Ordinate dimensions measure the horizontal or vertical distance from an origin point
called the datum to a feature, such as a hole in a part. These dimensions prevent
escalating errors by maintaining accurate offsets of the features from the datum.

The following prompts are displayed.

Specify Feature Location

Prompts for a point on a feature such as an endpoint, intersection, or center of an
object.

Leader Endpoint

Uses the difference between the feature location and the leader endpoint to determine
whether it is an X or a Y ordinate dimension. If the difference in the Y ordinate is greater, the dimension measures the X ordinate. Otherwise, it measures the Y ordinate.

Xdatum

Measures the X ordinate and determines the orientation of the leader line and dimension text. The
Leader Endpoint prompt is displayed, where you can specify the endpoint.

Ydatum

Measures the Y ordinate and determines the orientation of the leader line and dimension text. The
Leader Endpoint prompts are displayed, where you can specify the endpoint.

Mtext

Displays the In-Place Text Editor, which you can use to edit the dimension text. Use
control codes and Unicode character strings to enter special characters or symbols.
See Control Codes and Special Characters.

If alternate units are not turned on in the dimension style, you can display them
by entering square brackets ([ ]).

The current dimension style determines the appearance of the generated measurements.

Text

Customizes the dimension text at the Command prompt. The generated dimension measurement
is displayed within angle brackets.

To include the generated measurement, use angle brackets (< ) to represent the generated
measurement. If alternate units are not turned on in the dimension style, you can
display alternate units by entering square brackets ([ ]).

Dimension text properties are set on the Text tab of the New, Modify, and Override
Dimension Style dialog boxes.

Angle

Changes the angle of the dimension text.