Dimension Continue

The dimcontinue command chains new dimensions from the second extension line of an existing dimension. Each new segment is placed along the same measurement axis and at the same dimension-line offset as the base. All style properties — arrow size, text height, extension line lengths — are copied from the base automatically.

How chained dimensions look

  |←— 3.00 —→|←— 2.50 —→|←— 4.00 —→|
  |           |           |           |
  ●           ●           ●           ●
  p1        p2 (base    p3           p4
           ext2 → new start)

Each rectangle is a separate DIMENSION entity. They share the same dimension-line position and measurement direction.

Starting a chain

1. Type dimcontinue in the terminal or click the Dimension Continue toolbar button.
2. If a dimension was just placed — the command picks it up automatically as the base (no click needed).
3. If no recent dimension exists — click any existing dimension to use it as the base.
4. Click the next extension line origin — a preview shows the new dimension as you move the cursor. Or type X,Y and press Enter for an exact coordinate.
5. Keep clicking (or typing) to extend the chain. Each placed dimension becomes the new base automatically.
6. Press Enter, Space, or Escape to finish the chain.

What is inherited from the base dimension

Property	Inherited from base
Measurement direction / angle	Yes — locked for the entire chain
Dimension line offset (distance from measured points)	Yes
Arrow size	Yes
Text height	Yes
Extension line offset and extension	Yes
Text alignment	Yes
Style name	Yes
Color, Layer	Not inherited — uses current layer

Measurement direction locking

The chain's measurement direction is fixed to the base dimension's angle:

• Linear base (H) → all continuations measure horizontal distance (Δ X).
• Linear base (V) → all continuations measure vertical distance (Δ Y).
• Aligned base at any angle → all continuations measure along that same angle.

You cannot change the direction mid-chain. Start a new Dimension Linear or Dimension Aligned to dimension in a different direction.

Keyboard reference

Key	Action
0–9, ., -	Start X coordinate entry
,	Lock X and move to Y entry
Backspace	Delete last typed character
Enter	Confirm typed coordinate, or finish the chain if no input is in progress
Space / Escape	Finish the chain

Dimension Continue vs starting fresh

	Dimension Continue	Dimension Linear / Aligned
Starting point	Fixed at last base's ext2	Click anywhere
Angle	Locked to base	Free
Offset	Inherited from base	Set by cursor or typed
Style	Inherited from base	Current style
Best for	Cumulative measurements along a row	First dimension or changing direction

DXF — DIMENSION entities

Each segment in the chain is stored as an independent DIMENSION entity in the DXF file. They are not linked in the file — they share properties because they were created from the same base, but each can be edited individually after placement.