Use this procedure to dimension column grids and set the distance between the dimensions and the grid. For this, you can use the automatic AEC Dimension.
When you dimension a column grid with an automatic AEC dimension, the resulting dimension is associative. When you update the grid, the dimension is updated accordingly. Also, you can choose an AEC dimension style.
Note: Custom column grids cannot be dimensioned automatically. To dimension a custom column grid, follow the instruction in About Associative Dimensions from Picked Points and To Create an AEC Dimension with User-Specified Settings.
With an AEC dimension, you cannot display angle dimensions or edit individual dimension chains.
- Select the column grid you want to dimension.
- Click
. 
- On the Properties palette, expand Basic, and expand General.
- Select a style. Note: Be sure to select an AEC dimension style that contains dimensioning points for grids.
- Click to specify the position of the AEC dimension.
The dimension can, for example, be placed above or below the column grid.
- To set the direction of the dimension, drag the mouse. The extension lines are drawn in the opposite direction.
- If you want to align the dimension, enter a on the command line, and select the geometry to align to.
- If you want a user-defined angle for the dimension, enter r and enter the rotation angle on the command line. Note: The angle you specify here is calculated in relation to the UCS, and not to the dimensioned grid.