Part I: SolidWorks Basics
l^ Vertical Dimension. Works like a horizontal dimension but vertically.
l^ Baseline Dimensions. Creates dimensions only in drawing documents. Baseline
Dimensions are different from most of the dimension tools that you find on the
Dimensions/Relations toolbar in that they can create driven dimensions on view geometry
or driving dimensions on sketch geometry in a drawing, but cannot be used on sketch
geometry in parts. Baseline Dimensions start from a single reference; then as you select
additional references, additional dimensions are stacked (see Figure 3.29).
FIGURE 3.29
Baseline Dimensions on a drawingl^ Ordinate Dimensions. Drives dimensions where a set of ordinate dimensions originate
from a common zero point. To use these dimensions, simply click a zero location, place
the zero dimension, and then click additional points. The dimensions are placed and are
automatically aligned to the rest of the dimensions.
Note
If a line is not selected as the zero reference entity, the Ordinate Dimension feature defaults to a Horizontal
Ordinate. n
You can remove Ordinate Dimensions from the common alignment by right-clicking the dimension
and selecting Break Alignment. Ordinate Dimensions will jog automatically if SolidWorks senses the
dimensions are getting too close to one another. You can also jog them manually. After you create
the Ordinate Dimension set, you can add to it by accessing the Add to Ordinate command through
the RMB menu. All the options for Ordinate Dimensions are shown in Figure 3.30.Not all the listed options are available in the model sketch environment; some are available only in
drawings.