How to get a parallel wall an exact distance from another

[Anonymous]

How do I create a wall that is an exact distance and parallel to another wall, beam or other element? I am a new user and the parallel perpendicular constraint tool is clear to me, but I don't know how to measure a specific distance and place the parallel wall, especially when it is a skewed angle. For that matter, I would like to know how to measure distances in general, without going through the dimensioning process.

[Anonymous]

Michael,

What I do to create a parallel wall (or anything else) is select the wall, "drag a copy", then pick a point on the opposite side of the wall to where you want to copy it, move your cursor onto the wall to get the perpendicular cursor, hit the R key then type in the distance, then enter. Done. As for distances, just select the line tool, pick your first point, hover over your second point and look in your co-ordinates box, the distance will be displayed there, cancel the command instead of picking the second point of the line.

HTH

[Anonymous]

Michael,

What I do to create a parallel wall (or anything else) is select the wall, "drag a copy", then pick a point on the opposite side of the wall to where you want to copy it, move your cursor onto the wall to get the perpendicular cursor, hit the R key then type in the distance, then enter. Done. As for distances, just select the line tool, pick your first point, hover over your second point and look in your co-ordinates box, the distance will be displayed there, cancel the command instead of picking the second point of the line.

HTH

[Anonymous]

it is interesting to me how little documenation this simple, but fundementally important act has in the manuels.

what i do it use the point tool and make a point on the original wall on the side i want to measur from. then hit "X" or "Y" depending on directon i want to measure in and then type feet and inches (w/ or without - sign as needed) distance and then hit enter. a new point will appear the set ditance away. then i hook a wall to that point.

donald mac donald

[Anonymous]

Great, thank you. It is very comforting to know that I can get a reply to questions so quickly. Archicad is an excellent program but it isn't very intuitive for me, so I need all the help I can get to get up to speed as quickly as I would like.

[Barry Kelly]

Michael wrote:
How do I create a wall that is an exact distance and parallel to another wall, beam or other element? I am a new user and the parallel perpendicular constraint tool is clear to me, but I don't know how to measure a specific distance and place the parallel wall, especially when it is a skewed angle. For that matter, I would like to know how to measure distances in general, without going through the dimensioning process.

Try using OFFSET tool rather than parallel.

Activate OFFSET tool.
Define the start and end point along your existing wall.
Change the side of the wall reference line if necessary.
Move the mouse in the direction you want.
Press "R" and type in the distance you want.

You can do this with a single wall or a continous wall.
Also for any other tools - beams, slabs, fills, etc.


As for distance, place the user origin where you want to measure from.
Activate origin tool and place or hold ALT & SHIFT and wave mouse over a node and it will place automatically.
Make sure the DELTA (triangle) buttons are pushed in on the co-ordinate box.
Now where ever you move the mouse you will have the X, Y, radius and angle displayed in the co-ordinate box.

Double click the origin tool to send it back to the default origin position, or just ignore it and place it again when needed somewhere else.

Barry.