How to create line with dimension

[osmondace]

Hi, I'm new to using 3ds Max. I have a question: how do I draw lines with dimensions, like in AutoCAD? Do I need an additional plugin to create accurate shapes? 

[MartinBeh]

Do you want the lines/dimensions just for the viewport or also for rendering?

Unfortunately, there is no built-in tool for this, but maybe this free script does what you want?

[MartinBeh]

... and there are a whole lot of other scripts, some free some commercial, some for viewport only, others also for rendering:

https://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/smart-measure

https://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/rbdims

https://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/livemeasure 

https://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/measurement-tape-plus based on https://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/measurement-tape  

https://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/3d-measure-master  

https://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/miauus-live-measure-pro 

Also nice (and free) for adding text labels/measurements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGeuKHoqKiU 

[osmondace]

Spoiler

No, what I mean is that I want to make a line with dimensions, when I make a line I want to be able to enter the size I want, for example, if I want to make a line measuring 20 meters, I just enter the number. You enter the size when create a line. I just want a precision size when make something

[MartinBeh]

(why hide that answer in a Spoiler tag?)

What you want is called "keyboard entry" in 3ds Max, and this is only possible in a very limited way. You can enter coordinates for line points, but there is no built-in function I know of that allows you to directly create a line by entering a length and a direction.

There might be scripts/plugins that help you with that. A quick search brought up this one, for example: https://miauu-maxscript.com/portfolio-item/polyline-pro/

[Casey_H_]

A quick workaround:

1. Draw a Rectangle shape and punch in the length number you want to both length and width.

2. Convert it to a spline.

3. In Segment mode delete the segments you don't want.

You are left with line segments that are the length you originally entered.

A slower workaround:

1. Draw a straight line segment.

2. Go to Edit menu -> Transform Type-In..

3. Press S to turn on snaps (if not on already).

4. In vertex mode, select the right-most point of the line, drag it and snap it to the first point.

5 On the Transform Type-In, enter the length you want in the direction you want and press enter. If you want to go in negative direction, just put - sign before the number.

I give you the second one mainly to introduce the Transform Type-in tool, which is extremely helpful for precise transforms. But - WILDLY - it does not have a default hotkey! It also cannot be docked in a custom layout 😩, so I made a little script that opens it when I open Max. 

[MartinBeh · Accepted solution]

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@Casey_H_ wrote:

I give you the second one mainly to introduce the Transform Type-in tool, which is extremely helpful for precise transforms. But - WILDLY - it does not have a default hotkey! It also cannot be docked in a custom layout 😩, so I made a little script that opens it when I open Max. 

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NB: F12 is the default hotkey to open the Transform Type-in

[MartinBeh]

PS: In MAXScript there is the pickPoint() function which allows the user to select a 3D point in the viewport. This function has some more elaborate Command Line Input methods as described in the link: "The user can enter coordinates in one of several forms (based on the command line input syntax for AutoCAD)".

Not sure this is available anywhere else in 3ds Max, without using MAXScript, but one could probably use that to create a little line creation helper utility for precision keyboard entry...

Edit: Here is a first prototype for this - you should open the MAXScript Listener before you run the script as that is where all the input happens. There is a bunch of built-in commands to specify line points: absolute, relative, and most relevant here: a given length along the current rubberband direction (possibly in combination with grid snap).

[osmondace]

Yes, this is what I meant, sorry I might have put the reply in the spoiler by mistake, I've tried putting it in via coordinates but I think it's still not efficient because I have to complete the line I made and then move each vertex with coordinates

[MartinBeh]

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@osmondace wrote:

Yes, this is what I meant, sorry I might have put the reply in the spoiler by mistake, I've tried putting it in via coordinates but I think it's still not efficient because I have to complete the line I made and then move each vertex with coordinates

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Try the script I linked to.

[osmondace]

I feel like this is less efficient, but it is what it is. I just want to draw a floor plan from scratch. It would take quite a long time if I had to use reference images.

[Casey_H_]

Good catch. I wasn't sure if I had set that or not and tried to verify Max defaults, but I guess the info I found was wrong. Thanks for the correction.

[Casey_H_]

I was thinking perhaps using custom grid spacing might help and found this script: 

miauu’s Set Grid Spacing – miauu's Scripts & Tools for 3ds Max

But then I also found this one, which sounds quite promising: 

miauu’s Quick Spline Measure – miauu's Scripts & Tools for 3ds Max

[MartinBeh]

Here is a little demo of my script where I create the entire line by pointing in the direction of the line I want and then entering a number to get an exact line length: