Dimensioning Elevation Plans

[Emc downunder]

To show and dimension elevation height lines I use a new layer and call it elevation heights, in plan view I add a polyline solid and set it to the height of the floor with 0 thickness same with the ceiling, you generate the elevation make sure the camera cuts the elevation height polyline solid and you have the elevation all ready for dimensions to be added, the cross section layer you can set to a thin line, and any dimension added will snap to the each elevation line (which is actually a generated cross section line)..

Regards..

[Bradley Boltz]

I like to keep things simple. Chief just needs to address this issue by giving some simple tools similar to what Lew's been asking for. Chief automates schitt I don't want automatated and logical things that should be automated are left with manual time consumers or complex work-a-rounds.

A lot of the work-a-rounds are quite ingenious and show a lot of computer savy and intelligence but just validate Chief's current programming bent of "making many things too dang complex or complicated".

For an elevation line marker, I just draw a cad line below a 1st or 2nd floor window and locate it's "z" height (use "y" hgt for all versions previous to X1) by pulling a dimension from the window's head hgt and setting the floor elevation line to what my window's head hgt is as set in it's dbx.
I then replicate/copy each floor elevation line up to the 2nd flr top plate and down to the footing and basement slab etc.
Finally I add the markers. It's probably longer and slower and much less clever than the other methods but it feels more direct like a drawing should feel. I only have to do it once then copy/paste hold position it to other elevations and sections. The current incarnation ot the "paste hold position" function is a prime example of Chief programming at it's best, simple, elegant and intuitive. Dermot & the Parks should re-examine/analize all aspects of X2 functions and tools and apply the the same logic used to improve the "paste hold position" tool.

Without the XYZ live position indicators which should have been in the program since X1, the X & Y directions are dependent upon which direction a section view is pulled and your trying to remember which way is X and which way is y. It's bulllschitt and I can't believe Chief didn't throw out an immediate solution on that omission and ideosyncracy! This hybrid 2d/3d identity crisis is what's causing all the slow redraws and probably is a programming nighmare for Chief.-Brad

[sherpa_jones]

Take a section view and send the entire view to cad detail. select all the lines and adjust their line style to blank and their layer to a new user layer such as 'elevation snaps' copy all lines and paste hold position over top of the elevation. lock the layer so you dont mess it op by accident.

[louis]

Yep... I Just Delete The Surface... Completely Accurate And The Fastest Way I Believe......

Guys, just move the camera!

Slide the camera!

Amazing, an elevation view instantly becomes a cross section.

[WendyWelton]

Guys, just move the camera!

Slide the camera!

Amazing, an elevation view instantly becomes a cross section.

You know - it never occurred to me to try moving the camera after I had started adding text and dimensions. "The dawn comes late to Marblehead". I'll give it a try!

[John D Atkinson]

Thanks Tommy! It works like you say although I don't understand why entering a value in Z Delta changes the Y Position. (I'm using X1 BTW). Louis must be good to have figured that out!

[Tommy Blair]

You're welcome.

[billemery]

Ric,
can you tell me more specificly how you use the delete surface method?

Tommy,
I like the way you use markers: I've got an opportunity to try that out today.

[WendyWelton]

John,

In Chief 10 - Y is always up the page, in plan view, in elevation view, in section view...

In Chief X1, Z is towards the sky in all views. They are now consistently using the X, Y, Z coordinate system in all views.

So - for Sections and Elevations, where you moved things in the Y direction to move them towards the top, in X1 you move them in the Z direction instead.

[Tommy Blair]

John,

In Chief 10 - Y is always up the page, in plan view, in elevation view, in section view...

In Chief X1, Z is towards the sky in all views. They are now consistently using the X, Y, Z coordinate system in all views.

So - for Sections and Elevations, where you moved things in the Y direction to move them towards the top, in X1 you move them in the Z direction instead.

That is true Wendy, but you can't leave out what you have to do to make that work in the absolute position if you want to place the marker at let's say the ceiling height, plate height or whatever. It's not just a matter of placing the height position in the "Z" place. In 10, you place place the position you want it in the "y" position and you're done. Extra steps in X1.

[John D Atkinson]

Wendy, it still seems confusing to me to have to use a Z Delta to move a Y Position.

[WendyWelton]

Wendy, it still seems confusing to me to have to use a Z Delta to move a Y Position.

John,

When you are working on a section or elevation, you are just looking at a different view of the same model. Chief 10 had X & Y as if it were on the paper - Y towards the top of the paper. There wasn't really a useful Z. When you moved something toward the top of the section, it was being treated as a flat piece of paper, which has no real Z. Now they're treating it like a 3D model.

Chief X1 has full X, Y & Z in all views. (Of course, someone will find a place where this was not carried through, but it's definately true of sections and elevations). Just remember that Z is towards the sky.

Another way to understand the concept is to
- Place a chair in your plan.
- Generate a section view that shows the chair.
- Generate a Vector Full Camera view that shows the chair in the room.
- Tile your view to show all three.

- Now select the chair in any of the three views
- Select the Transform/Replicate tool - check Move and put 24" in the box for Z Delta.

You will see the chair move 24" towards the sky in both your section and your 3D view.

- Undo and repeat, but put 24" in the Y Delta box. The chair will move 24" in the Y direction (towards the top of the screen in plan view) in all three views. It will behave exactly the same no matter which view you are using when you select the chair.

This is a confusing concept for people who did not come to Chief from other software that uses the X, Y, Z coordinates consistently and/or learned it in school. These coordinates are straight out of traditional geometry - that class most of us slept through. Even back in college, I'd see half the class holding their left hand up with forfinger pointed up, thumb toward them and index finger to the right, trying to make a concept that's not immediately untuitive sink into the brains - up to and including during the exam. (The hand thing is quite literally how they taught us this system). So - don't feel bad that it seems alien. You have plenty of company!

[mcrump]

Even back in college, I'd see half the class holding their left hand up with forfinger pointed up, thumb toward them and index finger to the right, trying to make a concept that's not immediately untuitive sink into the brains - up to and including during the exam.

Is a forefinger the same as a "bird" finger? This is confusing ashell. Either that or I'm getting more stupid the older I get. Probably door number 2.

[John D Atkinson]

Why can't I select a level line marker in a cross section view, open its dbx, change the height and see it move? What does the height control anyway?

[Tommy Blair]

Why can't I select a level line marker in a cross section view, open its dbx, change the height and see it move? What does the height control anyway?

John, if you're talking about a text marker, you really ought to move it with the transform/replicate tool in the absolute (z) direction if you want to move it up or down in an elevation.