Dimscale Zero

From R14 Help Files:
********
Type: Real Saved in: Drawing Initial value: 1.0000 Sets the overall scale factor applied to dimensioning variables that specify sizes, distances, or offsets. Also affects the scale of leader objects created with LEADER.
0.0 AutoCAD computes a reasonable default value based on the scaling between the current model space viewport and paper space. If you are in paper space, or in model space and not using the paper space feature, the scale factor is 1.0. sizes, and other scaled distances to plot at their face values. DIMSCALE does not affect tolerances or measured lengths, coordinates, or angles. ********

Yes, I had read that.
What I couldn't comprehend was under what circumstances would 0 (zero) be a valid Overall Scale factor for a drawing. -- Mike -Please remove 'safetycatch' from e-mail address before firing off your reply-

I've tried messing with it set to zero and switching between model and paper space with a viewport and, so far, have not sussed what's what!
I thought that with it set to zero, then dimensions in model space would be automatically adjusted, when in a paper space viewport, to suit the zoom factor, thus avoiding the dimension characters becoming giants.
Hmm.
Waiting for someone else to chip in...
Brian.

That will work as expected if you dimension while in the paperspace viewport. If you dimension while in model space and then switch to paperspace at some scale other than 1, you have to update all the dimensions.