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and other useful information. It can also perform some alignment functions. If you multi-select dimensions, and activate the Dimension Palette, you see what is shown in Figure 17.19. In this case, the Dimension Palette is used to apply the Align Stagger function to a set of vertical dimensions to pack them in close to one another. This function is not found on the Align toolbar. However, notice that it also has some of the Align toolbar functionality, including bottom, top, left, and right justification. The functions have different names and symbols in the Dimension Palette than in the Align toolbar, but they appear to do the same thing.

FIGURE 17.19

Selecting alignment options from the Dimension Palette

The Dimension Palette is one of my favorite tools in SolidWorks drawings because it consolidates a lot of functionality into a small space that is available right where you need it. When it was originally released, many users thought that it got in the way, but the small activation icon solved that problem, and the functionality has only improved.

Arranging dimensions automatically

Every few releases, SolidWorks improves the automatic dimension-arranging tools. But to me, they have a long way to go before I will trust them to arrange dimensions on a large drawing, where they would offer the most benefit. Sometimes they do a good job on simple rectangular parts, but they don't save much time on the complex parts.

When you put Model Items onto a drawing, SolidWorks automatically arranges the dimensions. The alignment option on the left side of the Dimension Palette is called Auto Arrange Dimensions. Also, when you use the Autodimension function mentioned earlier in this chapter, SolidWorks automatically arranges the dimensions for you.

The best auto-arrange functionality probably comes with balloons. The Auto Balloon functionality is shown in Figure 17.20. Balloons are part of assembly drawings, and as such, they are covered in more detail in the SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible (Wiley, 2011).

FIGURE 17.20

Using options for automatic ballooning in an assembly drawing

The best way to use these tools with dimensions and general annotations is probably in small, controlled situations until you learn how they react to the type of work you tend to do frequently. Selecting items in groups that are close to where they need to go may help the automatic tools do a better job.

Tutorial: Working with Dimensions and Tolerances

In this tutorial, you can use a single part in several different ways to demonstrate different dimensioning and tolerance functions. Follow these steps to learn more about these topics:

1. Open the part from the DVD called Chapter 17 Tutorial.sldprt.

2. Open the drawing from the DVD called Chapter 17 Drawing.slddrw.

3. Tile the windows by choosing Window⇒Tile Vertically, and drag the part from the top level of the FeatureManager into the drawing window. This automatically populates the four drawing views.

4. Delete the Top view, leaving the views as shown in Figure 17.21.

Figure 17.21

The drawing after Step 4

5. Choose Insert⇒Model Items, and ensure that the Select All option is selected for Annotations and the Marked for drawing option is selected for Dimensions. Also make sure that the Source/Destination drop-down list is set to Entire Model. Click the green check mark icon and watch the drawing populate.

6. The resultant drawing is quite cluttered. Delete and move dimensions so that the drawing looks like Figure 17.22.

Figure 17.22

The drawing after dimensions have been deleted and moved

7. Shift+drag the surface finish symbol to the Right view, and do the same with the 1.900-inch dimension. You may have to first Shift+drag it into the other view, and then drag it again to correctly attach or position it.

8. Create a set of horizontal ordinate dimensions from the left end of the part, and dimension the X position of each column of holes. Do the same for rows of holes, using the bottom edge of the Front view as the zero reference. Remember that you