Why is the dimension 'negative' in the Dimension dialog'?

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Why is the dimension 'negative' in the Dimension dialog'?

Why is my dimension negative?

There is a –ve sign if the distance to a sketch-element is in a negative quadrant !!!

In practice, do not delete the sign, but edit the dimension in the normal way.

However, to explain the negative dimension in the negative quadrant .... .

Each Line has a X-Y coordinate-system. The coordinate-system's:

0,0 is its start-Point

+X-axis is from its start-Point(1) to its end-Point(2)

+Y-axis is at +90º from the X-axis, on the Mechanism-Plane.

MD-Negative-DimA

When you add a dimension that is a perpendicular distance from a Line, the:

dimension is +ve when the dimension is in the +Y-axis (blue area in the image).

dimension is –ve when the dimension is in the –Y-axis (green area in the image).

In the top image there is a Blue Line(1 to 2) on the X-axis of the Part. A:

dimension from the Line(1 to 2) to a Point a or b is positive

dimension from the Line(1 to 2) to a Point c or d is negative

MD-Negative-DimB

A Part's X-axis AND Y-axis also each have its own coordinate-system!

Each axis is identical to that of a Line.

The bottom image shows the Coordinate-System of the Y-axis

The local +x-axis of the Y-axis of a Part is along the Y-axis!

In the bottom image:

dimensions from the Y-axis to Points a and b are positive.

dimensions from the Y-axis to Points c and d are negative.