Measuring vertically in 3d window.

[Anonymous]

Really simple question - when in the 3d window, how do you measure the vertical height between two points that aren't directly above each other using the measure tool?

The way I would expect it to work would be similar to how it works in 2d - in that you would just hold down shift to constrain the measure tool to the z axis then snap to the other point, and this would give you a true vertical measurement. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work.

To clarify - I want the 2.351 measurement, not the diagonal 2.543 as displayed in the tracker.

[Karl Ottenstein]

Hi Peter,

Yes, this seems an oversight (or bug)? I can constrain in x or y, but not z.

I thought I had a clever idea to change the working plane to be the face of the vertical wall, thinking that that would rotate the axes and I would be able to shift-constrain in that plane. But, that doesn't seem to work with the Measure Tool.

Hmmmm.

Karl

[Anonymous]

Peter,

I read a discussion of this elsewhere. I seem to recall that a 3D document is the only reliable view to get 3D measurements.


Snap

[Anonymous]

Oh well. Thanks for confirming! I was hoping I'd just missed something.

This is such a basic function - I probably have the need to do this several times a day.

I'm astonished we still can't do this in AC15; especially as I thought it was all about modelling freedom in the 3d window! What's the point if you can't quickly check what you have created is dimensionally correct in all directions?

[Link]

Snap wrote:
Peter,

I read a discussion of this elsewhere. I seem to recall that a 3D document is the only reliable view to get 3D measurements.


Snap

W T F ?! Mate, if you don't know the answer, it's better just not to post.

Peter/Karl, the only way I know is to set your user origin at the measure-from point (as you would in any other viewpoint) and measure to the other point, but make the Z measurement relative to the user origin. Or you can set it via the flyout in the coordinate box.

Confusing as hell. Here's a screenshot.

I never use the Measure tool. Just place my user origin where I want it (Shift+Alt) and read my coordinate box. The setting above has to be set first though and it will remain like that until changed again.

Edit: just saw your post about AC15 (I was going by your signature specs) - not sure how it plays in there as I haven't tested it.

Cheers,
Link.

[Anonymous]

I think Snap may have been referring to placing 'dimensions' in a 3d view, as the 'measure' tool is useless in a 3d document? A misreading perhaps?

Link, when the user origin is moved, the correct measurement is shown in the co-ordinate box as you say, but for some reason this isn't repeated in the tracker in AC15 (where you also outlined in red). It always seems to show the level from project zero - any reason why? Is this another bug? It works in AC14 with the same settings.

[Link]

I would say it is a bug, unless GS has implemented a new WE switch and neglected to inform us.

The trusty old user origin measuring method wins again!

Time to update your signature though hey Peter?

Cheers,
Link.

[Laszlo Nagy]

Seems like a bug to me in AC15.
I couldn't get the Tracker to display the correct value.
Report going to GS.

[Anonymous]

laszlonagy wrote:
Seems like a bug to me in AC15.
I couldn't get the Tracker to display the correct value.
Report going to GS.

Thanks Laszlo!