Expert: Bill DeShawn - 5/13/2005

Question
Bill,

Thanks for the quick response. Unless I misunderstood your instructions I still need some help. I'm unsure how to save the "style" file as a dwg. I don't know how to view it except from the "Design Center" and am unable to paste it to another file from here.
If I save the current drawing as a "start part" the new "style" isn't in the list. Is there a naming convention that causes this?
I guess I need step by step help.
Thanks,

Robert

-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Good morning Bill,
You will make a few people happy if you have an answer to this question.
Can you modify a dimensioning style and save it and select it in a new session and part? Currently I/we are under the impression and experience that you have to redefine it everytime you start a new session of ACAD.
Thanks,

Robert
Answer -
Make it exactly as you want it.  When it is perfect, save it away as a DWG file.  Call the DWG file "DX.dwg".  When you need it you can insert it and it will be right there in your new drawing.  You can create a LISP function to retrieve it:

(defun c:dx ()
 (command "_.-insert" "DX" ^c)
(princ)
)

Put it in ACAD.LSP or similar file that loads every time you start a drawing.  Then you only have to type DX in order to load your DX dimension style.  Make sure your block drawing is located in the Support File Search Path, or put it in a folder that you may then add to the Support File Search Path (otherwise known as the "ACAD environment".)  The Support File Search Path can be modified in OPTIONS; FILES; Support File Search Path.  The ACAD environment can be found with the following code:
(getenv "ACAD")

That should do you.  You should now have a few happy people.

Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn

Answer
Somewhere in your huge collection of drawings, there is one that has the dimension style just the way you like it.  The style name is DX.  Create all types of dimensions in the drawing: linear, angular, ordinate, radial.  SaveAs the drawing to a new name: DX.  Erase all objects in the drawing except the dimensions.  Save again.  In Windows, create a folder (if not already created) for blocks and LISP files:  C:\MYSUPPORT

Place the drawing file in there.  Add C:\BLOCKS to your Support File Search Path.  You can do that this way: Start the OPTIONS dialog box.  Click on the FILES tab. Click on the Add button. The cursor will blink in a blank window on the left.  Add the new folder name:  C:\MYSUPPORT

The text contained in the LISP code below beginning with "defun c:dx ()" needs to be pasted into a new text file.  Name the text file DX.LSP.  Make sure it does not have the txt extension.  The file extension can be viewed if the the following condition exists:  At the top of the Windows Explorer window is a menu.  One of the menu selections is TOOLS.  Click on TOOLS, then FOLDER OPTIONS, then scroll down until you find "Hide file extensions for known file types".  UNCHECK the box to the left of that setting.
Then make sure the new file is not named DX.LSP.TXT, but DX.LSP instead.
Using the APPLOAD command, Add DX.LSP to your startup suite.

To load the new dimension style, just type DX.  No need to browse around in ADC.

Let me know if you have more questions

Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn