How do you dimension to the edge of a pipe?

[aaron.litteken]

I am drawing a large pump station with pipes above the floor. I need to dimension the distance from the floor to the bottom of pipe but revit does not want to select the edge of the pipe.

I have been drawing in detail lines to dimension to but this is getting tedious because i frequently need to dimension to the top or bottom of the pipe or dimension some diameter of a part that is cylindrical from a side view.

Am I missing something or is this the only way?

[SteveKStafford]

Is it safe to assume you are using the TAB key to cycle selection to the bottom or edge of pipe? That's all it should require.

[aaron.litteken]

Yes, that does work on the pipe. Thank you.... I'm so very new to this.

Unfortunately it does not appear to work for other parts.

[SteveKStafford]

Which other parts are you referring to? Pipe Fittings and Accessories will be less respectful of dimensions but you should find the TAB key will cycle through possible references if there are any. You may need to move your cursor to a different location on the family and try again. Generally there needs to be a reference plane or an edge of a solid form available in the family for a dimension to see it. In some cases that might be something you can fix by editing the family so it provides what is missing. That's solved on a case by case situation.

[marchmm2438]

Doesn't work for squat here - pipe in section need a B.O.P to floor  - just want to dimension it - thanks for any help you can offer.

[SteveKStafford]

I just experimented with this in 2025.1. In a section view (cross section of the pipe diameter) I also find that the dimension tool does not recognize the edge of the pipe. It is only actually visible with detail level set to Fine because otherwise we are seeing a symbol representation of the pipe (or duct). In a side view (elevation or section parallel with the pipe length) the dimension does recognize the pipe edge.

I suspect that in a cross section of the pipe that since a pipe might also be sloping that the edge we see in section is ambiguous if we don't also know where the section cut occurs in plan as well. This ambiguity is also why grids don't show up in views that are not perpendicular to them.

A possible work-around for your cross section situation is to use a pipe tag which can report any of these parameter values: Lower or Bottom End Elevation, Bottom of Insulation Elevation, Centerline Elevation, Invert Elevation, Obvert Elevation, Top Elevation or Top of Insulation Elevation. It can also display a "spot" elevation relative to where you pick, assuming the pipe sloping was apparent in the section view.

[tamnt_hcm]

Hi, I think Revit cannot Support dimension edge pipe in view Section, because i cannot do that, now how we can dimension it, do you know have any Tool maybe will help us. Can you share it for me, Thanks