I have seen something like this happen where the Dimension line has to be longer than some minimum length before the arrow heads and dimension text appears. Even of the line has been dragged long enough to make the text appear, reducing it again hides the arrow heads and the text again too.

I have seen this happen on small PCBs where the dimension line is short.

I have raised an internal Bug Report about this.

• Be a bit careful using the M key to end the Dimension line.

This does not really end the Dimension line but rather it exits the Dimension line drawing mode and then enters the Measure line drawing mode.

The Measure line drawing mode is not the same as the Dimension line drawing mode.

Please note that the M Hotkey draws a thin, temporary line between when the cursor is first left clicked and where it is left clicked again. The second left click brings up a text box with dX, dY, length and angle information. Clicking OK in this box then closes it and deletes the line.

After pressing M and starting the Measure line with the first left click, if a right click is then executed, the Measure line will be left on the PCB drawing. This line cannot be deleted in the usual way by trying to select it and then pressing the DEL key. To remove this line, press M again and then left click to end the new Measure line and click on OK to close the new text box and delete the line.

• If you have a yellow line then you are drawing your dimensions on the top silk screen layer. If you want the dimensions to not be on the silk screen (even if they end up outside the board outline), you might like to put them on the white Documentation layer.

:)

Sorry, I'm being stupid.

This is a Bug Report!

Just to be clear, the Bug is:

The Dimension line has to be longer than some minimum length before the arrow heads and dimension text appears. Even of the line has been dragged long enough to make the text appear, reducing it again hides the the arrow heads and text again too.

I have seen this happen on small PCBs where the dimension line is short.

:)

Andy, you are not stupid ;) , the minimum length is on my PCB 13.97mm (Grid dependent?). Below I see the missing arrows and number exactly as you describe it. Above everything is OK. That's "your" bug ;)

Yes, the dimension has minimum length, if too small, no space to show.
you can use hotkey M to measure.

Sometimes there is a need to indicate a small dimension in the PCB layout so it would be good to find a way to show smaller dimensions.

For example in LibreOffice Draw, if the Dimension line is less than some critical length, the arrows pop outside the line and the text moves to the outside end of one of the arrows.

Like this:

Yep, that's the perfect solution!
Dreaming:
Take dimension not (only) as a measure tool but consider it as a constrain to arrange components (Outlines, not pads!!!!).
Means: Back of component x (line on silk layer e.g.) has a distance of x mm, mil to whatever (outline, another line, another pad center....)
Use case:
1.: Motor controller, 12 Mosfet (TO-220), arranged in 2 rows, attached with the back right and left to a bar of aluminiun as heatsink, 12mm thick.
2.: Dashboard: Indicator Led and buttons have to be arranged according to a drawing. Placement is package related, not pad related
Problem:
How to handle off grid pads.....

I'd like to make a suggestion that the limit for hiding the dimension text should be decreased.
Currently it stops showing dimensions when less than 0.55".
There is still plenty of room to display dimension for smaller distances.
If we're worried that it makes the screen too crowded, maybe make that a preferences option?
Having distance shown in the properties pane on the right would also be helpful.
Thank you!

@Hwiguna Thanks for your sugesstion, next version, it will be better. , Please note, EasyEDA has a measure tool, Hot key https://easyeda.com/Doc/Tutorial/PCB.htm#Measure

@Hwiguna Next version, the font size can be changed, and the can use it for 0.01inch .
Don't forget to use M key to measure for 0.1mil

@support, I didn't know about the measure tool! That's really handy for making quick checks! Thank you!

@support , thank for fixing smaller distances so quickly! Now that I know about the measure tool, it is no problem to wait until next version is released. Excellent work!!!