How Do I Change Dimension Orientation in AutoCAD?

To change the orientation of dimension text in AutoCAD, you can adjust its text view direction within the properties panel.

Specifically, to change the direction of the dimension text itself (like making it read right-to-left instead of left-to-right), follow these simple steps:

Steps to Adjust Dimension Text View Direction

Modifying the orientation of dimension text is a straightforward process in AutoCAD, primarily managed through the Properties palette. This method allows you to control the direction in which the text reads relative to the dimension line.

Here's how to do it based on the information provided (Reference 08-Oct-2023):

1. Select the Dimension Text: Begin by selecting the specific dimension whose text orientation you wish to change. You can do this by clicking directly on the dimension object in your drawing.
2. Access Properties: Open the Properties palette. You can usually do this by right-clicking after selecting the object and choosing "Properties" from the context menu, or by typing PROP or PR in the command line and pressing Enter.
3. Navigate to Text Settings: Within the Properties palette, locate and expand the Text section.
4. Adjust Text View Direction: Look for the setting labeled Text view direction. Click on the current value next to this setting.
5. Choose Orientation: A dropdown list or options will appear allowing you to select the desired text view direction. According to the reference, you can adjust it to:
   • "Left-to-right"
   • "Right-to-left"
6. Apply Changes: Once you have selected the desired orientation, the change should automatically apply to the selected dimension text. Close the Properties palette if needed.

This method specifically addresses the orientation of the text within a dimension, allowing you to control the reading direction. Other aspects of dimension orientation, such as aligning the dimension line or text relative to the object or view, are typically controlled through dimension style settings or other properties like "Text orientation" (which might rotate the text) rather than "Text view direction".

Changing the text view direction is particularly useful when working with different writing systems or specific drafting standards that require text to read in a certain direction.