Dimensioning walls

Module(s): General: Roofs, Planes, Sections + Basic: Walls, Openings, Components + Special: Walls, Openings, Components

You can use the Dimension Walls tool to automatically create dimension strings for one or more walls. It is possible to create several dimension lines in a single step. The dimension lines are associative.

Example:

A dimension string centered on openings is placed for a wall with a window. When a new window is inserted in the wall, the dimension string will update automatically to include the new opening.

The dimensioning information will also update automatically when the opening in the wall is moved or deleted, or if the width of the opening changes.

The dimension lines you create with this tool can be modified using the Add Dim. Line Point and Del Dim. Line Point tools in the Dimension Lines module. The dimension lines will also update to reflect any ”manual” modifications that you make.

Note: If the walls to be dimensioned are in different drawing files, the associativity is lost.

To automatically dimension one or more walls

1. Click Dimension Walls (How).
   

   Activate Dimension Walls in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Architecture General: Roofs, Planes, Sections

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   General: Roofs, Planes, Sections

   Basic: Walls, Openings, Components

   Special: Walls, Openings, Components

   • Configuration: Architecture Architectural Components flyout
2. If you want, you can now modify the parameters for the dimension line, dimension text and dimension block.
   Several options are provided on the context toolbar for this.
   

   • Click Properties to set the parameters in a dialog box.
   • Click Match Properties to copy the settings form an existing element.
   • Click Load favorite to select saved parameter combinations.
3. Click OK to confirm the parameters.
4. Select the walls to be dimensioned.
   

   • To select a single element, click it.
   • To select elements in a region, use the left mouse button to open a selection rectangle around the elements you want to select
   • To include all the elements in the current document, click All in the Input options or press CTRL+A. Please note that this option is not available for all tools.

   For more information on the options available for selecting elements in Allplan, see Selecting elements, overview.

   When selecting elements, you can use the Filter Assistant to apply a filter based on element types and/or properties. For more information, see Filter Assistant.

5. Click the right mouse button to confirm your selection.
6. Click on a wall line in one of the selected walls. This line will serve as a reference element for the dimension line(s).
   Dimensioning will be performed along this direction element.
7. A preview of the dimension line block is attached to the crosshairs. To change the block’s properties at this stage, click Properties on the context toolbar again and redefine the relevant parameters.
8. You can change the appearance of the dimension block as follows:
   • Click in the Input options to change the manner in which the dimension lines attached to the crosshairs are arranged.
   • Click in the input options to enter an offset between the dimension line block and the crosshairs that corresponds to the spacing between the individual dimension lines in the block. This way, you can join different dimension line blocks ‘seamlessly’.
9. Click in the workspace to position the dimension line block.

Note: If you use Modify Exterior Wall to modify a wall that has been dimensioned using Dimension Walls, the dimension lines are no longer associated with the wall. In other words, the dimension lines will not update automatically to reflect any changes you make to the wall.

Dimension walls, defining styles