Unexpected Dimension
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The Dimension tool is very useful as a way of visibly stating critical measurements in our model. However, at times we would like to get rid of that data without deleting the measurements for good.
Let's say that we need a rectangle with a dynamically updated dimension at one of the edges. As the dimension is linked to the rectangle, it could be useful to group the two together. It is a good practice to name groups, among other things as a way of facilitating control of the grouped entities. Let's call our rectangle "DimensionedRectangle". Now, the rectangle and related measurement might turn out to be redundant, so we would hide away the group.
Later on, we make use of the Outliner Window as a handy way of controlling the entities of our model. While working in the Outliner the selection may pass over the greyed DimensionedRectangle, and now - quite unexpectedly - the measurement figure and associated graphics become visible.
It is hard to know if this is a designed feature or a wellknown bug. Did anybody else come across this strange behaviour of dimensions?
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Hi Pdonner, hi folks.
The easiest way that comes to my mind is to create a layer that you can call "Dimensions".
Once this is done, assign all dimensions to this layer.
When done, turn off this layer's visibility. All dimensions will become invisible.
Turning the layer visibility on will reveal them.
You can even add more than one layer for the dimensions and put, for example, major dimensions on one layer and secondary ones on another.
Now, to avoid having to toggle a lot of visibility boxes, you can add scenes. Each one can memorize a layer setup. For example, you could have four scenes to control the dimensions as follow:
- scene 1: all dimensions on
- scene 2: all dimensions off
- scene 3: major dimensions on
- scene 4: secondary dimensions on.
The number of possibilities is endless.
Just ideas.
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Thanks Jean for a good answer. That's indeed an elegant workaround for the strange dimension behaviour. I do agree that layers are certainly the most straightforward way of controlling visibility.
But the answer avoids the question. Why doesn't the hidden group hide its dimensions in all contexts?
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Hi Pdonner, hi folks.
My guess is that this is a feature to let you know what is indeed hidden.
Then, it is up to you to right click the name of the group, in the outliner, and choose unhide or simply leave it alone.
Also, if you leave the Outliner while the group is still selected, it will remain selected. Then you can still change your mind and do a right click on the selected group and unhide it. This save you a trip to the View menu to turn on hidden geometry before being able to select and unhide a group, not counting the trip back to the View menu to turn off hidden geometry.
However, I made a test and created a group containing a rectangle with a dimensioned side. When I select the group from the outliner, only the dimension shows. The rectangle stays invisible. This is strange and meybe is a bug.
I need to check this a bit more.
Just ideas.
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@jean lemire said:
However, I made a test and created a group containing a rectangle with a dimensioned side. When I select the group from the outliner, only the dimension shows. The rectangle stays invisible. This is strange and meybe is a bug.
That's the behaviour I tried to describe. We run into the problem all the time, because the group containing a dimension is part of the procedure that we developed for our designs.
Have a look at the thread Scaling of distorted ground floor layout and you'll understand how we arrived at seeing these weird dimensions.
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