My company deals with a lot of TALL structures. Typically our responsiblity only deals with the top 10-20 feet. If we show the whole structure, ordinate dimensions work fine. But if we show a top section detail that doesn't include the whole project, we end up having to "fudge" the dimensions to include the portion that isn't shown in the detail.

Is it possible to start ordinate dimensions, add an additional amount and have all the dimensions include this "extra" measurement?

You can override the model value for the zero point, and change that to the added amount. The rest of the dimensions will automatically add this amount.

Ok.... HOW??

I can edit the dimension, but I can't see a way to change the "model value".

Please elaborate......

Right-click on the zero value.
Select Tolerance.
Check Override Model Value.

Thanks for all the help Tony.

We are having a little trouble with this still.

In our test we were adding 10' to the origin, but the next dimension up added 120'. ???

We are missing something, some where.......

btw.... what version of Inventor are you using? We are getting to the same place you are, but our looks a little different. We are currently on 2008.

I'm still using IV10.

It sounds like you're having a units problem. 10' is 120". Can you change the value to 120" instead (explicitly enter " or inches)? What does that do?

Yeah... we've played around with that without finding an answer.

If we enter 120", Inventor changes our origin to 10', but then all the following dimensions add 120'!!

We're still tinkering with it..... but can't seem to find the answer.

Thanks again for your help.

I tried it in IV10 and can't recreate your problem. Take a look a the attached files. I didn't pack-and-go, so you won't have my dim styles, but it might give you some insight.