How to Set Text Height in Dimensions and Leaders in AutoCAD

Setting the correct text height for dimensions and leaders is important in AutoCAD to ensure consistency and readability in your drawings. Here’s a simple guide on how to adjust text height for both dimensions and leaders:

1. Setting Text Height in Dimensions

Step 1: Open the Dimension Style Manager

In AutoCAD, type DIMSTYLE in the command line and press Enter. This will open the Dimension Style Manager window.
Alternatively, click on the Annotation tab in the ribbon and then click Dimension Style in the Dimensions panel.

Step 2: Modify an Existing Dimension Style or Create a New One

If you want to modify an existing style, select it and click Modify.
To create a new style, click the New button, give it a name, and choose an existing style to base it on (if applicable).

Step 3: Set the Text Height

In the Modify Dimension Style dialog box, go to the Text tab.
Under the Text Appearance section, find the Text Height box.
Set the desired height for the text. This is the height of the dimension text that will appear on your drawing. For example, entering 0.2 will set the text height to 0.2 units (typically in inches or millimeters, depending on your drawing units).
Click OK to save your changes.

Step 4: Apply the Style

Once you’re done, close the Dimension Style Manager.
Apply the new or modified dimension style to your drawing by selecting it in the Properties panel or typing DIMSTYLE and selecting it from the list.

2. Setting Text Height for Leaders

Step 1: Open the Leader Style Manager

In the AutoCAD command line, type LEADER and press Enter. This opens the Leader Style Manager dialog box.
Alternatively, you can go to the Annotation tab and click on Leader settings in the ribbon.

Step 2: Modify an Existing Leader Style or Create a New One

Select the leader style you wish to modify or create a new one by clicking New.
Name the new style and select an existing one to base it on, if desired.

Step 3: Set the Text Height for Leaders

In the Modify Leader Style dialog box, go to the Text tab.
Under the Text section, find the Text Height field.
Enter the desired text height. This controls the size of the text for the leader annotations.
Click OK to save your settings.

Step 4: Apply the Leader Style

After saving, close the Leader Style Manager.
Apply the new or modified leader style by selecting it from the Properties panel or by typing LEADERSTYLE and choosing the style in your drawing.

3. Additional Tips for Text Height Adjustments

Units: Remember that the text height you set will be in the same units as your drawing (inches, millimeters, etc.). Ensure your drawing units are set correctly before adjusting text heights.
Scale Factor: If you are working with different scales, you may need to adjust the text height relative to your viewport scale for consistent appearance.
Layering: It’s often a good idea to place dimension and leader texts on a dedicated layer to control visibility and formatting more easily.

By following these steps, you can customize the text height for both dimensions and leaders in AutoCAD to meet your project’s needs. Whether you’re adjusting for readability or aesthetic consistency, these settings give you full control over your annotations.

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