Layout Dimension Box

[xianecci]

Hello,

I Haven't been able to figure a way to reduce the size - or make transparent - the text box in a Layout Dimension. This becomes an issue in tight strings, where one element's box overlaps (and obscures) with the witness or leader lines from another (example attached). Removing "Fill" from the style doesn't do it, and it doesn't seem that the box itself can be stretched, but rather is places with a default distance to either side of the dimension text. Hopefully I'm just missing something obvious.

Thanks!

[xianecci]

As a side-note: there are times when if I 1x/2x click on/off enough times, I can get some of the string elements to show box toggles, and maneuver the box size. However this seems inconsistent across them all, and I'm not sure what the reason for this is.
Thanks again.

[utiler]

This has been an annoying bug with Layout for some time now..... The only real work around is to move the dimension above the dimension line unfortunately.

[xianecci]

Thanks for your response.

So, understood on the box layering-over the string. I guess we just deal with the silliness of not having the box's field be truly transparent.

Regarding the modification of the dimension text box itself: any tricks on how to select it for re-size? It seems only on rare occasion am I able to do it, without going either into text-edit mode - or line-edit mode.

Thanks!

[pbacot]

Can't you just turn off the fill? I can. I select the dimension object. Open the Shape Style window and click on the first button (Fill).

[utiler]

Can't you just turn off the fill? I can. I select the dimension object. Open the Shape Style window and click on the first button (Fill).

Thanks pbacot, interesting you can make it work... I see you're on a MAC? Can you share a screenshot of the result you get?

On Windows there is no way to remove any fill...

[richardkleinschmidt]

Can't you just turn off the fill? I can. I select the dimension object. Open the Shape Style window and click on the first button (Fill).

On Windows you can also turn off the dim text box fill. Just select the dim and click the fill box same as the Mac.

[utiler]

Can't you just turn off the fill? I can. I select the dimension object. Open the Shape Style window and click on the first button (Fill).

On Windows you can also turn off the dim text box fill. Just select the dim and click the fill box same as the Mac.

That doesn't work for me Richard. See the attached screenshot.... as you'll see the textis filled yet the 'Fill' tab is unchecked....

[ajharlan]

Same issue here - anyone find a workaround? The "fill" button does not turn off the fill in dimension text boxes.

[Dave R]

Three options:

1. Move the dimension box out so you have a leader. This is done automatically when the dimension is text is too large to fit between the extension lines unless you've defeated it.

2. Use Arrange to adjust the stacking order of the dimensions.

2. Explode the dimension so it becomes some lines and a textbox. Then make the text box smaller. Not so good

[orbital]

With SketchUp 2023, you can apply a fill to the dimension text box and then make that fill transparent.

However, if the dimension text is anywhere over the dimension line, the dimension line will be visible behind the dimension text.

( I've only skimmed through the posts so I might have not understood the issue properly or repeated what someone else has said )

[Dave R]

(...I might have not understood the issue properly or repeated what someone else has said )

Yeah. What you report is true and has been reported as a bug. Not the original issue here, though. This issue has more to do with padding around the text affecting the size of the dimension text box. Reducing the font size or using leaders eliminates the problem and in most cases probably makes the dimension easier to understand.