AEC Dimensions are objects used to measure the components of a 3D model done in AutoCAD Architecture, like the length of a wall or the width of a door. AutoCAD Architecture offers several methods for automatically dimensioning several types of objects. The two dimensioning methods are: AutoCAD traditional dimensioning tools and the new AEC dimensioning tools. Both methods have automatic and manual options for entities' dimensioning. You can use both methods simultaneously in an AutoCAD drawing. AutoCAD traditional dimensioning tools are largely known and used around the world. In this article series you will learn how to setup and use AEC dimensions.
We have two kinds of AEC Dimensions: Associative AEC Dimension and Manual AEC Dimension.
Associative AEC Dimension
Figure 1: AEC Dimension for a plan view
Associative AEC Dimensions are those in which Dimension Logical Points reacts associatively, according to the 3D model elements or other AutoCAD entities, such as lines, arcs, circles, and polylines. When the dimensioned object has any modification in its measures, Dimension Logical Points and its respective dimensions are updated simultaneously. When the dimensioned object is moved, through the MOVE command, all respective AEC dimension chains are moved too, proportionally.
To create Associative AEC Dimensions, you must select AEC objects or AutoCAD entities, and this feature will dimension their logical points. You can choose many logical points on each AEC Object or AutoCAD entity to dimension. Before you add an AEC Dimension, you decide which logical points will be relevant for you. For example, you can dimension the following logical points of an AEC Wall: 
- Wall Overall Measure
- Length of Wall
- Wall Components Width
- Wall Intersections
- Wall Openings
In this article series, we will learn how to:
- Create an Associative AEC Dimension Style, which contains the following parameters:
- Number of dimensioning chains
- Types of objects to be dimensioned (like wall, doors or windows)
- Logical points to be dimensioned (like wall components or wall intersections)
- Looking style of dimension entities (like arrows, colors or linetypes)
- Dimension an object in the drawing using the customized Associative AEC Dimension Style that you created before.
Manual AEC Dimension
Manual AEC Dimensions are very similar to Associative AEC Dimensions, but Manual AEC Dimensions do not use Dimension Logical Points. Therefore, you can dimension any selected point in a drawing. Manual AEC Dimension can react interactively with the selected points or it can be static, depending on its setup parameters.
In this article series, we will learn how to:
- Create a Manual AEC Dimension Style, which contains the following parameters:
- Number of dimensioning chains
- Looking style of dimensions entities (such as arrows, colors or linetypes)
- Define the dimension point mode, which determines if the dimensions are associative or not to the selected points.
- How to dimension an object in the drawing using the customized Manual AEC Dimension Style that you created before.
- Convert a traditional AutoCAD Dimension to a Manual AEC Dimension.
Dimension Logical Points for AEC Objects and AutoCAD Entities
Figure 2: Example of a detailed plan view with a lot of AEC Dimensions
You can see what are the Dimension Logical Points of an AEC Dimension through its style's Display Properties. We can access this information by typing the command AECDIMSTYLE and pressing ENTER, or:
- Click the Document menu. If you do not have this menu, click the Window menu > Pulldowns > Document, and you will see it.
- Click the AEC Dimension command.
- Click AEC Dimension Styles...
- Click twice in the AEC Dimension Style that you want some information about.
- Click the Display Properties tab.
- Click twice in the active Display Representation (it is the bold one) or apply a Style Override above it.
- Click the Contents tab.
Next, we will discuss all the AEC Objects in which AEC Dimension can be applied and its respective Dimension Logical Points.
WALL
Figure 3: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Walls
 | Overall: Dimensions the two outer points of all dimensioned walls. |
 | Length of Wall – Outer Boundaries: Dimensions the outer boundaries of every selected wall. When wall boundaries overlap, only those facing the dimension direction are dimensioned. |
 | Length of Wall – Wall Length: Dimensions the length of each wall in the selection set. |
 | Wall Width – Overall: Dimensions the overall width of a wall. |
 | Wall Width – All Components: Dimensions the width of each component in a wall. |
 | Wall Width – Center: Dimensions the center line of a single-component or multi-component wall. |
 | Wall Width – From Style: Dimensions the wall components according to the settings in the wall style. |
 | Wall Width – Structural from Style: Dimensions the structural wall components according to the settings in the wall style. |
 | Wall Intersections: Dimensions the intersection points of walls that are connected to the selected walls. |
OPENING IN WALL
Figure 4: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Opening in Wall
| Opening Max. Width: Dimensions the maximum width of a window, door or opening in a wall. |
| Opening Min. Width: Dimensions the minimum width of a window, door, or opening in a wall. |
| Center of Opening: Dimensions the center point of a window, door, or opening in a wall. |
MASS ELEMENT
Figure 5: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Mass Element
 | Overall: Dimensions the two outer points of selected objects. |
 | Bounding Box: Dimensions the bounding box of each object in the selection set. |
 | Edges – All Edges: Dimensions all edges in an object. |
 | Edges – Facing Edges: Dimensions the edges of the object that are visible from the direction of the dimension line. |
 | Center: Dimensions the center point of an object. |
CURTAIN WALL
Figure 6: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Curtain Wall
 | Overall: Dimensions the two outer points of selected objects. |
 | Bounding Box: Dimensions the bounding box of each object in the selection set. |
 | Edges – All Edges: Dimensions all edges in an object. |
| Edges – Facing Edges: Dimensions the edges of the object that are visible from the direction of the dimension line. |
 | Center: Dimensions the center point of an object. |
DOOR/WINDOWS ASSEMBLY
Figure 7: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Door/Window Assembly
 | Overall: Dimensions the two outer points of selected objects. |
 | Bounding Box: Dimensions the bounding box of each object in the selection set. |
 | Edges – All Edges: Dimensions all edges in an object. |
| Edges – Facing Edges: Dimensions the edges of the object that are visible from the direction of the dimension line. |
 | Center: Dimensions the center point of an object. |
STRUCTURAL MEMBER
Figure 8: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Structural Member
 | Overall: Dimensions the two outer points of selected objects. |
 | Bounding Box: Dimensions the bounding box of each object in the selection set. |
 | Edges – All Edges: Dimensions all edges in an object. |
| Edges – Facing Edges: Dimensions the edges of the object that are visible from the direction of the dimension line. |
 | Center: Dimensions the center point of an object. |
OPENING/DOOR/WINDOW
Figure 9: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Opening/Door/Window
 | Overall: Dimensions the two outer points of selected objects. |
 | Bounding Box: Dimensions the bounding box of each object in the selection set. |
 | Edges – All Edges: Dimensions all edges in an object. |
| Edges – Facing Edges: Dimensions the edges of the object that are visible from the direction of the dimension line. |
 | Center: Dimensions the center point of an object. |
GRID
Figure 10: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Grid
 | Overall: Dimensions the two outermost grid lines of all selected grids. |
 | Outer Grid Lines: Dimensions the outer grid lines of selected grids. |
 | All Grid Lines: Dimensions all grid lines in selected grids. |
LINEWORK
Figure 11: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Linework
 | Extents: Dimensions the two overall outer points of all selected objects.. |
 | Endpoints: Dimensions the endpoints of selected objects. If you selected a polyline with multiple segments, the endpoints of each segment are measured. Endpoints can be measured for all AutoCAD linework objects listed above except circles. |
 | Midpoints: Measures the midpoints of all segments of the selected object that are lying in the direction of the dimensions. Midpoints can be measured for all AutoCAD linework objects listed above except circles. |
 | Center: Measures the center of the curve of circular objects. Centers can be measured for circles, arcs, and curved polyline segments. |
 | Quadrant: Measures the quadrants of circles, arcs, and curved polylines segments. |
OTHER
Figure 12: AEC Dimension Style – Display Properties – Contents Tab – Linework
 | Overall: Dimensions the two outer points of selected objects. |
 | Bounding Box: Dimensions the bounding box of each object in the selection set. |
 | Edges – All Edges: Dimensions all edges in an object. |
| Edges – Facing Edges: Dimensions the edges of the object that are visible from the direction of the dimension line. |
 | Center: Dimensions the center point of an object. |
Part 1 – Summing Up
In Part 1, you learned about the Associative AEC Dimension and Manual AEC Dimension. You also learned about all AEC Objects in which AEC Dimension can be applied, and its respective Dimension Logical Points.
In Part 2, you will learn how to create a traditional AutoCAD dimension style to assign to an AEC Dimension style. You will also learn how to create an AEC Dimension style.
"Less is more!"
Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
(1886-1969)
The text from this course material was based on AutoCAD Architecture 2010 Student Release and the original content is copyrighted property of Autodesk, Inc. Personal comments from the faculty were added along this course material with educational purposes. All the pictures from this course material were captured using Print-Screen from AutoCAD Architecture 2010 Student Release windows and dialog boxes and they are copyrighted property of Autodesk, Inc.
