Dimension

What it does

Creates a linear dimension in a Revit view between two or more elements, in the order you give them. The elements it can dimension are:

• grids and reference planes;
• levels (in a section view);
• walls: the exterior face (default) or the interior one;
• family instances: the center left/right plane (default) or the center front/back plane.

For other elements the tool stops and says it cannot dimension them. Your AI finds the element ids in the model, for example with Find elements, or asks you to pick them in Revit with Ask for elements.

Where the dimension line goes:

• if one of the elements is linear (a grid, a reference plane, a wall or another element with a location line), the dimension line is perpendicular to it, shifted by scostamento_mm (default 1000 mm) along the element and extended 500 mm beyond the first and last reference;
• otherwise it runs from the center of the first element to the center of the last, shifted sideways by scostamento_mm;
• or you give it yourself with linea: two points [x, y] in mm, relative to the project's internal origin.

The dimension is created in the given view or, if none is given, in the active view. The result reports the dimension's id, the view name and the value of each segment as Revit shows it. After creating it, BIMit reads the dimension back and checks that it is in the requested view, that it references every given element (and no others), that no segment measures 0 mm and that there is one segment fewer than elements; it also collects Revit's warnings.

How it works

1. Your AI calls the tool with the elements to dimension, in order, and the options (view, face or center plane, offset or line). With prova it can simulate first: it sees what would be added and the model goes back to how it was.
2. BIMit creates the dimension in Revit in a single operation and answers the Revit dialogs that open by itself (default OK). If Revit cannot create it (for example, references that are not parallel or a view that does not suit a dimension), everything is rolled back: the model stays as it was. There is no confirmation in Revit: the dimension is created when your AI calls the tool.
3. BIMit reads the dimension back: verifica, at the top of the result, says ok, warnings or problems, with the ids and what to do. A mismatch does not undo the change by itself.
4. Your AI reports the dimension it created with the segment values; if you ask, also a picture of the area before and after, in the dimension's view.

Example requests

• "Dimension grids A to E in the Ground Floor plan."
• "Let me pick two walls in Revit and dimension the distance between their interior faces."
• "In the section, dimension the levels from Ground Floor to Roof, with the dimension line 2 m from the elements."

What changes and how to undo

It adds a dimension to the view; the dimensioned elements do not change. Everything happens in a single Revit operation, named after BIMit and "quota" in the Undo list: one Ctrl+Z in Revit removes it. With prova the model does not change. If your AI opened a Work session, the dimension can also be removed with Undo the session.

Limits

• Needs the AI level "Write" (the default), which you choose with the "Level" button on the BIMit tab.
• Needs an open, editable project in Revit with no other operation in progress.
• At least 2 elements; linear dimensions only, one per call.
• The references must be parallel and the view must suit a dimension: otherwise Revit does not create it and your AI gets the error.
• Every change to the model can be undone with Ctrl+Z in Revit; team actions ask for confirmation in Revit.

Parameters

Related tools

• Tag