sketchucation logo sketchucation
    • Login
    ℹ️ Licensed Extensions | FredoBatch, ElevationProfile, FredoSketch, LayOps, MatSim and Pic2Shape will require license from Sept 1st More Info

    Dimensioning in Layout not measuring up...

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved LayOut Discussions
    layout
    14 Posts 9 Posters 3.6k Views 9 Watching
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • Dave RD Offline
      Dave R
      last edited by

      Yes, these capabilities have been asked for (ad nauseum) on multiple threads here and there have been official feature requests made. Let's hope that now that Trimble has SketchUp/LayOut and they are willing to put resources into further development of LayOut that we see more refinements in the area of dimensions. We already got automated hyphenation and some other major improvements related to dimensions.

      LO Dim.png
      It can be done if you really want it.

      Etaoin Shrdlu

      %

      (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

      G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

      M30

      %

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • drewD Offline
        drew
        last edited by

        I think that you all are on the right track. What I am actually working with is a building, placed on a Google Earth image accessed thru SketcUp. I placed the buiding on the location, rotated it to the proper orientation and modified the axes to be parralel and perpendicular to the building, also maintaining true North.

        I created scenes of each of the buildings elevations by aligning the view, then changed the camera to parrellel projection. I updated and saved the scenes and sent them to Layout 3. Now this is where the dimensioning gets off and measures angles in 3D rather than orthographically.

        So I'm thinking that it has something to do with the axes change. Any thoughts?

        drew

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Dave RD Offline
          Dave R
          last edited by

          Drew, I put the dimensions in my drawing in inside of LayOut. Those aren't created using sketchUp's Dimension tool. It does show some of what we'd like to be able to do with the Dimension tool automatically. though.

          LO's Dimension tool really doesn't seem to have anything to do with the axes in SU. It's more of a 2D dimensioning thing.

          Etaoin Shrdlu

          %

          (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

          G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

          M30

          %

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • mariochaM Offline
            mariocha
            last edited by

            @arail1 said:

            The moral of this story - Layout dimensions work in 2D views but not in perspective views.

            Exactly !!
            I would add;
            Dimensions in SU works very well, and are linked to model, so they follows modifications. They should be used the most.
            LO dimensions are good for minor or quick additions and 2Ds.
            my 2¢. 😄

            %(#008000)[Mario C.
            Every rule has exceptions, but some.]

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • arail1A Offline
              arail1
              last edited by

              @mariocha said:

              Dimensions in SU works very well, and are linked to model, so they follows modifications.

              I would half agree.

              The attached image is from Rhino which has some advantages over SketchUp - the layout size of dimensions is controllable unlike in SketchUp where the dimension size goes wonky when you zoom in and out, and you can set standard dimension styles - slash vs ticks, font, etc.

              But Rhino has some downsides also - notice that it's a raster image. I can output the geometry with clean vector lines from Rhino but if I want to have dimensions I'm stuck with raster.

              Ultimately, I'm disappointed that the layout functions of SketchUp continue under the reign of Trimble to be a separate program. Much as I can see why that makes sense for someone building the elaborate pages that are often shown in these threads, for someone like myself who is being hammered left and right by clients and fabricators for rapid fire changes throughout the day, it's not very useful. Ideally I want to be able to work right in the modeling field with full annotations - dimensions, text, leaders, etc in 3D.


              DimensionsTestRhino3.jpg

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Dave RD Offline
                Dave R
                last edited by

                For me, dimensions in LO work well enough and I find no need to use those in SketchUp. We'll see more improvements in the next version and I'm fine with that.

                Etaoin Shrdlu

                %

                (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

                G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

                M30

                %

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • S Offline
                  sonder
                  last edited by

                  If Layout didn't work like this, then you could not dimension perspectives. To me this is a strength, not a weakness.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • JQLJ Offline
                    JQL
                    last edited by

                    I just have trouble dimensioning in 2D when I mix layout and skecthup lines. But then I turn off auto-scale and choose the scene scale for dimensioning.

                    If you are having trouble with dimensions on 2D views why don't you disable auto-scaling and dimension with a chosen scale.

                    Like Sonder says if you want to dimension something in full perspective mode, layout does that perfectly.

                    Sketchup dimensions have two problems that should be adressed.

                    1 - Angular dimensioning (you can download a plugin for that)
                    2 - Styles are not controlable in Layout.

                    Layout dimensions have limited styles features for managing extension lines styles independently from the dimension line and auto placement of numbers when they don't fit in dimension lines. Sketchup has a feature for placement of text outside the dimension line that should be available in Layout too.

                    www.casca.pt
                    Visit us on facebook!

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • J Offline
                      Jim57
                      last edited by

                      Mariocha—

                      Dimensioning in Sketchup, while convenient, does not work well.

                      Dimensions are fixed in space in SU. Shifting the perspective often puts them in awkward places.

                      Transferring the drawing to Layout then makes even more of a hash of it. First, there is no easy reference in SU to tell you how far away the dimension is in 3-space, and often measurements are at an inconsistent distance, or out of proportion to the drawing. With each edit, there is a risk of shifting perspective, then having to go back to SU, re-edit, re-save, refresh Layout, and check every view for conflicts.

                      Would that it were not so, dimensioning in Layout is a nightmare.

                      Jim

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • mariochaM Offline
                        mariocha
                        last edited by

                        Well Jim,
                        I guess I have been working with SU for so long now, and got so used to it, cause I seem to always find a way to make dimensions work for me. Be it in parallel views or 3D. It does take a while to integrate dimensioning in 3D. One has to forget 2D habits.
                        Using the Advanced settings, especially "Hide when foreshortened", helps a lot.
                        Yes, It, indeed, involves a lot of switching between SU & LO. It got faster with 2013.

                        %(#008000)[Mario C.
                        Every rule has exceptions, but some.]

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • Mike LuceyM Offline
                          Mike Lucey
                          last edited by

                          Guys,

                          I have little difficulty dimensioning what I need to in SketchUp or Layout. Then again my dimensioning is pretty straightforward, plans and sections.

                          I find one really has to think ahead and plan for dimensioning awkward views. Not ideal I know but thats what we have for the moment.

                          Hopefully dimensioning ability will improve for LayOut in particular. We have to remember that the application is was called 'LayOut' for good reason, not DraftOut or similar. It was brought out initially as a convenient way to show SketchUp output. In all fairness it has come a long way since version one and I imagine will continue to improve as time goes on.

                          To be honest, I would have to say that LayOut has had more improvements than SketchUp over the past couple of years, so this gives me hope that it will continue to improve. Maybe to a level that the 'Layout' name does not properly describe the ability on the application.

                          Mike

                          Support us so we can support you! Upgrade to Premium Membership!

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • 1 / 1
                          • First post
                            Last post
                          Buy SketchPlus
                          Buy SUbD
                          Buy WrapR
                          Buy eBook
                          Buy Modelur
                          Buy Vertex Tools
                          Buy SketchCuisine
                          Buy FormFonts

                          Advertisement