How to get a dimension of a curved shaped family?

[BBV90]

I am trying to get dimensions of all sides of the generic model in the sheet layout but it gives me linear dimensions. Arch Length option doesn't even let me select on the family. Only angular works but that's what I need. AutoCAD gives you the length of the side you want. Are there is any way I can do this in Revit? 

[barthbradley]

Yeah, it's tricky. Let me see if I can explain it. 

1. Activate Arc Length Dim

2. Select Arc Segment

3. Hover mouse cursor over Endpoint 1 and TAB-Select until you get a Blue Dot

4. Hover mouse cursor over Endpoint 2 and TAB-Select until you get a Blue Dot

5. You should see Arc Dim now 

NOTE: as you hover cursor around and TAB-Select to find Endpoint 1 and 2, it will being displaying a circle with a slash.  Just proceed along.  

[BBV90]

Thanks for the reply 

What do you mean by activating Arch Length dim? Selecting Arch Lenght is activating, right?

I did try it but it doesn't even let me select the line or the endpoint.

I tried drawing reference lines on top and I was able to use the Arch Lenght but the reference line isn't drawing correctly as well. I can't even use the optıon 'pick lines' from reference lines. 

[barthbradley]

Post your family. Let's see if I can arc dimension it.  

[BBV90]

Thank you 

[barthbradley]

That is a mighty strange shape.  I cannot dimension it in Revit. I cannot even imagine how I could dimension it in AutoCAD.  Why are you trying?  Just to clarify; you are wanting to dimension this component in a Project View; right? 

[BBV90]

I have many more like this I have to lay all in a sheet with dimensions. 

[barthbradley]

I understand you want to dimension it, but for what reason?  Fabrication?

It is not possible to dimension it.  The faces/edges are not parallel to any view plane.  Even if you could pull dimensions in the view, they would mean nothing. They would have no value.  

Maybe I'm just not understanding you correctly.   

[BBV90]

yes for fabrication.

I guess there is no way doing it in Revit.

we'll keep doing it in AutoCAD.

Thank you for your time. 

[barthbradley]

How are you doing it in AutoCAD?  That information might help me understand.  I guarantee, if it can be done is AutoCAD, it can be done in Revit.  Maybe even better.  

[BBV90]

We're doing it as 2D in AutoCAD that's why we are trying to do it in Revit. Not to turn in to 2D. We believed it would've been faster if there was way. 

[constantin.stroescu · Accepted solution]

you will not be able to put Dimensions to a Spline neither in Revit  nor in AutoCAD...Only Arcs and poly Arcs can have length dimensions.

Now, about your Form.... as I can see there is a double curvature here so it will be rather impossible to Dimension (the real length of the edges) in Revit.

If you want to find the Length of these Edges , then a very handy way it will be by using a simple Dynamo function:

Select Edge > Curve Length...... and the true length of the curve will be displayed.