Moving Datum Arrow Outside in NX

In NX Drafting, the datum leader location is fixed on the selected object during the datum creation. You can move the datum leader outside of the selected object as you see in the figure, but this operation has some limitations.

• The arrowhead shouldn’t snap any object like the middle point, endpoint, etc…
• The arrowhead shouldn’t fix.
• The arrowhead should be snapped on the edge or “Point on Curve”

You can move the arrowhead both during creation and after the  “Datum Feature Symbol” is created.

To move datum leader while creating a new datum feature symbol:

1. Start the “Datum Feature Symbol” command.
2. Type a new datum letter in the “Datum Identifier”
3. Click on the “Select Terminating Object” under the “Leader” tab.
4. Select an object to specify a leader position.
5. The preview of the datum feature will be seen on the graphics window. You can only move and locate the datum feature perpendicular to the selected object.
6. Press and hold the “Shift” key on the keyboard.
   Now you can move the datum feature symbol freely and the datum arrow moves with it. You can move the Datum Feature Symbol arrow outside of the object as you see in the figure.
7. Click the left mouse button on the graphics window to create and specify the location of the “Datum Feature Symbol” in the technical drawing.

Sometimes it might be difficult to move the arrow outside of the selected object during the datum creation. (according to NX versions you might have bugs)

To move the created datum feature arrow outside of the selected object:

1. Move the mouse cursor on the created “Datum Feature Symbol” It will be highlighted and its color will change to red when the mouse cursor is on it.
2. Press and hold the “Shift” key on the keyboard.
3. Click and hold the left mouse button on the highlighted “Datum Feature Symbol” and drag it to the new location.
4. The arrow location changes with the “Datum Feature Symbol” movement. You can move the arrow to the outside of the selected object.