Attaching datums to a dimension
Some company drafting practices permit attaching a datum call-out directly to a dimension. For example, if the centerline of a diameter is to be the -A- datum, the datum symbol could appear directly below the diameter dimension, instead of attached to the centerline. This doesn't seem possible at first, because Datum symbols in Solidworks will not 'dock' onto a dimension, only onto a model edge.
The solution is to create a Geometric Tolerance, with all fields empty except the 1st datum reference, where you type "-A-". This symbol can be dragged onto a dimension, docking onto it. The Geometric Tolerance control frame will look exactly like a Datum call-out.
SolidWorks 2007 adds the ability to directly attach Datum Symbols to dimensions and geometric tolerance frames via drag-and-drop.
