Dimension Slanted Columns

[PhilvK]

I am looking for a way to dimension to the center points of slanted columns that are not on a grid. Is what is shown in the sketch below possible? It is straight forward and easy in Autocad, but when I click on one of the slanted columns, I get its center point, but can’t find the other’s center point, and the temporary dimensions appearing are no help.

[chrisplyler · Accepted solution]

You want to dimension to the center of the columns' bottom condition, right? You might have to put a little bit of reference line there and dimension to that.

[PhilvK]

OK, thought so, but just wanted to check. Thank  you.

[Alfredo_Medina · Accepted solution]

Instead of drawing lines on the project for every column, maybe it would be easier to add a cross of model lines at the center of the column in the family (maybe with the centerline or hidden linetpye). Revit has trouble finding the reference planes at the axis of the column, in plan view, for slanted columns, as you have seen. By adding these little lines, you can find the distance between the intersection of those lines from column to column, using the "Linear" type of dimension instead of the usual "Aligned".

[chrisplyler]

Ooooh yeah.... What Alfredo said!

[chrisplyler]

Alfredo... it just occured to me to wonder... I haven't tried it... could we use reference lines instead of model lines amd make them strong references so as to create a good snap point, without introducing model lines into the project? Or does it even matter?

PS - I tried to give Kudos to your post again, but apparently it only allows one Kudos from a given user. Too bad. That tip is deserving of several.

[Alfredo_Medina]

I would have prefered something not visible in the project, yes, such as reference planes in the family, but because the column is slanted, Revit does not find those reference planes for dimensions, even if they are weak or strong references. It seems that  reference plane work well with vertical columns, but not with slanted columns, for this purpose.

[chrisplyler]

That's an interesting quirk that reverence lines/planes won't work but model lines will.