The Javelin Technologies Blog

Finally you can use the model dimensions  to detail your drawing, without having to waste your time manually dragging them one by one in the correct position.

Let’s see how this is being done.

1. Insert the Model Items.

2. Once they are inserted, they are being placed accordingly to their position in the model, which is to say pretty random.

Model dimensions after being inserted in the drawing

3. Let’s select all these dimensions with a window (feel free to use the F5 shortcut key to access the dimension filter):

Press F5 to access the Selection Filter

4. Once the dimensions are selected make sure you do not move your mouse too far. There is one very shy icon not too far from your cursor. Have you spotted it?

Select all dimensions and do not move your mouse before spotting this icon

Let’s look at it closely:

This is the icon I'm talking about

5. If by any change you moved your mouse and the icon disapeared, don’t be upset, it can be called back by pressing the <CTRL> key on your keyboard. It will re-appear close to your cursor.

6. Now let’s select this Icon. It will expand into a mini toolbar:

Expanded into a Mini Toolbar

7. There are all kind of nice little icons on this toolbar and I suggest you take the time to play with all of them, but for now we will select the Auto Arrange Dimensions icon.

I mean this one

8. Magic! One click and most of my dimensions moved nicely in positions that make sense. Is SolidWorks reading my mind?

Did I just saved 10 minutes?

What if this drawing had 15 views and hundreds of dimensions? How much time would have I saved then? How much time will you save from now on when detailing?