors used to display PMI on the model, see PMI dimension colors in the PMI dimensions and annotations overview.

On the QY CAD Application menu, click Settings→Options. On the Colors tab, do the following:

  • To change the color of driving dimensions, select a new color from the Handle list.

  • To change the color of driven dimensions, select a new color from the Driven list.
PMI edit handles and cursors Show All and Hide All commands (PMI elements)

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