Dynamic Dimension Input

Dynamic Dimension Input

GstarCAD 2025 → What's new

With the new dynamic dimension input function and the separating pointer input box, users can view and edit the length, angle and radius values of the current operation in real time when drawing. The pointer input function has adjusted the pointer input edit box, upgrading it from a one-piece to a separating type, so that the result data can be displayed and edited separately. At the same time, the arrangement of the command prompt menu has been adjusted, which makes it more convenient for users to select the branching function and makes the interaction experience more humanized. The newly upgraded dynamic dimension input function can provide users with more efficient and convenient operation, which greatly improves work efficiency.

The setting path of the function related to dynamic dimension input: "Drafting Settings" dialogue box (DSETTINGS command) - Dynamic Input tab, as shown below:

Pointer Input

New separating pointer input box

Redraw the pointer input style, adjust the one-piece pointer input box to a separating pointer input box, which can display and edit length, angle and coordinate values separately, and provide a series of keys to assist the operation, together with the real-time dynamic dimension input, which is more in line with the user's habit of drawing and numerical value input operation.

  1. Input Box Keys

    （1）TAB key

    Pressing the TAB key toggles the box selection. When the value in an input box is modified and switched to the next input box, a yellow lock symbol will appear in the previous input box, indicating that the value has been edited and locked, and can be changed when the TAB key is switched to the value again.

    （2）"," in the English state

    A. When inputting a value followed by ",", you can lock the current input box and switch to the next input box.

    B. When xy value is input, input "," in the English input state, then the z-axis input box will be displayed. Press "," continuously to toggle the box selection and input xyz value sequentially.

    C. In length input, enter a length value followed by a comma to switch to coordinates.

    D. In Angle Input, you can switch to coordinates by entering an angle value followed by a comma.

    （3）"*"

    The input of xyz values can be achieved by entering * before the input of coordinates, in which case three pointer input boxes are displayed.

    （4）"<"

    Entering a value in the coordinate pointer input box followed by the "<" symbol switches the second input box to angle input.

    （5）"@ and #"

    Relative and absolute coordinates can be entered by typing @ and # before entering the coordinates.

    （6）"up key"

    Enter the "up key" of the keyboard arrow keys, and the edit box shows the history of input points.

    （7）"down key"

    Enter the "down key" of the keyboard arrow keys to bring up the command prompt menu.

    （8）Shift+Right Click

    A right-click menu can be popped up.

    （9）ESC

    Exit pointer input.

  2. Input box display type

    （1）Includes prompts, no input box or an input box exists

    （2）Includes prompts, presence of an input box and command prompt menu

    （3）Includes prompts, two input boxes exist

    （4）Includes prompts, presence of two input boxes and command prompt menu

    * In this case, enter a command prompt drop-down menu shortcut in the input box to quickly locate the menu item.

    （5）Includes prompts, three input boxes exist (showing xyz coordinates, absolute coordinates or relative coordinates)

    （6）Includes prompts, four input boxes exist (xyz values in absolute or relative coordinates)

    （7）Includes prompts,  dimension lines and corresponding input boxes

  3. Pointer input setting

    Path of Pointer Input setting: "Drafting Settings" dialogue box (DSETTINGS command)-Dynamic Input-Pointer Input: Settings

  • Polar format: Displays a tooltip for the second or next point in polar format. Enter the comma "," to change to Cartesian format. (DYNPIFORMAT system variable)
  • Cartesian format: Displays a tooltip for the second or next point in Cartesian format. Enter "<" to change to polar format. (DYNPIFORMAT system variable)
  • Relative coordinates: Displays tooltips corresponding to the second or next point in relative coordinate format. Enter "#" to change to absolute coordinate format. (DYNPICOORDS system variable)
  • Absolute coordinates: Displays tooltips corresponding to the second or next point in absolute coordinate format. Enter "@" to change to relative coordinate format. (DYNPICOORDS system variable)

New command prompt menu

In addition to the horizontally arranged command prompt menu, GstarCAD 2024 has a new vertically arranged style, which can display all prompt options without switching to the next page, reducing the number of selections and making it easier for users to use. In order to reduce the interference to the drawing, the prompt menu is stored by default, and the keyboard up and down arrow keys can expand and close the prompt menu.

Users can select the menu in three ways: up and down arrow keys on the keyboard, point and click on the mouse and shortcut keys.

  1. Keyboard Up and Down Arrow Keys: In addition to expanding and collapsing the prompt menu, the up and down arrow keys can be used to switch between different branch functions after expanding the prompt menu. The effect is shown in the figure:
  1. Mouse Selection: After expanding the prompt menu by using the keyboard arrow keys, you can move the mouse to perform point-and-click operations. The effect of moving the mouse to the branch keyword is shown in the figure:
  1. Shortcut Keys: Each branch function has corresponding shortcut keys, after expanding the prompt menu, input the corresponding English shortcut keys in brackets and press Enter or Space to execute the corresponding operation.

In addition, in order to take into account the habits of different users, both vertical and horizontal prompt menu styles coexist, the default is the vertical command prompt menu, the user can switch the menu style through the DYNLISTSTYLE system variable, restart the software can take effect.

Dimension Input

When drawing in the model and layout space, you can display the length and angle of the drawn content, as well as the radius of the arc and other data in real time with the mouse movement, and the data values are presented in the style of dimension, which displays a dynamic dimension line, and you can switch between multiple numerical dimension boxes by pressing the TAB key, and then the value can be edited and inputted after switching.

Hovering and dragging a grip during the grip editing operation also displays the corresponding dimension input result data.

Prompt type

The types of prompts for dimension input include the following five:

  1. Resulting Dimension

Displays a tooltip for length dimension that updates as the grip moves.

  1. Angle Change

Displays the change in angle as the grip moves.

  1. Length Change

Displays the change in length as the grip moves.

  1. Arc Radius

    Displays the radius of the arc updated with the movement of the grip.

  2. Absolute Angle

    Displays tooltips for angle dimension updated with the grip movement.

In addition to drawing, this function can also be activated when you perform operations related to the grip editing on the contents of the drawing. When you enter the grip editing state, you can automatically display the dimension data of the current content. When dragging and dropping the grip, you can edit and adjust the dimension data separately to adjust the content of the drawing.

Dimension Input Settings

Enable Dimension Input where possible: Turns on Dimension Input to display dynamic dimension lines. Dimension input is not available for some commands that prompt for a second point. (DYNMODE system variable)

  1. Show only 1 dimension input field at a time: When editing a stretched object with a grip, only the tooltip for the dimension length change is displayed (DYNDIVIS system variable).

  2. Show 2 dimension input fields at a time: Displays the tooltip for dimension length changes and dimension length results when editing stretched objects with the grip (DYNDIVIS system variable)

  3. Show the following dimension input fields simultaneously: Sets the dimension field that is displayed in the tooltip when editing a stretched object using the grip.

    （1）Resulting Dimension: Displays a tooltip for length dimension that updates as the grip moves.
    （2）Angle Change: Displays the change in angle as the grip moves.
    （3）Length Change: Displays the change in length as the grip moves.
    （4）Arc Radius: Displays the radius of the arc updated with the movement of the grip.
    （5）Absolute Angle: Displays tooltips for angle dimension updated with the grip movement.

Modification of dimension input style

The default color of the dynamic dimension line in the dimension input is RGB (150,156,154), which supports user-defined modification.

The setting path is: Options (OPTIONS command) - Display - Colors (Drawing Window Colors)

Original help · © Gstarsoft Co., Ltd.