topic Re: Copy Dimension in Documentation

!Restored: Copy Dimension

Anonymous — Tue, 30 May 2023 13:20:56 GMT

Is there a way to copy and paste dimensions to multiple floors, in AC10 besides the static option?

I need the relative dimensions and should be associated with the floor plan.
Anybody have a easier way to do this for coordinate and regular dimensions?

thanks in advance

Re: Copy Dimension

Laura Yanoviak — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:08:25 GMT

Short answer: no.

You could place hotspots at the points where you need to dimension on multiple floors, associate the dimensions to the hotspots, then copy the hotspots and the dimensions to each floor (the dimension strings will remain dynamic, but infact associated to the hotspots, not the floor plan).

See this related link -- I don't recall if I ever got around to posting a wish list item.

Re: Copy Dimension

Link — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:13:06 GMT

Since they are associative dimensions, you'd need to copy the elements they are associated to as well. Typically these are the walls, columns, slabs, etc. Or as a workaround you could use hotspots as per Laura's suggestion.

This is not much better than using static dimesnions IMHO, as it is a little messy. It would be better to ghost the story with dimensions and place new ones in the same position.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Copy Dimension

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:36:42 GMT

This has bugged me too. Wouldn't adding to dimensions the "show all stories, oneup, etc" selection box that other some other objects have do the trick?

Re: Copy Dimension

Laura Yanoviak — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:35:59 GMT

Wish list item added...

Re: Copy Dimension

Karl Ottenstein — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:46:26 GMT

As with so many things, there is a workaround which keeps things associative to at least one story. It requires that you have a new layer for the dimensions that are to appear on multiple stories. (If you have some dimensions for structural plans and others for architectural, of course, you need more than one new layer...)

Place those 'common' dimensions in the new layer and create a combo and view that displays only those dimensions.

When you place a floor plan on a layout, you'll also place this common dimension view exactly on top of it. As in all versions of ArchiCAD, the alignment of multiple drawings is accomplished via a common hotspot. Place a hotspot somewhere reasonable in the plan on the ArchiCAD layer so that it is always visible (they do not print). Use this on the layout to snap the two drawings on top of each other.

The placement is a one time thing of course, and can even be in your template for future projects. The common dimensions are associative to the floor that they were placed on. The only error/omission concern now is if the dimensioned elements are no longer common...for example an upper story becomes cantilevered. This is still better than the static or hotspot oriented solution which requires editing, stretching, or re-pasting, I think?

One possible workaround anyway...

Cheers,
Karl

Re: Copy Dimension

Laura Yanoviak — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:55:09 GMT

Great idea, Karl! I'm just now coming to realize many of the benefits of "stacked views", and will add this one to the list.

Re: Copy Dimension

Thomas Holm — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:48:21 GMT

Simply brilliant!

Re: Copy Dimension

Scott Bulmer — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:56:12 GMT

Karl,

Your idea of stacking/overlapping drawings on layout sheets should really be considered a standard practice and not necessarily a 'work-around.' It is kind of an additional layering system to augment the actual layering combinations used in defining views.

Thank you so much for all your great ideas.
Scott

Re: Copy Dimension

Karl Ottenstein — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:36:33 GMT

Thanks, guys.

Karl

Re: Copy Dimension

Djordje — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:38:08 GMT

Making the common dimensions static, and then copying and pasting them also works. You can re-link them to relevant elements on stories later, by a simple CTRL click with the dim tool active.

Re: Copy Dimension

rocorona — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:17:18 GMT

Not really what was asked (as no copy-paste of dimensions is possible), but I see a way to link quotations on several stories.
Creating a custom GDL object, with only one (or two) hotspot. It can be set visible on all stories, and quoted. If moved on the home story, all the dimensions at other stories will be updated.
For convenience I suggest to add a parameter to show/hide a simple mark (i.e. a cross or a circle), to easily locate the object to dimension. Then you can select all of them, and switch off that parameter.

Re: Copy Dimension

Anonymous — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:16:01 GMT

No one has mentioned auto dimensioning. Properly mananaged it can be very quick and of course associative

Re: Copy Dimension

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:00:49 GMT

What about one module with dimensions placed on every story?

Create new file, import your original file as hotlinked module, place dimensions and save new file as hotlinked module. Bring new file into original file as hotlinked module and check skip nested modules.

Though I'm not sure how dimensions act with modules when updated.