Working with an X-Y Axis Scale Object on a Draftsman Document in Altium NEXUS

Created: July 21, 2021 | Updated: July 27, 2021

This document is no longer available beyond version 4. Information can now be found here: X-Y Axis Scale for version 5

Applies to altium-nexus version: 4

This documentation page references Altium NEXUS/NEXUS Client (part of the deployed NEXUS solution), which has been discontinued. All your PCB design, data management and collaboration needs can now be delivered by Altium Designer (with Altium Designer Enterprise Subscription) and a connected Altium 365 Workspace. Check out the FAQs page for more information.

A variety of X, Y Axis Scale applied to a Board Assembly View.

Summary

The Draftsman document X, Y Axis Scale object is an automated dimensioning graphic that applies to all corners on a Board Assembly View object. The visual style of the axis scale and the configuration of the axis scale text data can be set in the Properties panel when a placed X, Y Axis Scale is selected.

Availability

The X, Y Axis Scale object is available when a graphic object, such as a Board Assembly View, has been placed in a Draftsman document. Its placement is accessed from the Draftsman Editor as follows:

Choose the Place » X, Y Axis Scale command from the main menus.
Click the button in the dimension objects drop-down on the Active Bar located at the top of the design space. Click and hold an Active Bar button to access other related commands. Once a command has been used, it will become the topmost item on that section of the Active Bar.

Right-click in the drawing design space then select Place » X, Y Axis Scale from the context menu.
Click the entry in the dimensions menu () on the Drawing Annotations toolbar (View » Toolbars » Drawing Annotations).

Placement

When the command is launched, the cursor will change to a crosshair, indicating X, Y Axis Scale placement mode. To apply the axis scale to an object, the placement steps are:

Hover the cursor over the corner of a Board Assembly View object. Each corner will be highlighted as an orange-colored outline.
Click on a highlighted corner to place the axis scale target reference.
Move the mouse and click to set the position of the X, Y Axis Scale on the desired horizontal or vertical side to determine the scale.
Lastly, position the scale as far or close to the Board Assembly View object as desired. Once determined, right-click to place the X, Y Axis Scale object.

To cancel the placement mode, press Esc or right-click in the design space.

Graphical Editing

The X, Y Axis Scale object can be graphically modified by selecting any part of its graphic representation and then dragging its editing handle towards or away from the Board Assembly View object – its associated extension lines will adjust accordingly.

Select and drag the dimension's editing handle to a new position.

The default settings for the X, Y Axis Scale object are available in the Draftsman - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog.

Non-Graphical Editing

Properties page: X, Y Axis Scale Properties

The non-graphical method of editing an X, Y Axis Scale object is available in the Draftsman Properties panel, which provides a wide range of editable properties and graphic options.
The Properties panel when X, Y Axis Scale object is selected.

To open the Properties panel and access the properties of a placed X, Y Axis Scale:

After selecting the X, Y Axis Scale object, select the Properties panel from the Panels button at the bottom right of the design space or select View » Panels » Properties from the main menus.
Double-click on the X, Y Axis Scale object in the design space.
Right-click on the X, Y Axis Scale then select Item Properties from the context menu.

If the Properties panel is already active, click on the X, Y Axis Scale object to access its properties in the panel.

The X, Y Axis Scale properties can be accessed prior to entering placement mode from the Draftsman - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog. This allows the default properties for the X, Y Axis Scale object to be changed, which will be applied when placing subsequent X, Y Axis Scales.

Editing Multiple Objects

The Properties panel supports multiple object editing, where the property settings that are identical in all currently selected objects can be modified.