Scope box instead of Shared Coordinates

[pfaudler]

Hi,

Has anybody got any experience on using scope box for project north vs true north, instead of shared coordinates?
I have always used shared coordinates to exchange information amongst the team and various platforms such as DWG,SAT etc..

Recently I have been given Revit ARCH models in which scope boxes are setup for orthogonal orientation of the building instead of using Shared coordinates (and project north true north). Project North and True North are same as "True North". So when I go to Plan view and change True North to Project North nothing happens. Plan still stys in True North orientation. To change plan view to orthogonal I have to use one of the scope boxes setup in the file and then go back to Treu North orientation I have to use "None" in scope box. I find this very frustrating.

I have never used scope box for this (project vs true north) so I dont know what impact this will have on exchaning information with other consultants. If you have any experience with this can you please explain Pros and Cons of both systems?

Thanks in anticipation of your help.

Regards

[twiceroadsfool]

Scope Boxes have a few uses pertaining to controlling the scope of work in different views... IE they manage the extents of Grids, and view Crop Regions, as well as the visibility (through the scope box) of any object tied to it, in all the views in the project.

I wouldnt use it for Project and True North. Its flat out- not the tool for the job, and it will limit you from other things that require scope boxes, for no added benefit.

Plus things wont export correctly.

[cliff collins]

I second that. Use Project Location /Shared Coordinates, not Scope Boxes,
as it is not the intended use.

cheers

[pfaudler]

Thanks very much Aaron and Cliff. That is very helpful.

I was surprised too to see that they were using scope boxes to get orthogonal views.
I have used scope boxed only for multiple plan views cropping reason only.

The team from whom I received these models says that because they were working with Rhino+Acad+Microstation+Revit they had to use scope box in order to exchange information between platforms. They encountered standard Revit message that says "Linked file coordinates are not aligned with shared coordinates of the project. The world coordinate of the linked file will be aligned with project shared coordinates" when they try to import any DWGs/SATs that had same origin as Revit origin. So they spoke to Autodesk (they say) and Autodesk advised to use scopebox and origin to origin so that they can exchange information without any messages etc.. I have never come across this situation before. I have exchanged information with other consultants/platforms such as CADDUCT/ Civils 3D/AutoCAD/Microstation and I have always used shared coordinates. I agree that sometimes we get that standard message when linking DWG/SAT file with shared coordinate. But I just click close and it comes in the right place.

Now that I have shown them that "Shared Coordinates" works they say that we have scope box setup and it works with origin to origin import export so why do we change. I am reluctant to continue scope box for project north. I am sure it will have some impact on collaboration with other consultants in the future and as Aaron said it will have some impact during export as well. I am just not clear where. I am going to run some tests with consultants' files. Also from project management point of view there will be complications because the team would like to create more scope boxes for "Crop View" purpose. So how do we manage "Project North" Scope Box.

Thanks very much for your help.

Regards

[IamIan33]

Hi. This is an interesting article. I agree with using shared coordinates and not scope boxes to manage True North/Project North.

I am experiencing an issue that may be related to scope boxed in a shared coordinate scenario ...

The building model was set up before the site was provided. The building model uses a single scope box, intended to manage crop, grids and levels. It is perpendicular to the building. When I received the site, I linked the building model, aligned the building with the site (x, y and z). Then saved the reconciled the shared coordinates to the building model, just like I've always done.

But the building model does not change orientation when I change to True north. It doesn't seem to matter whether the view is managed by the scope box or not. The linked site model is oriented True North but the building model elements have not rotated to true north.

I am confused by this.

I have removed the building model from the site and relinked it to re-do the shared coordinates but I cannot seem to make this coordinate properly.
If anyone has any suggestions, I am eager to hear ...
Ian