To rename a dimension style
You can draw dimensions in layouts (created in paper space) and in model space. However, if the geometry you’re dimensioning is in model space, draw dimensions in model space because AutoCAD places the definition points in the space where the geometry is drawn and you can edit them together.
If you draw a dimension in a layout that describes geometry in your model, the layout dimension does not change when you use editing commands or change the magnification of the display in the model space viewport. The location of the layout dimensions also stays the same when you change a view from a layout to model space.
The overall dimension scale is set on the Fit tab of the New, Modify, or Override Dimension Style dialog boxes (see “Fitting Dimension Text and Arrowheads”). The scale changes the size of the dimension geometry relative to the drawing. AutoCAD multiplies the geometric dimension values, such as text height, arrowhead size, offsets and gaps, by the overall scale value. In general, you should set the dimension geometric values to their plotted size, and use the overall scale to compensate for layout scaling. AutoCAD does not apply the overall scale to tolerance values, coordinates, or angles.
When you plot your drawings, you prepare layouts containing different views of your model geometry. You usually set views to different scales to show drawing components in varying levels of detail. However, you usually display dimensions at the same general scale in all views. To do this, you can change the overall dimension scale, or change the linear scale. The following table shows the components involved in determining the dimension scale.
