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Undeletable objects, automatic temporary dimensions.... etc, etc

10 REPLIES 10
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Message 1 of 11
Dan.Dominik
1394 Views, 10 Replies

Undeletable objects, automatic temporary dimensions.... etc, etc

Forgive my frustration, but at what point did Autodesk decide it knows better than I what I wish to draw & edit?

 

First off- automatic temporary dimensions... they're ridiculous.  I'm sure there is an option buried somewhere in 2011 that tells the software not to create permanent undeletable dimensions whenever a line is sketched; can someone point the way? 

 

Next up- dimensions that cannot be deleted.  For example, creating a new generic family I create two reference planes, draw a dimension between them, and immediately am "stuck" with this dimension.  It's undeletable... nor are the reference planes that I CHOSE TO CREATE.  This occurs BEFORE any lines or objects are created or associated with them.  How in the world has this asinine system found its way into what is supposed to be a progressive release?  I had no such issues in 2010; perhaps things went too smoothly therein?

 

 

10 REPLIES 10
Message 2 of 11
bt1138
in reply to: Dan.Dominik

That's a funny thing, those undeletable ref planes. I can't figure them out either.

 

is it: Bug or Feature?

Message 3 of 11

While I don't mean to sound rude but this sounds like operator failure.  The undeleteable elements issue is something I have never encountered and am unable to recreate based on your description.  I have created several familes using 2011 most of them generic and these problems have not happened to me.

Secondly I am not sure what your issue with temporary dimensions is.  They are by everyones accounts I've encountered extremely helpful.  They only become permanent dimensions when you click on the symbol making them permanent. 

 

Lawrence

Message 4 of 11
loboarch
in reply to: bt1138


bt1138 wrote:

That's a funny thing, those undeletable ref planes. I can't figure them out either.

 

is it: Bug or Feature?


The reference planes in the family templates are intentionally not deletable. 



Jeff Hanson
Principal Content Experience Designer
Revit Help |
Message 5 of 11
bt1138
in reply to: Dan.Dominik

That settles it:  

 

-->Its a feature. (which was my suspicion)

 

 

Message 6 of 11
scott_d_davis
in reply to: bt1138

clarification:  not EVERY ref plane/dimension is not deletable in the family editor.  Only the ones that are built into the template for that particular family type.  The dimensions/ref planes you create can be deleted at any time. 



Scott D Davis
Sr AEC Technical Specialist
Message 7 of 11
Dan.Dominik
in reply to: Dan.Dominik

Jeff/Scott,

Understood about the built-in reference planes.  However, I'm becoming suspicious of my installation due to the fact that generic planes I create in a new family all immediately become locked from deletion.  Similarly, any line drawn in the family editor (symbolic, model, etc) displays its temporary dimensions at creation.  Upon completion of the command (modify clicked) all of the temporary dimensions become true dimensions.  This occurs without selection of the activate hotspot, and the now permanent dimensions cannot be deleted in any way. 

 

I'm finding similar irregularities with groups & phasing.  A file I created using 2010 which uses several repeating units (residential plans within an existing shell) won't allow these groups to be copied within their phase in 2011.  For example, in 2010 the model was created with said groups containing elements demolished at "new construction".  Copying these groups correctly recreated the phasing of the elements contained therein.  It worked (still does in our 2010 installations).  Performing the same operation in 2011 causes all of the demolished elements within the group being copied to lose their demo status.  This completely negates the benefit of grouping the objects in the first place. 

 

Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of a full reinstall at the moment.  Anyone else experiencing similar group/phasing behavior? 

Message 8 of 11
bt1138
in reply to: scott_d_davis

Scott:

 

Is there anywhere that this sort of thing is documented? I eventually decided that the non-deletable planes were as designed. But I was still guessing on the issue. 

 

There is a trend in computerland to provide less documentation, and on-line documentation. I don't think it's good fit with big complicated programs such as Revit.

 

bt

Message 9 of 11
loboarch
in reply to: bt1138


bt1138 wrote:

Scott:

 

Is there anywhere that this sort of thing is documented?


I am not Scott but I work on the User Assistance team so I am closer to the issue.  The non deletable status of the reference planes is not documented.

 

There are many factors that go into what does and does not get documented.  This is one that was low on the priority list.

 

Just so I can understand your desire to have a detail like this documented, my question would be, Why do you feel this is something that needs to be documented?  How has the lack of documentation on this subject impacted your understanding of the basic family creation work flow?

 



Jeff Hanson
Principal Content Experience Designer
Revit Help |
Message 10 of 11
loboarch
in reply to: Dan.Dominik


sddjd wrote:

Jeff/Scott,

Understood about the built-in reference planes.  However, I'm becoming suspicious of my installation due to the fact that generic planes I create in a new family all immediately become locked from deletion.  Similarly, any line drawn in the family editor (symbolic, model, etc) displays its temporary dimensions at creation.  Upon completion of the command (modify clicked) all of the temporary dimensions become true dimensions.  This occurs without selection of the activate hotspot, and the now permanent dimensions cannot be deleted in any way. 

 

I'm finding similar irregularities with groups & phasing.  A file I created using 2010 which uses several repeating units (residential plans within an existing shell) won't allow these groups to be copied within their phase in 2011.  For example, in 2010 the model was created with said groups containing elements demolished at "new construction".  Copying these groups correctly recreated the phasing of the elements contained therein.  It worked (still does in our 2010 installations).  Performing the same operation in 2011 causes all of the demolished elements within the group being copied to lose their demo status.  This completely negates the benefit of grouping the objects in the first place. 

 

Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of a full reinstall at the moment.  Anyone else experiencing similar group/phasing behavior? 


I would be very suspicious of your installation as well.  The behaviors you are describing are very abnormal.



Jeff Hanson
Principal Content Experience Designer
Revit Help |
Message 11 of 11
bt1138
in reply to: loboarch

I was wondering myself, what would be the best way to document something like that.

 

Especially since there is no need to know something like this until you waste a few brain cycles trying to figure out why you can't delete that #$%! reference plane, or that dimension. You don't really need to know about it, until you stumble onto and it makes you feel like there is a problem, or your file is corrupted, or that you are doing something wrong, and so on. Much time is wasted working with things like this, because it's hard to know when you are doing something wrong. 

 

I was thinking that you could include a little text object in the each of the template files that have a little information about the template, what's in it and why. It really can be helpful to know why things are the way they are in a complicated program. Little things like that can really help less than power-users get their bearings, and help any user understand how to best use the program.

 

I would read it if you put it in the documentation; sometimes I think I'm one of the few and proud that actually do read the docs, so the text blurb seems easier and maybe better.

 

Another exampIe I was recently noticing, the light fixture families seem to be placed onto these ceiling objects that you can't change their shape or size. I recently spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make it smaller, so that the thumbnail preview of the light looked better. I gave up, assuming that the ceiling object can't be made smaller - but I'm not sure of that. I'm sure I'll try a few more times to make it smaller then give up. Bug or Feature?

 

 

bt

 

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