michaelgia Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Can someone please make a video of the settings and strategy to get the best possible functionality in dimensioning an elevation view? I still struggle with this... a lot! Problems are as simple as not consistently being able to snap to exterior wall surfaces. It's a hit and miss. I wish it worked as in Archicad where simply hovering over a wall or other items, highlights the wall and snaps exactly to the edge - consistently. Thanks in advance. (It really is my only gripe with Chief. And Chief's efficiency in all other aspects of residential design ar second to none) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan_Son Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 I'm sorry, I don't have a perfect answer for you. Dimensioning in elevation views could really use some improvements. Its always been very buggy and inconsistent in my experience. I find myself resorting to point to point dimensions quite often. And I also find myself using CAD Detail From View for elevation work all the time. Maybe consider doing this for your problem dimensions... 1. Create a CAD Detail From View. This will give you easy snap points to work with. 2. Dimension that CAD detail. 3. While still using a dimension tool, Shift Select your dimensions. 4. Cut (Control+X) or Copy (Control+C) and Paste Hold Position (Control+Alt+V) those dimensions back into your original elevation. 5. Switch to the Point Marker tool and shift select all the point markers that were automatically created and put them on their own layer. This way you can turn them on and off as necessary for any future changes. Unrelated to the suggestion above, but you can also try isolating the layers that you wish to dimension to help get rid of conflicting snap points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gawdzira Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 For exterior elevations I move the camera (temporarily) to the cross cut section zone. Then I can place CAD lines at the plate and sub floor to snap my dimensions to. Then move the Camera back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan_Son Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 For exterior elevations I move the camera (temporarily) to the cross cut section zone. Then I can place CAD lines at the plate and sub floor to snap my dimensions to. Then move the Camera back. Not sure if you realize this or not, but you can simply unlock the Cross Section Lines layer, Shift Select those lines and then Cut/Paste Hold Position instead of placing new CAD lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelgia Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 Hey Michael! Thanks a million. I thought I was simply going about it the wrong way. Kind of comforting to know that a work around is required. Your approach seems quite simple and precise. Especially the isolating of the point markers and placing them on their own layer. (Not sure what you meant in your response to Gawdzira, but are you saying to **** select the cross section lines and then paste them into the elevation view for dimensioning?) thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan_Son Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Hey Michael! Thanks a million. I thought I was simply going about it the wrong way. Kind of comforting to know that a work around is required. Your approach seems quite simple and precise. Especially the isolating of the point markers and placing them on their own layer. (Not sure what you meant in your response to Gawdzira, but are you saying to **** select the cross section lines and then paste them into the elevation view for dimensioning?) thanks again You're welcome. In regard to my response to Alan. He was (presumably) saying that he likes to place his camera where it cuts through items he will be dimensioning (exterior walls in his example). I assume this is so he can pick up the necessary snap points to draw some reference lines. Those snap points are really just created by the automatically created cross section lines. I kinda suspect that most people don't really even know those lines exist because they are locked by default. If you unlock them and hit W to switch to the Line tool you can then easily group select them using Shift + a marquis selection box and Cut or Copy/Paste Hold Position into the re-positioned camera view. I was really just trying to help Alan (or anyone else reading this) skip the extra step of actually drawing the reference lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelgia Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 Well, your method should be in the Chief reference manual. Not even kidding here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelgia Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 Yeah, video please. I know it's the weekend, but as soon as you can... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan_Son Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Well, your method should be in the Chief reference manual. Not even kidding here. Thank you. That's very kind of you : ) The one big downside to using that method of course is that your dimensions are no longer tied to the objects though so just bear that in mind. Any changes to the plan and you'll have to move any of those pt. to pt. dimensions around again. In that case though you can just turn those point markers back on (might help if you made them a color that sticks out) move accordingly and then turn back off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelgia Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 Good point but seeing that I wait until the absolute end of the drawing process before I dimension an elevation it shouldn't be an issue. Nor does it seem too time consuming to redo if the model changes. That's what's great about your approach. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dshall Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 .....The one big downside to using that method of course is that your dimensions are no longer tied to the objects though so just bear that in mind. Any changes to the plan and you'll have to move any of those pt. to pt. dimensions around again..... That is very true, but I find the CA dimensioning for elevations a non starter. I use CAD lines, similar to what Alan is talking about. The CAD lines are already in my elevation camera shots, and it is simply a matter of changing the CAD lines to reflect 8' plates vs 9' plates. I wish it was more auto, but I have found it more trouble than it is worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAWZILLA Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Are you talking "auto story pole" dims or just elevation dims? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glennw Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Perry, You beat me to it. I was going to ask - why not use Auto Storey Pole Dims or Auto Elevation Dims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidJPotter Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 I agree with Glenn and Perry, the auto story pole tool does not work perfectly but does work well. Almost everything requires some editing and control from the end user. DJP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan_Son Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 I'm not so sure we're all talking about the same thing here. I for one was talking about dimensioning elevation views in general (cabinets, countertops, appliances, fixtures, interior finishes, furniture, framing members, etc.)...not just story pole dimensions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now