Ordinate dimensions

[nextvkin]

Hi
I'm using ordinate dimensions for my sections & elevations, the base being 0. How do I get a negative values for levels below 0? Thanks.

[jaberwok]

Only by editing the text to read -<> AFAIK.

Otherwise you'll need one (or two) extra UCS mirrored about the y (and/or x) axis.

[nextvkin]

Thanks, but how does mirroring the UCS work?

[jaberwok]

If your x-axis arrow points left instead of right, measuring to the left of the origin will .....
oh sh*t - forget the UCS, just edit the text.

[nextvkin]

That's what I thought - never mind it happens to the best of us

[irneb]

Would actually be nice to have an option for ordinate dims: 0 (default) show absolute value; 1 = show negative values; 2 = show + for positive and - for negative; 3 = show negatives in parentheses.

Maybe that should become a wish item? Due to this I don't use ordinate dims, I rather create a block with an attribute and manipulate the value I want using fields. Then a simple copy of the block shows the ordinate value just as I intended without having to fiddle with the text again.

[jaberwok]

Would actually be nice to have an option for ordinate dims: 0 (default) show absolute value; 1 = show negative values; 2 = show + for positive and - for negative; 3 = show negatives in parentheses.

Maybe that should become a wish item? Due to this I don't use ordinate dims, I rather create a block with an attribute and manipulate the value I want using fields. Then a simple copy of the block shows the ordinate value just as I intended without having to fiddle with the text again.

Yes. Something like that really should have been there right from the introduction of ordinate dimensioning. Even just your options 0 and 1 or 0 and 2 or 0 and 3.

[nextvkin]

I must admit I like using dim ords in spite of this little shortcoming because in a real project I would not have had to use a negative value. However I agree it would be good to have the option as you suggest.

[tedg]

I must admit I like using dim ords in spite of this little shortcoming because in a real project I would not have had to use a negative value. However I agree it would be good to have the option as you suggest.

Well you could set up a seperate dimsyle with a "-" prefix for this pupose and name it accordingly.

Like if you had a regualar dimstyle named: STD-DIM
You could name the negative one something like: (-) STD-DIM

[nextvkin]

That's a good idea, Ted, all I have to do then is to put in all the dim ords using my normal dimstyle, then select all the below zero ones & change their dimstyle to the negative one. Thanks.