Measuring problems in Teamwork

[Bruce]

I've inherited a file from someone (externally) who has turned all the elevations & sections into drawings. Problem is they're inaccurate and I need to update them with correct window sizes etc.

However, I'm in a teamwork file and someone else is working on the plans and I'm on the elevations. How do I measure the size and location of a window if I can't use the line tool to measure with (i.e. I'm locked out of the plan space)? A measure tool would really be useful right about now.

[Link]

Who uses the line tool to measure??

Simply hold shift + alt down and hover your cursor over the 'measure from' node. When your user origin relocates there, let go of shift + alt (but be sure to let go of shift first). Then simply hover your cursor over the 'measure to' node and read the distances in the co-ordinate box. You can use the x,y,r,a keys to copy and paste those measurements if you need to.

To return your user origin back to the project origin, simply double click your user origin button in the co-ordinate box.

Basic stuff - but a lot of people miss it.

Cheers,
Link.

[Bruce]

Thank you Link.

However, I would respectfully and meekly disagree that it's basic stuff. I missed it precisely because it's cryptic, not basic. In my opinion a measure tool would be basic stuff.

BTW - I use the line tool to measure because that's what I was trained to do by my local ArchiCAD distributors / trainers.

[Bruce]

I think I need to reinforce that I appreciate your reply - it has certainly helped (after reading my post I thought I sounded a little ungrateful).

Cheers

[Link]

No worries mate - I actually got a kick out of it.

I'll be down there soon - where are you?

Cheers,
Link.

[Bruce]

Auckland

[TomWaltz]

Bruce wrote:
Thank you Link.

However, I would respectfully and meekly disagree that it's basic stuff. I missed it precisely because it's cryptic, not basic. In my opinion a measure tool would be basic stuff.

BTW - I use the line tool to measure because that's what I was trained to do by my local ArchiCAD distributors / trainers.

I think what Link means is that it SHOULD be covered in basic training, even though it may not be. A lot of trainers focus on all the "gee-whiz" features almost like the sales reps do, instead of actually how to use the program in a professional setting.

That's why I like guys like Link, Karl, Matthew, and some others who not only teach, but can dust most "power users" in actual usage.

[Rob]

Simply hold shift + alt down and hover your cursor over the 'measure from' node. When your user origin relocates there, let go of shift + alt (but be sure to let go of shift first). Then simply hover your cursor over the 'measure to' node and read the distances in the co-ordinate box. You can use the x,y,r,a keys to copy and paste those measurements if you need to

well, the problem is when you want to measure a perpendicular distance to the target for example (the most common measurement that we do on plans, I recon) and you're scr..ed mate. so may be we should have some tool for measurements (??)

[Djordje]

Rob wrote:
well, the problem is when you want to measure a perpendicular distance to the target for example (the most common measurement that we do on plans, I recon) and you're scr..ed mate. so may be we should have some tool for measurements (??)

Any linear tool will do ... wall, beam, polyline.

Or, click on the line that represents the window width and open Object info. It will tell you the lenght.

[Bruce]

What's wrong with a measuring tool? We wouldn't be having this discussion if there was a measuring tool

Hypothetical: Two walls meet at an acute angle in a workspace that isn't reserved for you. How do you measure perpendicular to the wall that doesn't run in either the x or y axes? Opening the window tool to read the distance doesn't work because you're after the positioning, not the size.