topic Re: Dimension problems in AutoCAD Forum

Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 16:08:28 GMT

I came across a dimensioning problem working on a model created by Revit. See attached picture. If I dimension an existing entity in a layout (created by Revit). The dimension is always to the paper (the top dimension). I can get the true dimension if I draw a new entity. The red line below is the entity I drew in the model and it gives me the correct dimension of 76 inches. What is wrong? The dimension association is turned on.

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 16:39:28 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I came across a dimensioning problem working on a model created by Revit. See attached picture. If I dimension an existing entity in a layout (created by Revit). The dimension is always to the paper (the top dimension). I can get the true dimension if I draw a new entity. The red line below is the entity I drew in the model and it gives me the correct dimension of 76 inches. What is wrong? The dimension association is turned on.

It would be a lot more helpful if you would post the DWG rather than just a picture of it.

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 16:56:16 GMT

The original drawing is big (78 MB). I have removed many entities to make it smaller. Check out layout "n1" in the drawing attached. The orange layer is in the original model. I drew the white line connecting end point to end point in the model. As you will see the two dimensions are different using the same dimension style.

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:27:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The original drawing is big (78 MB). I have removed many entities to make it smaller. Check out layout "n1" in the drawing attached. The orange layer is in the original model. I drew the white line connecting end point to end point in the model. As you will see the two dimensions are different using the same dimension style.

I don't place dimensions on paper space, I usually activate the viewport and then dimension through paper space. I changed your dim style and got it to work. In the fit tab of your dim style editor, I changed Scale for dimension features to the Scale dimensions to layout radio button. I placed the dimension through your viewport after I locked it. Seems to work here.

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:39:45 GMT

What do you mean by this?

"I don't place dimensions on paper space, I usually activate the viewport and then dimension through paper space"

I revised the dimstyle as you described. Nothing was changed. The incorrect dimension is still incorrect.

If I interrogate the properties of the dimensions. The association of the correct dimension is "partial". That for the incorrect dimension is "no" and cannot be changed.

Re: Dimension problems

Patchy — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 18:20:24 GMT

The dimensions are at different places, not the same UCS

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:16:38 GMT

If I understand correctly, you mean dimension in model space. But I do not want to dimension in model space.

I talked to the fellow who sent the file. We've had this issue since the beginning of the project. Apparently during file conversion something was amiss, or not set properly. He is looking into it.

Re: Dimension problems

Patchy — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:21:17 GMT

In paperspace, where did you use for snap points?

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:22:43 GMT

I snapped to endpoints.

Re: Dimension problems

Patchy — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:32:48 GMT

It's the world UCS that you're not using to dimension, go thru the viewport, use command :

UCS, use W

then

PLAN, use Current.

Then dimension to see if they are showing any different.

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:37:41 GMT

Are you telling me to dimension in model space? That is not what I want to do.

Re: Dimension problems

pendean — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:48:23 GMT

You are most likely not snapping to points in the same plane with the 14'4 dimension. I simply opened your file, set the color to 1 and snapped to the end points and I see no problem in paperspace. That's the problem with 2D dimensioning objects on multiple planes: you need to be careful about knowing which points you are selecting.

Don't be afraid to zoom in real close and pick the correct point.

Re: Dimension problems

Patchy — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:47:06 GMT

What I'm after is Straighten your drawing then dimension anything you want to see if they still showing different.

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:42:15 GMT

I don't think you guys are answering my question. And I do not think it is something which can be fixed with the model that I have.

The basic issue is this, any dimension on any existing entity within the model, the association between the dimension and the entity is "no" and it cannot be changed. Somehow that association is locked during model creation. But the dimension of a new entity I created within the same model the association between that entity and its dimension is "partial". In that case a 1:1 dimstyle will correctly dimension the entity regardless of the scale of the viewport.

The sender of the model is looking into this issue and will hopefully correct it. The model was created by REVIT. They have corrected similar models with this problem before at our request. I just thought some of you have experience on this conversion from a REVIT created model to AutoCAD. Before he does the only work around is to scale the dimension based on the scale of the viewport. I don't like it because I do not want to have to remember the different dimstyle used. A 1:1 dimstyle is all I ever use.

Re: Dimension problems

pendean — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:22:46 GMT

I only dimensioned in paperpsace just like you claimed you are doing: I seem unable to recreate your dimensional variation using the core dim commands.

I did not mention anything about your modelspace content except to tell you I zoomed in to pick the endpoints and you probably need to do the same.

There is nothing wrong with your file at all: it's all up to you to hit the correct snap points for the dimensions.

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:41:18 GMT

Can you do the following?
1. in the drawing which u uploaded, create a layout.
2. create a vieport. set the view to any orthogonal view after selecting a scale factor.
3. dimension any existing entity.
4. select the dimension you just did. right click. get property.
5. change the dimension to entity associative to "yes".

Re: Dimension problems

pendean — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 13:17:57 GMT

why the extra steps? DIMASSOC is already set to 2 in your file.
Do you not wish to use your own preset DIMSTYLE settings in your own created layout?

Re: Dimension problems

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 13:37:28 GMT

My point is when you dimension on an existing entity in the model there is no association between the dimension and the entity and you cannot change the assocaition. But with a newly created entity there is partial association between the dimension and the entity and as a result you can use the 1:1 dimstyle.