Working with Dimensioning Groups

Dimensioning groups are exclusively managed via separate commands in the context menus and their subordinate menus on the different dialog tabs. You can add user-defined dimensioning groups; assign certain component parts to them depending on their type and delete, copy, etc. existing groups.

Add Component Part Groups

Select the right-click > Dimensioning Groups > Add Dimensioning Group menu option to add a standard dimensioning group to the selection tree at once. You can add any component part type to this group. However, not all setting parameters for dimensioning chains are available here.

Use the menu Dimensioning Groups > Rename to enter a suitable name for the new group afterwards.

On the other hand, when you select the command Dimensioning Groups / Add Component Part Group, you can determine the group type as well as some further information in an additional dialog. Thus, the group is specialized in certain component part types with more setting parameters.

Add dimension group dialog

Setting	Description
Type Group	Here you select the type of dimensioning group. General Group – for each component part type Group Shapes – for straight and bent shapes Group Polyplates – for all plate types and stiffeners Group Connecting Part – for end plates, web angles, etc. Group Subgroups – for special subgroups
Group Name	the name of the group in the selection tree
Type Label	Here you select the type of labeling for the dimensioning chain. You can choose between None, Automatic, Group Name and User-defined Default.
Selection Direction	Here you indicate which dimensioning chains have to be equipped with a labeling.
Label Text	Here you enter a suitable labeling text if you selected the option ‘User-defined Default’. For more detailed information about labeling, Labeling of Dimensioning Chains.

You can add or copy any number of component part groups and assign component parts to them. If need be, it is thus possible to build very complex dimensioning structures.

Add Special Dimensions and Detailings

Select the entry Dimensioning Groups / Add Special Dimensions or Dimensioning Groups / Add Detailing in the context menu to add special dimensions and, at single parts, the detailings, too.

The selection dialog already described under Component Part Groups appears where you can select the corresponding special dimension or detailing. The offered selection depends on the part area of dimensioning.

You can add special groups only once and they cannot be copied. Already inserted groups therefore are not displayed any more for selection.

Copy, Rename and Delete

In order to do this, you first have to select the desired group in the tree structure and then call the context menu.

When you copy a component part group, a new group of the same type will be created and all parameter settings will be adopted (possibly existing assignments of component parts will however not be copied). Select the entry Dimensioning Groups / Copy. Then, you can rename the copy and assign the component parts.

Rename the group using the entry Dimensioning Groups / Rename. Enter the new name directly in the tree structure.

Delete the group using the entry Dimensioning Groups / Delete. In case of component part groups, it may be that the component parts once registered by this group will be processed by other groups.