AutoLISP: Dim Text OverRide

Although you do not really need a LISP routine to accomplish this task (as seen in THIS post). This particular routine is great because it also has an extra option to clear existing text overrides.

I use this routine to easily add text to show underneath dimensions and also to remove text overrides from dimensions.

Here’s how:

DTOR <enter> to start
Select Dimensions to have the text overrides applied to (can be multiple)
Enter the text that you’d like to show: in this example, I used <>\XTYP. to show “TYP.” underneath the dimension.
<> lets you keep the actual measured dimension
\X starts a new line of text underneath the actual dimension
TYP. that is right next to the “\X” is the text to be displayed in the new line

The below animation shows how to add text:

The below animation shows how to remove text overrides:

I do not remember where this routine came from or who wrote it. I think that Alan Thompson wrote it but I am not certain.

(defun c:DTOR () (c:DimTextOverride))

(defun c:DimTextOverride ( / ss textString)

(princ "\rDIMENSION TEXT OVERRIDE ")

(vl-load-com)

(if (and (setq ss (ssget '((0 . "DIMENSION"))))

(setq textString

(getstring

T

"\nEnter override text, <Enter> to remove override: ")))

(progn

(vla-startundomark

(cond (*activeDoc*)

((setq *activeDoc*

(vla-get-activedocument

(vlax-get-acad-object))))))

(vlax-for oDim

(setq ss (vla-get-activeselectionset *activeDoc*))

(vla-put-textoverride oDim textString))

(vla-delete ss)

(vla-endundomark *activeDoc*))

(prompt "\n** Nothing selected ** "))

(princ))

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8 Responses to AutoLISP: Dim Text OverRide

Andres says:

June 7, 2013 at 10:19 AM

Thank you!
It works

Matt says:

December 2, 2013 at 2:08 PM

How would you use this if the override text is always the same (ex: TYP) and simply wanted to insert it directly without receiving a prompt?

- AutoCAD Tips says:
  
  December 3, 2013 at 7:21 AM
  
  Try the code below:
  
  ;;; Use CDA in the command line after loadingC
  ;;; Change Dimension Values to “TYP”
  ;;; (c) 2001 Andy Leisk
  ;;; Modified by Greg Battin to insert TYP in to dimension
  (defun C:CDA (/ ss)
  (princ “Select Dimensions to say TYP…\n”)
  (setq ss (ssget))
  (command “.DIM1” “NEW” “TYP” ss “”)
  (princ)
  )
  (princ)
  
  - Matt says:
    
    December 3, 2013 at 9:20 AM
    
    Perfect! Thanks.
    
    I like that it has the drag select option, instead of the single select, like this one:
    
    (defun c:T1 ( / edim)
    (vl-load-com)
    (setq edim (vlax-ename->vla-object (car (entsel “\Select dimension to replace value”))) )
    (vla-put-TextOverride edim ” (TOL.)”)
    (princ)
    )
    Original found here: http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?129908-Text-Override-in-Dimension
  - Matt says:
    
    December 3, 2013 at 9:26 AM
    
    Slight mod to yours:
    (command “.DIM1” “NEW” ” TYP” ss “”)
    
    How would you change the format of the dim to decimal in the same command?
  - Matt says:
    
    December 3, 2013 at 10:45 AM
    
    Got it. Thanks for the help.
    
    (defun C:T1 (/ ss)
    (princ “Select Dimensions to say TOL …\n”)
    (setq ss (ssget))
    (command “.DIM1” “NEW” ” (TOL.)” ss “”)
    (command “DIMOVERRIDE” “DIMUNIT” “2” “” ss “”)
    (princ)
    )
  - AutoCAD Tips says:
    
    December 3, 2013 at 2:12 PM
    
    Cool – glad you got it to work for you
    ~Greg
Tom Beauford says:

July 20, 2018 at 9:07 AM

It came from: http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?129908-Text-Override-in-Dimension&p=1127422&viewfull=1#post1127422