topic Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines in Revit Architecture Forum

How to determine the total length of multiple lines

lucilarosso — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:47:12 GMT

This is something that used to be very easy to do in autocad (with a polyline) and checking the lenght on the properties bar.

When I select multiple lines (chain of lines) the "lenght" data is greyed out.

I hate having to measure every segment separately! It has to be easier... right?

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

scott_d_davis — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:47:42 GMT

use the Measure tool, using measure between two elements, ad check on the Chain option in the Options bar.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Alfredo_Medina — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:59:55 GMT

Or, maybe faster, without checking Chain, is: Measure > Measure Along an Element. Hover the mouse over the first item, hit the tab key, and click. The result of the total length would be in the options bar.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

lucilarosso — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:25:09 GMT

It seems that both solutions involve measuring again everytime the chain of lines are modified. Not ideal to me.

A friend suggested using a spline line with a very tight radius at the corner- it generates an overall lenght on the properties. Seems to be working. Thanks!

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Alfredo_Medina — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:54:45 GMT

Not a good advice from your friend. Splines have other issues. Have you tried to use Trim/Extend with splines? You are creating a new set of issues for not doing one extra click with the Measure tool.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

rosskirby — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:03:05 GMT

Can you tell us specifically what you're trying to measure? If it's path of travel, then I'd recommend using a line-based generic model element, and then generating a schedule that stays up-to-date with the total length. If it's something else, there might be a better way, but it's hard to say without knowing exactly what you're doing.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

lucilarosso — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:08:28 GMT

Correct: I am trying to measure a path of travel.

What you are suggesting sounds quite complex .... Wonder whether I might as well measure every line instead.

But if not too much trouble, I am curious to hear more.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Alfredo_Medina — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:38:58 GMT

Then the proper question to start this thread with was "How to create and measure an egress path?" instead of "How to determine the total length of multiple lines?"

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

rosskirby — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:55:52 GMT

It's actually not that hard, even though it sounds a little complicated. The method I use is shamelessly stolen from Steve Stafford's blog, where he provides the families and schedules you'll need to get the job done.

http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2007/01/egress-path.html

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

lucilarosso — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:45:09 GMT

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:21:54 GMT

Use this lisp to do the trick:

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Alfredo_Medina — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:50:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Use this lisp to do the trick:

Sorry. It won't work. The question is about Revit, not about AutoCAD.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:56:31 GMT

How I do so is to create a Railing type with 1x1mm rail at the floor level.

And override the graphics in view of that railing to show as dotted line.

Railing has the properties of the total length even though it is segmented.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 03:52:47 GMT

@ Alfredo_Medina

There are many reasons one might need to measure the length of multiple lines or walls. Many more than just path of travel. Zoning codes reference the length of walls to determine definition of basements. They also reference percentage of existing non-conforming walls that may continue along a length of encroachment in a yard. Architect's rely on CAD to define these dimensions for approvals.

I don't make this point to correct you but to express to rosskirby that I share the frustration with Revit. Not frustrated by the learning curve, we're way beyond that. It's because the software fails miserably to meet many fundamental capabilities. I can't' return to 2D CAD, and love Revit for that, but I often find it miserable to forge ahead. There should not be Tips and Tricks and third party applications to make it perform as expected.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Alfredo_Medina — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 22:20:22 GMT

I don't see your point.

If you want to measure the total length of multiple lines or walls, it can be done easily as explained in message # 3 in this thread.

If you want to measure an egress path, schedule the lengths, tag it, etc, then, you need some other tools, as explained in message # 9 by Ross Kirby, which includes a link to Steve Stafford's blog, who has explained the solution in his blog for several years.

Both needs have a solution, without using any tips and tricks or third-party applications, just using the native Revit tools.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:30:19 GMT

I know this is a liitle late on this reply, I am looking for an answer to totaling the length of multiple lines. I do site development and do feasiblity studies....for way too little feee, and don't want to spend the time redoing my planners less than perfect line work for "phone quote" probable costs. I need to take a subdivision street centerline and total by selecting the all. A very talented programmer....JW.... wrote a LSP for an earlier version and would have expected he pass that along in the new software. I also do preliminary layouts of teh water, saniatary sewer systems, and drainage systems and would like to total those lengths also.

Thanks in advance!

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Alfredo_Medina — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:36:34 GMT

To measure total length of lines, please do as described in message # 3, above. It works on model lines, only, though; it does not work like that on detail lines.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 13:46:15 GMT

I WANT TO MEASURE PART OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT LENGTH

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

Anonymous — Thu, 21 May 2015 15:00:17 GMT

I know this post is a little old. But one way I measure multiple lines / polylines or anything else that has a length property in AutoCAD which I would think in theory work here as well is to use MTEXT. Sounds weird I know but here is what I do:

Create a piece of MTEXT and select Field or insert field
On the pop-up dialog change the "Field category:" to "Objects"
Under "Field names:" select "Formula"
Right-Click inside the box under "Formula:" and select "Insert Field..."
On the new Field Dialog under "Field category:" select "Objects"
Between "Object type:" and "Preview:" click the button, this will take you back to your drawing for you to select the object you're wanting to add to be measured. (NOTE: The initial Field dialog window might remain open, if it does you can drag it out of the way to make it easier to select your object.) After you select your object, you will be taken back to your "Second" dialog box window with all the selectable properties for that object listed under "Properties:". Look through the list and select whichever length option that is called for that object. (example: for a polyline it would just be "Length", for an Arc it would be called "Arc length".)
Select the "Format:" you want to use for the value
Select the "Precision:" you want
Click the "OK" button
The value for that property should be displayed in the "Formula:" box. Click after the value and you can now use the standard "+, -, *, /" for what you're wanting to do.
Repeat steps 6 through 9 for each object that you want to be a part of your formula.
After you've completed selecting all the objects you can click on the "Evaluate" button and the results should be displayed in the "Preview:" box.

I know this sounds like a little bit tedious but when you're finished, if and objects length gets changed, your calculation should update after you do a regen. And also please note, that if you erase an object you will have to edit the formula and erase that objects now unusable field from the formula, which can be easily done through the text editor.

Re: How to determine the total length of multiple lines

chrisplyler — Fri, 22 May 2015 15:14:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

I know this post is a little old. But one way I measure multiple lines / polylines or anything else that has a length property in AutoCAD which I would think in theory work here as well is to use MTEXT. Sounds weird I know but here is what I do:

You are aware that this thread is about Revit, right?