How Do You Change Text Size in Autocad Drawing

Removing 'Override' Of Dimension Text Height

This Tech Tip explains how to change dimension text height that is disabled in the properties bar.

If the dimension text height in the properties bar is greyed out (disabled), it means that the text style used by the dimension has a non-zero text height, which is 'overriding' the dimension's text height. This 'override' allows you to conveniently change the text height of all dimensions which use the relevant text style, just by changing the text height value in the Text Styles Dialog.

If you need to modify the dimension text height in the properties bar you have two options:

A. Switch off text style height override

View the properties of the dimension you want to change. Note which text style is used by the dimension.
Select Settings > Text Styles from the main menu, then in the Text Styles dialog, select the relevant text style.
Set the 'Height' value of the text style to 0, then click OK to save your changes and exit the Text Styles dialog.
The 'Text Height' property of the dimension should now be editable (you may need to unselect and then reselect the dimension first, to refresh the properties).

Note that switching off the text style height override may affect the display of other text or complex linetypes in the drawing, which reference the specific text style. In this case, it may be better to use the other option.

B. Change the dimension to use a text style which has height = 0

Select Settings > Text Styles from the main menu.
Add a new text style for the dimensions as per the picture below. (Name it e.g. 'DIM-TEXT2').
Set the details of the new DIMTEXT2 text style as per the picture below:
Click OK

Note: If the text style height is set to '0' it means AllyCAD will use a default text height of 2.5mm when drawing new text with this style. You will need to change text height manually when adding text.

AllyCAD remembers the last text height used. It also means that dimensions using this text style will be drawn using their own text height value instead of the text style's text height value, and you will be able to change the dimension's text height in the properties bar.

Setting up dimension styles for use with or without text height override

You can also set up your dimension style(s) so that when you draw a new dimension, it will have no text height override.

Select Settings > Text Styles from the main menu.
Make sure that text style 'DIMTEXT2' has a text height of 0.
Add a new text style as per the instructions above. Name it 'DIMTEXT_OVERRIDE', and set its text height to '10'.
Click 'OK' to save your changes.
Select Settings > Dimension Styles from the menu.
Set dimension style 'STANDARD' to use text style 'DIMTEXT2'.
Add a new dimension style 'DIMTEXT_OVERRIDE', and set it to use text style 'DIM-TEXT_OVERRIDE' as below:
Click 'OK' to save your changes.
Draw a rectangle 200 by 100 (Draw > Rectangle).
Dimension the rectangle and use dimension styles as indicated below. Use dimension style 'STANDARD' for the horizontal dimensions, and dimension style 'DIMTEXT_OVERRIDE' for the vertical dimensions.
Select the dimension you drew using the 'STANDARD' dimension style, and then view its properties. You should be able to edit the dimension's text height:
Deselect the dimension by pressing on ESC on keyboard.
Select the dimension you drew using the 'DIMTEXT_OVERRIDE' style, and then view its properties. You should NOT able to edit the dimension's text height (it should be grayed out, because it is using the text style's height):
To change the greyed-out dimension text height, go to Settings > Text Styles, then select text style 'DIMTEXT_OVERRIDE', change the text height, and then click 'OK'.
The dimension should now be drawn using the text height you entered in the text styles dialog.