temporary dimension locations

[kgatzke]

Revit never fails to place the temporary dimensions for a selected item AS FAR AS POSSIBLE from where I'm working.  For example, if I'm working on a sketch and I'm zoomed in on a corner it's almost guaranteed the temporary dimension will be to something outside my current view instead of closer objects or sketch lines IN the view... AND, even if it is connecting to something close the dimension line and text will invariably be ALL THE WAY to other end of the model.  Result, I'm constantly zooming in and out while working to find the dimension for editing.  It's never right there where I'm working.  Is there a fix because the Manage options are very limited.

[barthbradley]

I'm not sure what you are describing, but FWIW...

You can define under Additional Settings, the DEFAULT Temporary Dimension Properties to use, but if you place a Temporary Dimension and then adjust it's Witness Lines for a particular element, that new location is the Default next time TDs show up for that element.  

I'm I getting warm? 

[loboarch]

Temp dims kind of have a mind of their own attempting to measure to something that is meaningful, sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong. There are no real adjustments to make beyond measuring to center or faces of walls and the centers or edges of openings. That is pretty much the only control you have.

Once you make a change to the position of them, they "remember" that change, for what that is worth. 

[kgatzke]

The real issue I'm having is where Revit is placing the dimension line (the horizontal line with the text) because what you have to click if you want to change it.  THAT is always somewhere else off screen.  That's the problem.

And don't say Revit has a mind of it's own.  It has the mind given to it by its programmers and they - for whatever reason (I'm guessing budget here) - did little to nothing when it comes to controlling placement so it appears random to us.  They could have added a rule like "place the dim line as close as possible to the center of current view" in whatever language was used to write Revit but they did not, so it goes somewhere relative to what is being dimmed and I'll be damned if can figure out what THAT is.  It's always never where I'm looking, that's all I know.

[barthbradley]

What are you talking about?

This behavior of TDs before Witness Line manipulation: 

Or, this behavior of TDs after Witness Line manipulation:

[ToanDN]

If you are in sketch mode, there are no harms in placing actual dimensions to control the geometry in lieu of temporary ones. Once you finish the sketch, the dimensions won't show.

[kgatzke]

This...

[barthbradley]

The missing Temporary Dimension Extension Line?  The light blue one in my picture? 

[loboarch]

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@kgatzke wrote:

And don't say Revit has a mind of it's own.  It has the mind given to it by its programmers and they - for whatever reason (I'm guessing budget here) - did little to nothing when it comes to controlling placement so it appears random to us.  They could have added a rule like "place the dim line as close as possible to the center of current view" in whatever language was used to write Revit but they did not, so it goes somewhere relative to what is being dimmed and I'll be damned if can figure out what THAT is.  It's always never where I'm looking, that's all I know.

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I was just using Revit has a "mind of its own" as a way to say as a user you really can't control it. I realize the code has a set of rules.

One of the primary rules is Revit temp dims try to dimension to parallel elements of the same category. So in the case you posted an image of, the line selected is a sketch line, the temp dim is going to another parallel sketch line outside of the view rather than the closer wall elements. I could easily see why the wall would make more sense in some situations and why the sketch line outside of the view would make sense in other situations. I think it is really hard to code up a set of rules that is going to work EVERY time.

Even with the suggestion of centering the temp dim on the view, what happens if I change the zoom level with the element still selected? Redraw the temp dim selecting something different? Leave it on the thing first dimensioned too? Either one of those could be valid but neither one is going to be right EVERY time.

It is just not a simple answer.

[kgatzke]

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@loboarch wrote:

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@kgatzke wrote:

And don't say Revit has a mind of it's own.  It has the mind given to it by its programmers and they - for whatever reason (I'm guessing budget here) - did little to nothing when it comes to controlling placement so it appears random to us.  They could have added a rule like "place the dim line as close as possible to the center of current view" in whatever language was used to write Revit but they did not, so it goes somewhere relative to what is being dimmed and I'll be damned if can figure out what THAT is.  It's always never where I'm looking, that's all I know.

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I was just using Revit has a "mind of its own" as a way to say as a user you really can't control it. I realize the code has a set of rules.

One of the primary rules is Revit temp dims try to dimension to parallel elements of the same category. So in the case you posted an image of, the line selected is a sketch line, the temp dim is going to another parallel sketch line outside of the view rather than the closer wall elements. I could easily see why the wall would make more sense in some situations and why the sketch line outside of the view would make sense in other situations. I think it is really hard to code up a set of rules that is going to work EVERY time.

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That makes perfect sense and I don't expect it select the edge I'm think of, but if I'm zoomed in it should at least not pick things outside of the current view unless what I picked is the only thing visible. 

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@loboarch wrote:

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Even with the suggestion of centering the temp dim on the view, what happens if I change the zoom level with the element still selected? Redraw the temp dim selecting something different? Leave it on the thing first dimensioned too?

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Nothing should change what the other end of the temp dim landed on if the view is zoomed.  That would be horrible.  But it shouldn't put the dimension line out of view is what I'm saying.  I don't see what's so hard to code about that.  Something was written to govern where it draws the dimension line.  It seems they wrote it to always chose an end of whatever has been selected, and if there's a rule as to which end it may have to do with the direction in which the element (line, wall, reference plane, etc.) was drawn.  It may have put @barthbradley's wall dims to the right and thusly  "in view" because he drew the walls from left to right, or vice versa, I don't know.  The problem is a lot of things selected have ends outside of the current view and so if the direction is the wrong way the dimension line ends up out of view.  Maybe I tend to draw things in a certain direction that results in a lot of dimension lines out of view.  I just think they could have done a better job scripting the engine that draws this part of the interface because let's face it, dimension lines are only the tip of the iceberg there.

[Corsten.Au]

Hi

1. There are settings for temporary dimensions.

Temp Dimensions

2. One can select multiple object and activate temporary dimensions..

Revit needs element selected to show relevant temporary dimensions..

Selection

Activation of Temporary Dimentions

Also when there are constraints, Activating dimensions shows locks and reveal constraints shows actual dimensions

Reveal constraints locationActivate dimensions vs Reveal constraints...sketch mode temp dimension...

single element selection shows few dimension related to that ..

multiple line / sketch selection will show some more..

sketch - temp dimensions

[htethan]

yes, I am getting same problem with you, temporary dimensions appear very far from object , while sketching and need to zoom out far. How did you solve , that problem .I want to know

 

[RSomppi]

It's stated quite clearly in this thread that there is no solution. An alternative would be to use dimensions that you can control.