How is default detail component 'Nominal Cut Lumber' built

[jc8000]

Does anyone have any insight into how this default component is made? I am puzzled as to how the two lines in the center are connected to the corners of the filled region. All I can find is there is a Linear Dimension constraint applied to them:

But nothing is displayed on the drawing. Using the Reveal Constraints tool also shows nothing.

If you make new type for this family you can modify the length and width of the cut lumber section and the two crossing lines move with the rectangular filled region, ie the two crossing lines always have their endpoints in the corners of the filled region. It is this behavior I would like to understand.

Any ideas?

[ToanDN]

Generally you don't have to do anything special to constrain them because Revit is smart enough.  See screencast.

[barthbradley]

Funny; I've often wondered how this "intelligence" works myself. Even without "guy lines", Revit seems to instinctively know what it's supposed to do. 

[ToanDN]

If you turn on temporary dimensions you will see how it works. In the screencast I did lock the masking region sketch boundary to the reference planes out of habit but I am almost certain that was not necessary.

[barthbradley]

Don't you mean check (turn on) "show annotation categories in this view" in VG Overrides? 

[ToanDN]

Since temporary dimensions are under Annotation so I guess it is a Yes.

[barthbradley]

Nope....no "Temporary" Dimensions here. You must be on the 2019 beta version. 

.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

Yeah I think it pronounced Automatic Sketch Dimensions.

[barthbradley]

FOUND IT! It's on the Temporary Visibility and Graphics Override (keyboard shortcut: "TVG"). 

...or, Automatic Sketch Dimensions, if you prefer. 

[barthbradley]

Too soon to bring back Kevin Spacey? Now would be prefect, @ToanDN. 

[ToanDN]

[barthbradley]

LOL!!! Yes! It's time you brought him back! It's just way too funny to retire. 

Thanks for sharing it again. 

[loboarch]

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@ToanDN wrote:

Yeah I think it pronounced Automatic Sketch Dimensions.

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There are a number of things that "just work" when authoring families due to "automatic sketch dimensions". In most cases they are doing what you want without you even knowing it so you never need to mess with them, that is why visibility of them is off.  You should only need to turn them on for trouble shooting.

[jc8000]

Is it at all confusing to anyone that when trying to drag the end point of one of the crossing lines the error that comes up refers to the line as having a 'Constraint' but to actually see that 'Constraint' you have to turn on Automatic Sketch Dimensions? Using the'Reveal Constraints' tool doesn't apply to what is referred to as a 'Constraint'.

Anyway, thanks for the help.