How do I change how walls are measured out

[Anonymous]

When inserting walls, I want to have them measured out by the endpoints, not one endpoint to the center of the wall. I inserted a screenshot of what I am talking about. I want the wall to be 23' 6" but when I enter that, the outside of the wall is 23' 9" and a little extra. I am in high school and just starting to learn how to use Revit.

Thanks!

Carter

[Revit_Whisperer · Accepted solution]

I think the issue is likely due to your location line when drawing the wall.  If it is set to finish face exterior it will pull from that location...I did a quick video ...https://autode.sk/2EWT2u1

[barthbradley]

Disable Automatic Join and you'll see what is going on. 

Disallow Join after you place the Wall:

Disallow Join before you place the Wall (e.g. sets Default condition):

[martijn_pater]

I was thinking location line aswell initially, but it looks like you're trying to adjust the wall length after placing it. So then if it has joined automatically it might not work as shown in the screencast. You could make the blue temporary dimension permanent (click the dimension symbol) drag it to the wall end, select the wall and alter this dimension's value i.e. Disallow join works aswell, or you could draw some lines/refplanes/grid at the correct distance to snap to...

[barthbradley]

Location Line wouldn't have any affect on the length of a Wall.  

...yep, just tested.  😉

[Revit_Whisperer]

Location line does matter when you are drawing the wall initially...see the example in the video link :https://autode.sk/31BMN6z

[martijn_pater]

I am wondering though why it would snap to the center with the join tbh if you have the location line on the exterior, probably related to the wall join behavior... On the other hand, I have yet to encounter the situation where this was/is an issue really. But still, not as intuïtive as it ought to be...

tip: you can also enter the value as calculation, ie. if you have it set to centerline and draw a 100mm-wall startpoint, type "=5000-50" and it will be 5m... also can be used with adjusting the wall length...

[SteveKStafford]

Revit was created with sketch first and refine second in mind. After all I might start with a simple wall with one layer and then change it to a compound type later. I might know I need a rectangular form but not be certain how long it will need to be yet. Sketch the basic shape and then massage the final size as I refine the sketch.

Even with that in mind, as described in the other replies, paying closer attention to the subtle settings of the wall you're sketching will help refine the results you get in the initial sketch. You can also turn on a view's workplane (think graph paper) and set the grid to a module that helps you layout out a design accurately by snapping to the grid. I use a setting that offers a useful multiplier like 4' or 5' squares to snap to, or a masonry dimension friendly module.

FWIW, many of the people I worked with that came from pencil and paper and transitioned to CAD expressed their dislike for the enforced precision they perceived, it felt harder to them to refine a drawing because they found it harder (tedious) to stretch/fix/adjust. Ironic to me that many of these same people found the return of the sketch>refine approach, offered with Revit, counter-intuitive after using CAD for many years.

[barthbradley]

I've kind of lost track about what we're talking about here, but Steve’s got me flashing back to my graphite on vellum days – and that pungent smell of ammonia all around me.  😉

I thought this thread was about a wall that was drawn 23'-3", but dimensions 23'-6". This has nothing to do with Wall Location Line. This has to do with how the dimension is pulled -- and with Automatic Join. If the OP were to Disallow Join, he would readily see what is going on.

@Anonymous: FWIW: you can disable Auto Join and instead use Join Geometry to clean up wall intersections. 

[ToanDN]

If you are learning Revit then do it the more efficient way: 

- round 1: place elements roughly where they are supposed to be

- round 2: place dimensions to those elements and use the dimension values to locate them precisely

The excuse that you must draw everything precisely from the very first stroke usually comes from AutoCAD users, who have a hard time adapt to a new way to work, and that shouldn't be coming from a high schooler learning Revit.

[SteveKStafford]

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@ToanDN wrote:

The excuse that you must draw everything precisely from the very first stroke usually comes from AutoCAD users, who have a hard time adapt to a new way to work, and that shouldn't be coming from a high schooler learning Revit.

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...it might be coming from the teacher/instructor 😉