moving an object a specific distance from another object.

[Anonymous]

This is a simple action that I can't seem to figure out in Revit. Say I've got 2 objects, I'd like to move one object exactly 2'3" away from the second object. Is there anyway I could do that?

Revit seem to allow me to move an object a specific distance from its original position. but say the objects are 10' apart, would I have to manually calculate the subtraction, or is there a way that I can just type the 2'3"? (instead of figuring out the subtraction equals 7'9")

[Alfredo_Medina · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the forum. 

You can simply start the Move tool, move the mouse in the direction of the movement, type 2'-3" and hit Enter. This is the simplest method.

Or, you can insert a formula into the temporary dimension, as shown below. You can also edit the location of the witness point of the temporary dimension if it's not pointing to the object that you want to use as a reference.

[Anonymous]

simply entering the 2'3" is just moving the object 2'3" from its position. I want to make it so that it is 2'3" AWAY from the second object.

Actually, I just realised that you can just need type it in the temporary dimension. (noob to revit)

[doni49]

I don't know for sure if there's a BETTER way but what I've been doing is placing an actual dimension between the two objects.  Then when I use the move command my dimension shows up as a temporary dimension that I can then edit as Alfredo has described.  Select the wall and the dimension becomes editable -- type in the desired value and the wall moves.  Then I delete the dimension if I don't need it.

Suppose I want to move the wall on the right in the first image so that it's 28'  from the wall on the left.

P.S. The dimension becomes editable after I've selected the wall -- I was mistaken above in that you don't have to use the move command for this.  Changing the dimension takes care of the move.

[Tittel_R_DBI]

I have used archicad for years. Their solution is you  move the object temporarily to the object you want to move it away from and type in, say -100. So it moves it 100 from the object in the direction you moved it from. You could also type +100 to move it past the object. Really useful and saves having to draw a dimension or whatever. This probably is not very clear without diagrams.

[RobDraw]

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@Tittel_R_DBI wrote:

This probably is not very clear without diagrams.

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It also sounds more cumbersome than editing the temporary dimensions that Revit shows when you select an object.

[Tittel_R_DBI]

Archicad version.

1 Select the element you want to move at the point (face, edge...) about which you want to move it.

2 Drag it to the elements face (or point)  that you want to move it from.

3 Type "300-" to move it 300 units back in the direction you came from or "300+" if you want to move in the same direction.

4 That's it.

Revits temporary dimensions seem to be randomly placed on occasion making it a little annoying at times.

Keep in mind I'm not saying anything bad about Revit. I'm just suggesting this works quite well and may be worth adopting.

🙂

[ToanDN]

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@Tittel_R_DBI wrote:

Archicad version.

1 Select the element you want to move at the point (face, edge...) about which you want to move it.

2 Drag it to the elements face (or point)  that you want to move it from.

3 Type "300-" to move it 300 units back in the direction you came from or "300+" if you want to move in the same direction.

4 That's it.

Revits temporary dimensions seem to be randomly placed on occasion making it a little annoying at times.

Keep in mind I'm not saying anything bad about Revit. I'm just suggesting this works quite well and may be worth adopting.

🙂

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Here are the comparable steps in revit:

1. Select the element you want to move and move or align it to the second element

2. Move that element again the specific distance any direction that you want

3. Sit and watch step 3 performed in Archicad

4. Sit and watch 'that's it!' in Archicad

[Tittel_R_DBI]

Thanks for your somewhat humorous contribution. You missed a couple of steps involving selecting the move/align command twice and the almost inevitable wall joining another wall and moving it all together. We could go on all day...

The less keystrokes the better, less time wasted etc. I'll have to explore the exact number when I'm not working.

[Prvoime]

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@Tittel_R_DBI wrote:

Archicad version.

1 Select the element you want to move at the point (face, edge...) about which you want to move it.

2 Drag it to the elements face (or point)  that you want to move it from.

3 Type "300-" to move it 300 units back in the direction you came from or "300+" if you want to move in the same direction.

4 That's it.

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This was one of the things that got on my nerves when I was trying Archicad. That you have to remove your hand from the mouse without giving it the slightest nudge because then the "move" breaks.

But I remember it was even more involved, you had to do @ and the axis in which you wanted to move, like I'm still in DOS and blue screen AutoCAD 9.

[Tittel_R_DBI]

Appreciate the effort you have gone to show how it all works. However this is part of my issue:

Revit picks seemingly random elements to add its temp dimensions to. Why cant it read my mind? 😉 I want to move the circle 110 from the centre of the circle to the wall at the bottom (and a side wall too in some cases). I think anyone can see that having to move the witness lines for the temp dim's 4 times for one wall is far too many clicks for me. Anyway, I'm still re-learning Revit after 10 years away from it.

Cheers

Raoul

[RobDraw]

Have you looked at the temp dimension settings?

Also, the OP made no mention of a wall. It was very generic in nature.

[ToanDN]

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@Tittel_R_DBI wrote:

Thanks for your somewhat humorous contribution. You missed a couple of steps involving selecting the move/align command twice and the almost inevitable wall joining another wall and moving it all together. We could go on all day...

The less keystrokes the better, less time wasted etc. I'll have to explore the exact number when I'm not working.

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Select an object and do something to it is one step in my book.  No sane, reasonable person selects an object and does nothing.  So, if you want to count that one step as two steps then it is your problem.

The bottom line is it is just as simple to achieve the exact same result in Revit.  We don't need to go to ArchiCAD forum to demand they move objects the way Revit does because it is just ridiculous.

[Tittel_R_DBI]

Am I to take it that suggesting a new idea is threatening to you? I'll never suggest anything ever again, except this. Seek some help.

[ToanDN]

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@Tittel_R_DBI wrote:

Am I to take it that suggesting a new idea is threatening to you? I'll never suggest anything ever again, except this. Seek some help.

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Bring this suggestion away with you as well.  It is just ridiculous.

[RobDraw]

There's an IDEAS forum for new feature requests but I would suggest keeping the colorful commentary to yourself when submitting. 

[zhangz0]

AutoCAD has function of "move from" which works like wonder and so accurate, allowing you to move and/or copy anything from any reference points. revit just does not have it seemingly. 

[ccastelein]

AGREED, would be easier with the "move from" command... essentially i just copy the first wall some random distance from itself then activate the temp dimensions redefine them to be from one face to another face and input the distance... seems a bit cumbersome BUT that temp dimension remains and can be verified in the future easily, kinda a perk i guess.

[RSomppi]

People need to stop making comparisons between platforms. It's hard to resist the temptation to fall back on what is familiar but the focus should be with how to accomplish the desired result in Revit. There is usually more than one way to get there. Trying to get it to work like other programs only leads to frustration.

[ccastelein]

Revit is frustration, .... i have been using revit for over 5 years now, and have explored many options on getting the same result by different methods... on this, knowing how it could work the easiest yet not being allowed to, is hard. There are MANY things that i wish it could do, maybe just a little different, that would make it wonderful. 

Recently, i had to go back to acad to do a quick project.... couldn't believe how easy and quick it was, and how accustomed to the slowness of Revit i had become...(especially Revit Server)

but so is life... i know there are many ways to get two walls to be a set distance apart, but i think the "from" option might be the quickest/easiest.. just sayin.

nuff