One possibility: Dimension visibility is linked to the Partial Structure Display.
For example, if you draw some dimensions using "Core Only" and then change the Partial Structure Display to "Entire Model", the dimensions will not be visible until you switch back to "Core Only". Could that be causing your issue?
Hi PH Homes,
Disappearing dimensions has been part of my ArchiCAD reality for several years. About 2.5 years ago, I was able to capture this problematic behavior via screen recording, shared it here at Graphisoft Community, but for whatever reason, that post seems to be missing. I was hoping to point you to that post. My dimensions went FUBAR just by switching views. In my experience, I've found that simply switching between views of various Partial Structural Display settings will sometimes trigger this. At other times, it doesn't. I've found and attached a link to that video here.
- In this video, note the interior dimension that my highlighted cursor hovers over in the Family Room area at the start of the video. Note, the partial structural display is set to "Entire Model".
- I switch to a view having a different partial structural display (Core Only) at around the 5 second mark.
- At around the 15 second mark, I switch to a model view having a partial structural display of "Entire Model".
- At around the 19 second mark, I return to the initial view and find that the dimension across the Family Room is no longer associated to the wall on the left side. Also, you can see that the dimensions across the Study & Entry have also disappeared.
Note that no user edits occurred while capturing this video. The problem occurred by just switching views. Prior to capturing this and sharing the video, I was told in various different ways by various different users that it was due to some shortcoming in my abilities or training. However, after watching the video, I hope that you can see that this is not the case and that the issue is with the software.
After reaching out and discussing the issue with GSNA Support, they requested my file, sent it to "Tier Two Support" in Hungary and was told that that "they were able to reproduce the problem", and that it would be addressed in a "future update". The future hasn't happened yet, so maybe someday. This issue still persists for me.
It's not enough to carefully dimension a plan once anymore. I must babysit the dimensions to make sure that they are right where I left them. I've tried a number of things when dimensioning, including turning all layers off except for walls & dimensions while dimensioning. My current workflow (after I notice that dimensions aren't staying where I left them) is to add numerous (often hundreds of) hotspots on my drawings, turn off the layers for everything except for these hotspots, and then dimension to those hotspots instead the walls. Not very BIM-like if you ask me, but it eliminates those calls from construction sites when dimensions have disappeared but I didn't catch it before sending it out for plotting. It doesn't instill a lot of confidence in the drawings when stuff like this happens. Sure it's a glitch in the software. Laborers swinging the hammers will surely give me the benefit of the doubt, right? The cost to reprint & rebind plans is also additional collateral damage that someone (AKA, not Graphishaft) must shoulder.
Here's an example of hotspot dimensioning, the only reliable (albeit tedious) workaround that seems to actually work for me until this "future update" actually arrives and fixes the issue.
Here's a link to a post from 2020 where I posted a few times about a similar issues.
Best of luck...
Still looking?
