dimension center lines

[clarkitekt]

Does anyone know specifically how the automatic center line mark works when dimensioning? What I have is an elevator call button family which has two intersecting reference planes (one vertical and one horizontal if you are looking at the button in elevation). When I dimension horizontally to the center of the call button it shows the CL mark, if I dimenion vertically to the centerline (from the floor) it does not. Both center are marked with reference planes set to be the origin. Seems kind of strange, but I can't get the vertical dimension to work...

Thanks in advance,
Brad

[sfaust]

I assume they are the same dimension style? maybe post the file...

[clarkitekt]

Yes, same dim style. The file should be attached. Thanks for your help

[beegee]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but don't you want to dimension from the edge of the extrusion to a reference plane, both horizontally and vertically, and set those dimensions as equal locked, so that call button remains centered on the two reference planes regardless of its parametric size ? If thats the case, you will not see a centerline dimension mark anyway.

But, if you want a centerline mark for some purpose, you would load the centerline symbol from the Annotations family and then set your dimension properties to use that loaded symbol.

[sfaust]

took me a second to figure out what you wanted as well. Beegee, if you use this family in a project, then dimension to the cenerline using a dimension style with a centerline mark, the centerline mark does not show up when dimensioning to the horizontal cl.

Brad, this is because your reference plane was not set to be the centerline. You had it named that, but under reference type, it was set to "weak reference" and should have been set to "centerline elevation" so that Revit will know that it is the centerline. See attached family:

[clarkitekt]

Ah hah. Thanks, I thought I had checked that though...looks like I only tagged it on the vertical dimension. Duh.

BeeGee, It's not a very well built Family, I tend to make a family for a particular situation, and then give it parameters as I need them.

Thanks a lot!

[mlgatzke]

Something to keep in mind for future reference (as I understand it):

A dimension will automatically snap to any reference plane in a family that is set as a Strong Reference.

A dimension will snap to a Weak Reference reference plane if you use the Tab button to get to it.

You cannot attach a dimension to a reference plane that is set as Not A Reference.