Creating a dimension feature with the Baseline Dimension tool

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

Steps:

1. Click a dimension feature template in the Create Features window.
2. Click the Baseline Dimension tool on the Create Features window.
3. Click an existing dimension feature whose start dimension point you want to use as the start dimension point for your new dimension feature.

As you move the pointer, the new dimension feature dynamically draws itself with the start dimension point fixed at the start dimension point of the selected dimension feature. The height is fixed at the height of the dimension feature you selected plus the baseline height for that style. The end dimension point changes as you move the pointer, keeping the baseline for the new dimension feature parallel to the baseline of the selected dimension feature.

For a dimension feature created with the Baseline Dimension tool, the height of the dimension line will be controlled by the baseline height property of its style. The baseline height is only used for creating dimension features. If you change an existing dimension feature's style to a style with a different baseline height, the height of the dimension line will not change.

4. Click the map where you want the end dimension point to be. The dimension type will be the same as the original selected dimension feature.
5. To create back-to-back dimensions, click the previous dimension, then drag and click to create more dimensions in a row.