Is the ʼDimension Style Managerʼ used to change arrow sizes in BricsCAD?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in BricsCAD, the most common professional way to change arrow sizes is through the DIMSTYLE command in the dimension style Manager. Open the current dimension style, go to Symbols and Arrows, and edit the arrow size value. This updates dimensions that use that style. Limitation: dimensions with local overrides may not follow the style change.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: If your dimensions were manually overridden in Properties, changing the Dimension Style Manager may not update every arrowhead size as expected. Also, annotative or differently scaled dimension styles can make arrow sizes appear inconsistent between viewports.

How to Change Arrow Sizes in BricsCAD

  • Command: DIMSTYLE

  • Shortcut: D

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Type DIMSTYLE or use the Ribbon to open the Dimension Style Manager.
    2. Select the dimension style in use, then choose Modify.
    3. In the Symbols and Arrows tab, change Arrow size, then click OK and Set Current if needed.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Arrow size in the Symbols and Arrows tab

  • Expert Setting: This value controls the displayed size of arrowheads for dimensions using that style. If the style is annotative or used with different dimension scales, the visible result may vary by annotation scale or viewport.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): Very small dimensions or tight extension-line spacing can force arrows to flip outside the extension lines, making the new size look wrong.

  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): Dimensions inside a locked layer or within a locked xref context cannot be edited normally through the active drawing workflow.

  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The dimension may have a property override, so the Dimension Style Manager changes the style but not that specific dimension’s arrow size.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Run DIMSTYLE, modify the active style’s Arrow size, then remove dimension overrides in Properties if individual dimensions do not match.

  • Manager’s Verdict: Use the Dimension Style Manager for office-standard arrow size control across a drawing. Avoid per-dimension overrides unless you need a one-off presentation exception.

FAQ

Can I change arrow size for only one dimension?
Yes, you can override it in the dimension’s Properties, but it breaks style consistency.

Why do arrowheads look different in paper space?
Different annotation scales or viewport scaling can change the displayed result.

Do style changes update existing dimensions?
Yes, if those dimensions still use the style and do not have local overrides.

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