Another Sketchup question - the dimension tool

On 5/23/2014 7:57 AM, Leon wrote:
> On 5/23/2014 7:47 AM, Swingman wrote:
>> On 5/22/2014 9:10 PM, Dan Coby wrote:
>>>
>>> I am starting to use the dimension tool and I have a problem.
>>>
>>> Here is my example case:
>>>
>>> Starting at the origin, draw a 3 inch line along the red axis.
>>>
>>> From the end of that line, draw a 4 inch line parallel to the green
>>> axis.
>>>
>>> From the end of that line, draw a 12 inch line parallel to the blue
>>> axis.
>>>
>>> Finally from the end of that line, draw a line back to the origin.
>>>
>>> The length of the last line is 13 inches. (It is part of a 5, 12, 13
>>> right triangle. The 5 comes from a 3, 4, 5 right triangle.)
>>>
>>> However I cannot get the dimension tool to give me the length of that
>>> last line. It keeps wanting to give me a projection on the red/green,
>>> green/blue. red/blue, or some other plane. I.e it will give me: 3, 4,
>>> 12, 5, or 12 21/32 inches. The last two values are projections to other
>>> planes.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know how to get the dimension tool to give me the actual
>>> length of the line. I.e. 13 inches.
>>>
>>> Note: The Entity Info box and tape measure tool do give the correct
>>> length of 13 inches.
>>
>>
>> Select the 'Axes' tool|change axes of the line|Set your dimension|change
>> the axis back.
>>
>>
>
>
> Well I wondered WTF that tool was good for. ;~) That works!

LOL ... "mixed plane" 3D dimensioning is problematic because the program
can't read your mind and so does what it does - measures lines in
reference to a plane.

Making a solid is one way, but the 'changing the axes of the line' trick
to conform to how the programs works is much quicker, IME.

Bring the mountain to Mohammed ... ;)

--
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Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://www.google.com/+eWoodShop
https://plus.google.com/+KarlCaillouet/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)

On 5/23/2014 7:47 AM, Swingman wrote:
> On 5/22/2014 9:10 PM, Dan Coby wrote:
>>
>> I am starting to use the dimension tool and I have a problem.
>>
>> Here is my example case:
>>
>> Starting at the origin, draw a 3 inch line along the red axis.
>>
>> From the end of that line, draw a 4 inch line parallel to the green
>> axis.
>>
>> From the end of that line, draw a 12 inch line parallel to the blue
>> axis.
>>
>> Finally from the end of that line, draw a line back to the origin.
>>
>> The length of the last line is 13 inches. (It is part of a 5, 12, 13
>> right triangle. The 5 comes from a 3, 4, 5 right triangle.)
>>
>> However I cannot get the dimension tool to give me the length of that
>> last line. It keeps wanting to give me a projection on the red/green,
>> green/blue. red/blue, or some other plane. I.e it will give me: 3, 4,
>> 12, 5, or 12 21/32 inches. The last two values are projections to other
>> planes.
>>
>> Does anyone know how to get the dimension tool to give me the actual
>> length of the line. I.e. 13 inches.
>>
>> Note: The Entity Info box and tape measure tool do give the correct
>> length of 13 inches.
>
>
> Select the 'Axes' tool|change axes of the line|Set your dimension|change
> the axis back.
>
>


Well I wondered WTF that tool was good for. ;~) That works!

On 5/22/2014 9:10 PM, Dan Coby wrote:
>
> I am starting to use the dimension tool and I have a problem.
>
> Here is my example case:
>
> Starting at the origin, draw a 3 inch line along the red axis.
>
> From the end of that line, draw a 4 inch line parallel to the green axis.
>
> From the end of that line, draw a 12 inch line parallel to the blue axis.
>
> Finally from the end of that line, draw a line back to the origin.
>
> The length of the last line is 13 inches. (It is part of a 5, 12, 13
> right triangle. The 5 comes from a 3, 4, 5 right triangle.)
>
> However I cannot get the dimension tool to give me the length of that
> last line. It keeps wanting to give me a projection on the red/green,
> green/blue. red/blue, or some other plane. I.e it will give me: 3, 4,
> 12, 5, or 12 21/32 inches. The last two values are projections to other
> planes.
>
> Does anyone know how to get the dimension tool to give me the actual
> length of the line. I.e. 13 inches.
>
> Note: The Entity Info box and tape measure tool do give the correct
> length of 13 inches.


Select the 'Axes' tool|change axes of the line|Set your dimension|change
the axis back.


--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://www.google.com/+eWoodShop
https://plus.google.com/+KarlCaillouet/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)

On 5/22/2014 9:10 PM, Dan Coby wrote:
>
> I am starting to use the dimension tool and I have a problem.
>
> Here is my example case:
>
> Starting at the origin, draw a 3 inch line along the red axis.
>
> From the end of that line, draw a 4 inch line parallel to the green axis.
>
> From the end of that line, draw a 12 inch line parallel to the blue axis.
>
> Finally from the end of that line, draw a line back to the origin.
>
> The length of the last line is 13 inches. (It is part of a 5, 12, 13
> right triangle. The 5 comes from a 3, 4, 5 right triangle.)
>
> However I cannot get the dimension tool to give me the length of that
> last line. It keeps wanting to give me a projection on the red/green,
> green/blue. red/blue, or some other plane. I.e it will give me: 3, 4,
> 12, 5, or 12 21/32 inches. The last two values are projections to other
> planes.
>
> Does anyone know how to get the dimension tool to give me the actual
> length of the line. I.e. 13 inches.
>
> Note: The Entity Info box and tape measure tool do give the correct
> length of 13 inches.
>
>
> Dan


Good question. IIRC this was possible in the past, I recall doing that.

But if you simply need to show the dimension in the drawing you can use
the Entity Info to tell you what the length is and then use the "Text"
tool to extend a leader from the line to a Text Box that you can fill
manually with the info of your choice, in this case the actual length.


Alternatively you can make a copy of that line and rotate it to be
parallel to either of the 6 axis and the use the dimension tool... the
Text with leader tool leaves every thing in place however.

On 5/26/2014 8:57 AM, Edward A. Falk wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 5/22/2014 9:10 PM, Dan Coby wrote:
>>>
>>
>> Select the 'Axes' tool|change axes of the line|Set your dimension|change
>> the axis back.
>
> Bloody brilliant, thanks for that tip.
>
> (Meta tip: use the context menu to reset the axes back to the original
> value.)
>

Swingman:

Yes, this works very well. Thank you.


Ed:

I also thank you for the tip about resetting the axes. Knowing that
there is a simple to return to the original axes does take the worry
out of changing the axes.



Dan

On 5/22/2014 10:15 PM, Leon wrote:
> On 5/22/2014 9:10 PM, Dan Coby wrote:
>>
>> I am starting to use the dimension tool and I have a problem.
>>
>> Here is my example case:
>>
>> Starting at the origin, draw a 3 inch line along the red axis.
>>
>> From the end of that line, draw a 4 inch line parallel to the green
>> axis.
>>
>> From the end of that line, draw a 12 inch line parallel to the blue
>> axis.
>>
>> Finally from the end of that line, draw a line back to the origin.
>>
>> The length of the last line is 13 inches. (It is part of a 5, 12, 13
>> right triangle. The 5 comes from a 3, 4, 5 right triangle.)
>>
>> However I cannot get the dimension tool to give me the length of that
>> last line. It keeps wanting to give me a projection on the red/green,
>> green/blue. red/blue, or some other plane. I.e it will give me: 3, 4,
>> 12, 5, or 12 21/32 inches. The last two values are projections to other
>> planes.
>>
>> Does anyone know how to get the dimension tool to give me the actual
>> length of the line. I.e. 13 inches.
>>
>> Note: The Entity Info box and tape measure tool do give the correct
>> length of 13 inches.
>>
>>
>> Dan
>
>
> Good question. IIRC this was possible in the past, I recall doing that.
>
> But if you simply need to show the dimension in the drawing you can use
> the Entity Info to tell you what the length is and then use the "Text"
> tool to extend a leader from the line to a Text Box that you can fill
> manually with the info of your choice, in this case the actual length.
>
>
> Alternatively you can make a copy of that line and rotate it to be
> parallel to either of the 6 axis and the use the dimension tool... the
> Text with leader tool leaves every thing in place however.

Thanks for your comments. I have made some progress on this problem.

If I create a surface that includes the line in my question as one of
its edges then I am able to get the dimension tool to give me the line
length.

This situation occurred while I was trying to determine some pipe
routing. I was using lines to represented the center of the pipe.
So I did not have surfaces associated with the lines.


Dan

In article <[email protected]>,
Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>On 5/22/2014 9:10 PM, Dan Coby wrote:
>>
>
>Select the 'Axes' tool|change axes of the line|Set your dimension|change
>the axis back.

Bloody brilliant, thanks for that tip.

(Meta tip: use the context menu to reset the axes back to the original
value.)
--
-Ed Falk, [email protected]
http://thespamdiaries.blogspot.com/