How do draw a line in the "Z" axis?

[cadkiller]

Group;

This may sound like a silly question; but how do you draw a line in the "Z" axis?
Everytime I try, it asks me to select a plane to work on.
In Autocad I can adjust the UCS and can draw in any direction.
How does Revit work in this regard?

I'm trying to construct a wire frame diagram, to be able to sweep a profile along a sloping arc.

[Steve_Stafford]

...This may sound like a silly question; but how do you draw a line in the "Z" axis?...

In elevation or section Revit doesn't create a work plane at the cut line of these views. So to sketch lines in these views you must either, place a reference plane first and name it, or pick the face of an object in your view. Doing either will define a work plane (surface) that Revit can use to hold these lines.

[cadkiller]

Steve;

Thanks for the quick reply. I was able to create the line on the "Z" axis; but have a problem moving it and having it snap to other objects I created. I guess the snaps don't work because of the work plane. Is it that you can only snap to a line object that is on the current work plane?

[dpasa]

I believe you must move the ref plane, not the line

[Scott D Davis]

You can only work in the x/y of the current plane. You cannot snap to a point that does not fall on that plane.You wont be able to start an arc on that plane, and finish it on another plane.

[JamesVan]

Try Reference LINES instead of Reference PLANES. They connect point to point instead of relying on a work plane.

[beegee]

But, Reference Lines can only be used inside the Family editor.

[knurrebusk]

But, Reference Lines can only be used inside the Family editor.

This is another area that Revit need to mimic Inventor in due time I hope.
Boolean operations outside the family editor would be nice too!
Same with sweeps/fillet/lofting etc (3DS max is great).

[cadkiller]

There should be a toggle that allows for switching the direction between the X, Y & Z axis. This would be useful for wire framing some complex geometry. IMO restricting only working in the X & Y of the current plane is abit of a draw back for a 3D program. I understand that it wouldn't be good to construct an arc like that; but I should be able to snap to lines in other planes.

PS: Autocad allows for snapping lines like this and ADT has the ability to edit AEC objects in any direction using the Ctrl key. When you select a grip the UCS automatically rotates depending on which grip you select.

[knurrebusk]

There should be a toggle that allows for switching the direction between the X, Y & Z axis. This would be useful for wire framing some complex geometry. IMO restricting only working in the X & Y of the current plane is abit of a draw back for a 3D program. I understand that it wouldn't be good to construct an arc like that; but I should be able to snap to lines in other planes.

PS: Autocad allows for snapping lines like this and ADT has the ability to edit AEC objects in any direction using the Ctrl key. When you select a grip the UCS automatically rotates depending on which grip you select.

Yes! this is one of the rare cases that Autocad still impresses me
Besides booleans, and some other stuff he he