Dimscale Zero

I notice that in AutoCAD 14, exiting the Dimension Style dialog box often (and for no obvious reason) resets the Overall Scale factor (Dimscale) to zero.

A lot of my lisp routines use the current value of Dimscale to perform some mathematical function, usually division. When Dimscale is zero, the routines crash out with a 'Divide by zero' error.

I have added a 'Dimscale Zero' error check to my lisp routines now, but my question is, under what conditions would the Overall Scale factor (Dimscale) ever be zero? Is zero ever a valid setting?

Reply to
mlv
Loading thread data ...

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.

********
Reply to
Brian Salt

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-

Reply to
mlv

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.

Reply to
Brian Salt

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.

Reply to
Peter Ruehle

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.