8 replies to this topic

[Steve Gray]

Is there a dimension setting that will automatically provide additional dimension strings.  For example, attached is clip from the front of a garage wall.  It would be helpful to have an additional string with the overall dimension of the front of the wall?  Total 23-2 3/4. Extremely helpful visually checking dimensions between drawings.

 

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[JOHN PATTERSON]

Don't quite understand your question. You can easily add another dimension line to achieve what you are looking for. On another note. I noticed that your overall dimensions were in fractions of an inch. I usually design in 4" increments for the exterior footprint. That helps me find discrepancies if I have an exterior dimension that is something other than a 4". Out of curiosity how many out their design to a similar design parameter?

[Doug Stephenson]

Hi John.

I was a tradesman, framer, before getting into the building business.

Plan sets that were handed to me were typically created by someone

who had never been in the field. As a builder, the easiest builds used

4" increments in the beginning stages. Concrete block and brick, using 4"

dropped my waste considerably, and made budgets more accurate.

Sometimes it's not possible with complex footprints.

Doug

[Mark Petri]

Automatic dimension strings are goofy when anything other than a basic rectangle is drawn. I've seen where an extension line decides it is best to come off the inside of a bearing wall instead of the outside. Or, they'll adjust to the center of a wall when making changes. Or, they jump to outside of sheathing or some other odd increment. I don't trust them. I most often manually place my dimensions as I've learned not to trust the automatic dimensioning. Nice thing about that is you can put whatever string in you want based on your wall definitions and placement of extensions and dimensions.

[Steve Gray]

Thanks for the responses.  Since there is no other option, I will start generating dimensions manually. Wish list - additional dimension feature similar to AutoCAD.  

[Keith Almond]

Thanks for the responses.  Since there is no other option, I will start generating dimensions manually. Wish list - additional dimension feature similar to AutoCAD.  

 

What are you specifically looking for. You can dimension anything you want...

[Mark Petri]

Keith,

 

He is looking for more automated dimension string settings. He wants to be able to define a parameter that SP uses to automatically generate dimensions for a total length of a wall even when it has bump-outs or other offsets that SP just cannot seem to understand. In my experience some situations work, some do not. I personally dislike the automatic dimensions as they get messed up easily.

[Matthew Dunson]

I think SoftPlan chose to avoid this type of automatic dimensioning since if you have a house for example with 4 changes of direction along the front fascade, how will the software determine which walls to group for total lengths? Will it do the two segments on the left and two on the right? The two in the center? SoftPlan instead dimensions each wall length separately and a total length of a fascade. It is relatively easy to just extend the dimensions from the wall offsets you prefer and add a new total dimension for that section of walls in my opinion since I also do not use the auto dimension feature most of the time and manually draw in my extension lines on my final plans from the desired wall edges and openings to have more control on my drawing rather than trying to go back in an auto dimension and do the cleanup (but the feature is still great to have for quick dimensioning).

[JOHN PATTERSON]

I usually do auto dimension then go back and edit the dimensions that I need to edit. Seems quicker that way rather than drawing a bunch of extension and dimension lines. Also, as I edit dimensions, I am also doing overlays to make sure walls are matching up from floor to floor. The last check is to view in 3D to make sure there are no discrepancies.