Noob Question on setting elevations

[ccowgill]

Is that the same as the elevation button on the tray? Not really sure.

yes, I believe that is the same as the button, although I believe the button you refer to is the osnapz button, to the right of the the current elevation that is being used. I wish Vanilla had this toggle button.

[dzatto]

yes, I believe that is the same as the button, although I believe the button you refer to is the osnapz button, to the right of the the current elevation that is being used. I wish Vanilla had this toggle button.

Nope, osnapz is a different command. This just sets the Z elevation of the plane that you are drawing on in the XY plane. So if I set it to 15', everything will act just like it does at 0. You can't even tell a difference in the XY plane. But when you view it in an elevation, you can see that all the objects, linework, walls, etc. are 15' above 0.

I assumed vanilla did have it. It seems like a general toggle everyone could use. ~shrug~

[jamesm]

Ok...so lets see if I have this straight. I can draw each floor in its own model space with its own elevation. The way I set the elevation for each floor is by using the elevation command. So I can draw the 1st floor at 0'-0" and then draw the 2nd floor at 15'-0". When I xref one drawing into the other the drawings will be at the correct height.

Thanks again very much
James

[dzatto]

Ok...so lets see if I have this straight. I can draw each floor in its own model space with its own elevation. The way I set the elevation for each floor is by using the elevation command. So I can draw the 1st floor at 0'-0" and then draw the 2nd floor at 15'-0". When I xref one drawing into the other the drawings will be at the correct height.

Thanks again very much
James

It should.

Now for my disclaimer: I'm not using vanilla CAD, I use a vertical (ACA). It should work for you, though. Try it and let us know.

[jamesm]

dzatto...once I get to the second floor I'll give it a try and report back.
Thanks again everyone

[irneb]

Nope, osnapz is a different command. This just sets the Z elevation of the plane that you are drawing on in the XY plane. So if I set it to 15', everything will act just like it does at 0. You can't even tell a difference in the XY plane. But when you view it in an elevation, you can see that all the objects, linework, walls, etc. are 15' above 0.

I assumed vanilla did have it. It seems like a general toggle everyone could use. ~shrug~

Are you sure? Did it change in 2009? From the help in 2008:

OSNAPZ
Type: Integer
Saved in: Not-saved
Initial value: 0
Controls whether object snaps are automatically projected onto a plane parallel to the XY plane of the current UCS at the current elevation.
0 Osnap uses the Z-value of the specified point
1 Osnap substitutes the Z-value of the specified point with the elevation (ELEV) set for the current UCS

I think you mean the sysvar ELEVATION, in which case the help states:

ELEVATION
Type: Real
Saved in: Drawing
Initial value: 0.0000
Stores the current elevation of new objects relative to the current UCS.