topic Re: Dimension created with API switches from linear to aligned in Revit API Forum

Dimension created with API switches from linear to aligned

JJamesHillGrp — Wed, 02 May 2018 19:21:10 GMT

I have two points that are at different elevations that I need to annotate with a linear dimension. I am able to add the dimension correctly in my view through the API, but when I try to adjust it manually afterwards it switches to an aligned dimension.

When adding this same linear dimension manually I don't have this problem. Could this be a bug or am I doing something incorrectly when creating the dimension?

The code below is a test of what I've been doing. It creates a linear dimension between the end points of two selected model lines. The screencast attached shows what happens when the dimension is moved manually after being created.

        Dim dir As XYZ = New XYZ(0, 0, 1)
        Dim r1 As Reference = _uiDoc.Selection.PickObject(ObjectType.Element, "Select one element")
        Dim e1 As Element = _uiDoc.Document.GetElement(r1)
        Dim Line1 As ModelLine = TryCast(e1, ModelLine)

        Dim r2 As Reference = _uiDoc.Selection.PickObject(ObjectType.Element, "Select one element")
        Dim e2 As Element = _uiDoc.Document.GetElement(r2)
        Dim Line2 As ModelLine = TryCast(e2, ModelLine)

        Dim ln1 As Line = Line1.GeometryCurve
        Dim ln1Normal As XYZ = ln1.Direction.Normalize
        Dim ln1Cross As XYZ = ln1Normal.CrossProduct(dir)

        Dim ln2 As Line = Line2.GeometryCurve

        Dim measurePnt1ref As Reference = ln1.GetEndPointReference(0)
        Dim measurePnt1 As XYZ = ln1.GetEndPoint(0)
        Dim measurePnt2ref As Reference = Nothing
        Dim measurePnt2 As XYZ = Nothing

        Dim pDist As Double = measurePnt1.DistanceTo(ln2.GetEndPoint(0))
        If measurePnt1.DistanceTo(ln2.GetEndPoint(1)) < pDist Then
            measurePnt2ref = ln2.GetEndPointReference(1)
            measurePnt2 = ln2.GetEndPoint(1)
        Else
            measurePnt2ref = ln2.GetEndPointReference(0)
            measurePnt2 = ln2.GetEndPoint(0)
        End If

        Dim refs As New ReferenceArray
        refs.Append(measurePnt1ref)
        refs.Append(measurePnt2ref)

        Dim pointStart As XYZ = measurePnt1 + ln1Cross.Multiply(2)
        Dim pointEnd As XYZ = pointStart - ln1Normal.Multiply(1)
        Dim mLine As Line = Line.CreateBound(New XYZ(pointStart.X, pointStart.Y, 0), New XYZ(pointEnd.X, pointEnd.Y, 0))

        Using Transaction As Transaction = New Transaction(m_rvtDoc)
            Transaction.Start("Create dimensions")
            Dim dimension As Dimension = m_rvtDoc.Create.NewDimension(m_rvtDoc.ActiveView, mLine, refs)
            'm_rvtDoc.Create.NewDetailCurve(m_rvtDoc.ActiveView, mLine)

            Transaction.Commit()
        End Using

Re: Dimension created with API switches from linear to aligned

FAIR59 — Thu, 03 May 2018 09:42:34 GMT

My answer to a related question might help

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-api-forum/how-can-i-create-dimension-line-that-is-not-parallel-to-detail/m-p/6801271

Re: Dimension created with API switches from linear to aligned

JJamesHillGrp — Thu, 03 May 2018 14:45:25 GMT

I updated my code with the information from the other post and it worked perfectly, thank you

        Dim dir As XYZ = New XYZ(0, 0, 1)
        Dim r1 As Reference = _uiDoc.Selection.PickObject(ObjectType.Element, "Select one element")
        Dim e1 As Element = _uiDoc.Document.GetElement(r1)
        Dim Line1 As ModelLine = TryCast(e1, ModelLine)

        Dim r2 As Reference = _uiDoc.Selection.PickObject(ObjectType.Element, "Select one element")
        Dim e2 As Element = _uiDoc.Document.GetElement(r2)
        Dim Line2 As ModelLine = TryCast(e2, ModelLine)

        Dim ln1 As Line = Line1.GeometryCurve
        Dim ln1Normal As XYZ = ln1.Direction.Normalize
        Dim ln1Cross As XYZ = ln1Normal.CrossProduct(dir)

        Dim ln2 As Line = Line2.GeometryCurve

        Dim measurePnt1ref As Reference = ln1.GetEndPointReference(0)
        Dim measurePnt1 As XYZ = ln1.GetEndPoint(0)
        Dim measurePnt2ref As Reference = Nothing
        Dim measurePnt2 As XYZ = Nothing

        Dim pDist As Double = measurePnt1.DistanceTo(ln2.GetEndPoint(0))
        If measurePnt1.DistanceTo(ln2.GetEndPoint(1)) < pDist Then
            measurePnt2ref = ln2.GetEndPointReference(1)
            measurePnt2 = ln2.GetEndPoint(1)
        Else
            measurePnt2ref = ln2.GetEndPointReference(0)
            measurePnt2 = ln2.GetEndPoint(0)
        End If

        Dim dummyLn As Line = Line.CreateBound(XYZ.Zero, XYZ.BasisX)
        Dim pointStart As XYZ = measurePnt1 + ln1Cross.Multiply(2)
        Dim pointEnd As XYZ = pointStart - ln1Normal.Multiply(1)
        Dim mLine As Line = Line.CreateBound(New XYZ(pointStart.X, pointStart.Y, 0), New XYZ(pointEnd.X, pointEnd.Y, 0))

        Using Transaction As Transaction = New Transaction(m_rvtDoc)
            Transaction.Start("Create dimensions")
            Dim dummy As DetailLine = m_rvtDoc.Create.NewDetailCurve(m_rvtDoc.ActiveView, dummyLn)

            Dim refs As New ReferenceArray
            refs.Append(dummy.GeometryCurve.Reference)
            refs.Append(measurePnt1ref)
            refs.Append(measurePnt2ref)

            Dim dimension As Dimension = m_rvtDoc.Create.NewDimension(m_rvtDoc.ActiveView, mLine, refs)
            m_rvtDoc.Delete(dummy.Id)
            Transaction.Commit()
        End Using