Dimensioning Objects in Section/Elevation Views

[TomWaltz]

We are using the section tool to create interior elevations of kitchens and baths.

We have been dimensioning to the hotspots of the cabinet objects in those views.

For some reason we cannot explain, the dimensions randomly either (A) disappear completely or (B) lose points in the chain.

On one chain of dimensions: Dimensions for multiple cabinets will disappear. Then, the last 2 dimensions in that same chain will still be there, but have the point between the two cabinets removed, leaving a single dimension.

Has anyone else had problems with dimensions in section views? Is there anything specific about objects that makes the problem worse?

[TomWaltz]

I sent an email a short while ago on this issue, and have some new information on the problem.

We are using the section tool to create interior elevations of kitchens
and baths.

We have been dimensioning to the hotspots of the cabinet objects in
those views.

For some reason we cannot explain, the dimensions randomly either (A)
disappear completely or (B) lose points in the chain.

On one chain of dimensions: Dimensions for multiple cabinets will
disappear. Then, the last 2 dimensions in that same chain will still be
there, but have the point between the two cabinets removed, leaving a
single dimension.

Of note is that the dimensions were being placed to objects and walls that were not in the user's workspace. Someone else had those layers signed out. The elements being dimensioned were never changed between the time the dimensions were placed and they disappeared.

Is there any possibility that the objects being outside the user's work space caused the problem? Should all elements being dimensioned be in the user's current workspace?

Archicad 8.1 1410, Mac OSX 10.3.2, 1.8 GHz G5

[Anonymous]

Just out of curiosity, in your section/elevation, turn on all layers and see if perhaps the dimension was put on a layer that you weren't expecting to use.

If that is the case, have a layer set called "Sections", and then ensure that the layer used for dimensioning is visible under that layer set.

Grant

[TomWaltz]

That was the first thing I checked: turn on all layers, then rebuild the section.

We already have layer combos and view sets for all that, and it was the first thing I thought might be wrong.

Even that were the problem, it still wouldn't explain the "merging" dimensions.

[Anonymous]

Tom,

If you are sure that the elements dimensioned to were not changed, then it sound like a bug. The most common cause of disappearing dimensions is when an element is deleted and replaced.

[TomWaltz]

I went back through all the Teamwork backups, and the cabinets were there both in the current version, and in all the backups.

The dimensions disappeared in between two "send-and-receive"'s, between which I could not find any difference in that whole part of the building. Of note, though, was that the user who had the cabinetry/millwork layer changed his workspace, and released that layer.

At first I thought the user doing the dimensioning failed to save the work completed, until I saw for myself in the backups.

This is happening in 4 different elevation views, in 3 different rooms, so I can't even pin it on a single user error.

The only common thread I can find is the layers and workspaces involved.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't expect this to be user error. Dimensions have always been a bit troublesome, particularly in section windows. As I said, the only way that dimensions should disappear in the normal course of work (absent any bugs) is if the elements they are associated with are deleted.

The symptoms you describe sound very much like this so I wonder if teamwork is somehow internally simulating this condition. Perhaps Send & Receive is making it appear to AC that some elements have been deleted and replaced (reminds me of an old Steven Wright joke) when they have only been revised. If this (or something like it) is the case then it is something only GS can answer.

The time honored work-around is to make your dimensions static. Yes it stinks, makes more work and creates opportunities for errors and omissions, but at least they won't go disappearing on you.

[TomWaltz]

That's what we ended up doing: making the dimensions static.

Since they are cabinet dimensions, they are all over-ridden to say things like W2430, so it's not that big of a deal.

I just had one ticked-off user who re-dimensioned these cabinets 3 or 4 times while we tried to trace the problem.

I sent this in to tech support, so I'm curious to see their response.

[Laura Yanoviak]

Was this issue ever addressed? The posts that I have found regarding this are 2 years or more old, but it does not seem that the issue has been resolved.

See also: archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=64720#64720

The user who is experiencing disappearing dimensions is working with TeamWork, but with exclusive access.

[Eduardo Rolon]

I posted this sometime ago about AC10 dimensions disappearing

archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=10986