Noob Question on setting elevations

[jamesm]

I am new to autocad, I am running 2009. I use a third party duct drawing progam that runs thru Autocad 2009. Now my question is how do I set up the drawing to be at zero elevation..or for that matter the elevation that the xrefs come in.(I use arch. drawings as the background).

the next question is how do I set up the 2nd floor elevation...which I assume would be like setting up the first floor elevation.
Thanks a bunch in advance...this site has help me a ton so far!
James

[tedg]

I am new to autocad, I am running 2009. I use a third party duct drawing progam that runs thru Autocad 2009. Now my question is how do I set up the drawing to be at zero elevation..or for that matter the elevation that the xrefs come in.(I use arch. drawings as the background).

the next question is how do I set up the 2nd floor elevation...which I assume would be like setting up the first floor elevation.
Thanks a bunch in advance...this site has help me a ton so far!
James
General questions you need to answer so we can help you better...
Are you drawing in 2D or 3D?
Is the Arch drawing in 3D?

I don't know anything specific to 2009, but if you're drawing in 2D and you want to be at 0 elevation (which is the default) you type on the command line: "elevation" and hit <enter> and then type in "0" <enter>.

Also look into the variable "insbase" you want that set to 0,0,0 too.. for inserting xrefs at zero elevation.

[jamesm]

I am drawing in 3D and the arch. drawings are in 2D.

I hope I posed the question properly. Will those commands make the base z elevation o'-0"? Then for the next drawing for the 2nd floor I would use the 2nd floor finish elevation of 15'-0" as the 0'-0". I need to be able to xref the drawings in so they come in at the proper heights. I hope this makes sense....thanks for the help.

Just a thought I bet I can tell the x-ref what elevation to be.....or can I?

[jaberwok]

As Ted said, 0 is acad's default elevation (z-value).
When inserting blocks or attaching xrefs, you have the option to define the insertion point using 3 boxes labelled x, y and z; just enter the desired elevation in the z box. Or pick any object, including x-refs, and alter the z value in the properties manager. Also, if you snap to any existing object, its x, y and z-values are used (though you can turn that behaviour off).

[jamesm]

Thanks Ted and John
So do most people draw multi-story building with each floor set at zero elevation then when you have to combine(for lack of a better word) them you change the z elevation to what it needs to be when you xref it in? I want to try and follow the standard out there and not go off on my own!
Thanks again
James

[dzatto]

Thanks Ted and John
So do most people draw multi-story building with each floor set at zero elevation then when you have to combine(for lack of a better word) them you change the z elevation to what it needs to be when you xref it in? I want to try and follow the standard out there and not go off on my own!
Thanks again
James
Are you using vanilla autocad or a vertical (like ACA or AMEP)?

I draw all my building in 3D using AEC objects (walls, doors, and stuff). These are in ACA, by the way. ACA has something called project navigator. In it, you set levels for each floor. When you draw, you tell project navigator what level you are drawing. When you design in the drawing itself, you are at a 0 elevation; but when you Xref the other levels, project navigator puts them at the correct elevations.

So, for example, you have your building with the finished floor at 0, and the second floor at 15'. In each of the drawings, they will both be at 0. But you tell project navigator that the second floor is at 15'. You associate the second floor drawings with the second floor level in project navigator. Now, when you Xref the second floor into the first floor, it automatically puts it at 15'.

It's pretty slick. Of course, that's only in ACA. If you're using vanilla cad, then I don't know how you would do it.

[jamesm]

dzatto,
I am using just Autocad 2009 with a 3rd party duct drawing program.

It sounds like I draw each floor at 0 elevation then xref each floor in at it own elevation....if I am getting this.
Thanks again guys

[jlubbert]

By typing in "elevation' on the command line you can set the elevation that you draw at. You would have to be cognisent of what elevation you are at before you start drawing each time you open the drawing. Or you can draw everything at elevation 0, keeping the layers for each floor separate and through properties you can adjust the elevation of all items on that layer.

[dzatto]

dzatto,
I am using just Autocad 2009 with a 3rd party duct drawing program.

It sounds like I draw each floor at 0 elevation then xref each floor in at it own elevation....if I am getting this.
Thanks again guys
You could do that. An easier way is to set you elevation for 15' when drawing the top floor. That changes your default elevation from 0 to 15' (or whatever you set it at). You do it by clicking the button that says elevation in the lower right hand corner of your ACAD tray.

[dzatto]

By typing in "elevation' on the command line you can set the elevation that you draw at. You would have to be cognisent of what elevation you are at before you start drawing each time you open the drawing. Or you can draw everything at elevation 0, keeping the layers for each floor separate and through properties you can adjust the elevation of all items on that layer.
Is that the same as the elevation button on the tray? Not really sure.

[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: :mrgreen: 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 UCSI 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.