topic Re: Auto Dimensioning in Visual LISP, AutoLISP and General Customization Forum

Auto Dimensioning

Lindsay-CAD — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:13:01 GMT

I have a routine to automatically dimensions Elevations of Tilt-Up Panels, Rectangular Closed Polylines, just by picking the outline. Works great if there are only 4 sides. If there is an opening, such as an overhead door, The dimensions get put in the wrong place. The routine is based on points for the LLC, LRC, ULC, & URC.

Attached is the lisp routine and a sample drawing

I have 2 similar routines that automatically dimension the interior structural components just by selecting the outline of the panel.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated on how to deal with the additional points

Thanks

GolferRob

Re: Auto Dimensioning

ec-cad — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:12:30 GMT

Try the attached modification. Looks OK to me.

ECCAD

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Sea-Haven — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:14:16 GMT

Have you considered that you choose the type of panel shape via a lisp enter the panel values, so draw the shape and dimension it at same time. Can add mass centroid needed for lifting tilt slabs.

maybe do a google for draw concrete tilt panels autolisp.

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Lindsay-CAD — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 10:53:15 GMT

The Panel design, size and shape comes from the Revit model of the building. The Model is also exported into Tiltwerks for the structural design. The export from tiltwerks is a crappy DXF files. I have written a number of short routines to clean up the export to what we want to see in our tilt-panel drfawings.

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Lindsay-CAD — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:01:57 GMT

Thank you for your reply and input. I tried your fix and it is almost what I am looking for. The Outer most dimensions left side and bottom are the overall dimension. (Bottom: LLC to LRC) (Left Side: LLC to ULC) is there a way to fix that in your solution? Also: Sometimes the top of the panel is sloped to one side or the others. Is there a way to check if the upper corners are the same elevation, and if not, add the dimension for the other side?

Thank You

RobH

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Moshe-A — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:17:23 GMT

@Lindsay-CAD hi,

if the origin is coming from revit than why not do dimensions in revit?

it look like you are trying to create automation to irregular layout.

Moshe

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Lindsay-CAD — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:58:28 GMT

The drawings I am working on are shop drawings and the files I am cleaning up are DXF files exported from Tiltwerks - Tilt Panel Design software. The panels are for buildings that we design and build. Revit will export the 3D model directly to Tiltwerks. The DXF file export from Tiltwerks is just lines and text, easily and quickly manipulated in AutoCAD.

RobH

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Sea-Haven — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 03:07:53 GMT

Have you looked at Qdim command may do what you want. Seemed to do what you want. May need a little practice.

Re: Auto Dimensioning

ec-cad — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 23:43:36 GMT

Yes, but you would have to pick the 'Intersection' of each point. e.g. ULC, LLC, URC LRC.

That way, there would not be confusion about which coordinate point to zero in on.

Try that simple change to get the Points. Rest of the code should be OK.

ECCAD

Re: Auto Dimensioning

camojhayar — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:48:02 GMT

Hi EC_CAD

Do you have a .lsp file that can do a one click auto dimension. BTW I'm using AS2025 and when I create a .dwg I always delete all default dimensions and labels. I just want to set all sections and views specially the scale and presentation before I start dimensioning.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Auto Dimensioning

ec-cad — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:05:46 GMT

Sorry, I don't have expertize in Dimensioning. User defined ones especially.
Don't give up, someone here can help I'm sure.

Bob (ECCAD)

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Sea-Haven — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 00:24:55 GMT

You need to explain a lot more what you want and post a sample dwg. With before and after.

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Lindsay-CAD — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:34:19 GMT

The lisp routine I have was designed for one pick dimensioning for concrete tilt panels.
There is an architectural routine and 2 structural routines.

The architectural routine dimensions the panel and all openings in it. The locations of the dimensions are predetermined in the routine.

The structural routine dimensions the locations of all the structural components in the panel. The dimension locations are based on specific objects in each panel. The objects being dimensioned are blocks. The dimension locations are on either side and the top and bottom of the panel.

Currently it is a one pick routine for each discipline

Working on a routine do all panels at the same time for both the Architectural and Structural

RobH

Re: Auto Dimensioning

camojhayar — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:42:47 GMT

I don't have permission to post a picture here. What I mean is in structural using advance steel we are creating 2d drawings in every steel like column, beams etc. In 2d drawings what I want to happen is when I click the 2d drawing of a beam for example, it will automatically insert dimensions base on my own presentation. Dimensions, labels, diameters.

Re: Auto Dimensioning

camojhayar — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:46:42 GMT

For example this beam. This is in a 2d format in advance steel 2025. When the 2d drawing is generated from a 3d model, I always delete all the default dimension and labels etc. What I want to happen is when I click the beam the dimensions, label, diameter etc. will appear base on my own presentation on how I put all of those in a drawing.

Re: Auto Dimensioning

camojhayar — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:53:51 GMT

Hi Lindsay,

I'm currently using Advance Steel 2025. I model steels in 3d and generate a 2d drawings base on the 3d models. At first when I open the 2d drawing generated from 3d model, a default dimensions, labels, elevation etc. is already there. I always delete them for me to see the 2d objects clearly and to set other settings like scales, views etc. What I would like to happen is when I click the 2d object, all dimensions labels etc. will appeared base on my own presentation. I think it is possible. It will make detailing faster. I just need an idea or lisp file for me to have a basis or idea what to encode on the lisp.

BTW Thanks for noticing my post.
Regards,

camojhayar

Re: Auto Dimensioning

camojhayar — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:54:50 GMT

Hi EC-CAD,

It's ok. I'm just hoping you have an idea. Thanks

Regards

camojhayar

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Lindsay-CAD — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:18:32 GMT

I am by no means an expert in lisp programming. I know enough to do some basic things. Last year I was in you position with an idea. I started by writing down all the steps I needed to do manually and then went to work on how tell autocad how to do it. Some of it can easy, the rest was over my head. I reached out thru the Autodesk forum and was amazed by how much help and support there is. With the support and suggestions and coding from others I was able to do everything I set out to do and more. What took hours of manual manipulation has turned into seconds. I will send you a sample drawing of what I am doing and the lisp routines.

Re: Auto Dimensioning

camojhayar — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 13:23:30 GMT

Hi Lindsay,

Wow. I do understand some from lisp. But I still working in studying lisp further to make our job much more easier and faster. It's a good advice. Starting today I'm going to make a list of what we are doing and I'm going to start with the easiest process or short commands. What I can do so far is to make a shortcut key that is not a default shortcut key or make the default shortcut key much faster to use. You gave me a good advice thanks.

BTW how can I enter or participate inautodesk forums? Or am I in right now?

Thanks

camojhayar.

Re: Auto Dimensioning

Lindsay-CAD — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:14:32 GMT

You are in the Autodesk Community Forum. A great place to look for things, Ask questions and get help and suggestions for anything AutoCAD. I like to browse to see what kinds of things other users are doing. You never know who is already doing or looking for the same thing. What you want may already have been done by others that are willing to share with the community.

RobH