Create dimension in layout

Grasshopper
1

Hi

Is it possible to use Grasshopper to create a dimension in a layout? I’ve tried, but the dimension is always created in model space.

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Background: I am trying to bulk-create dimensions for each part in a project as part of the fabrication ticket drawings. There are a few options to do this, each with pros/cons:

  • Option 1 - Create dimensions in model space. Pros: easy to create. Cons: difficult to manage. Requires parts to be arrayed so dimensions don’t overlap or model layer management to control dimension visibility in detail view. Dimension can also be hidden by the model geometry as the dimensions are ‘3d’.

  • Option 2 - Create dimensions on Layouts. Pros: dimensions are always visible and simple to edit. Cons: Not sure if this is possible with the RhinoCommon API (hence my question). If possible, requires transformation to ‘paper space’. (Naturally, for the dimension to be associative (dynamically update) and show the correct dimension, the reference points need to be model geometry (vertices), not points on a layout.)

  • Option 3 - Create separate drawings using the Make/section tools. Pros: working on 2D drawing is easier than 3d model. Cons: Automating dimensions would be difficult because drawings are not associated with geometry.

For comparison, in Revit, the setup is Model > Views > Sheet. So dimensions are (typically) always on the view. There is no need to dimension on the sheet. And dimension cannot be in the model, as dimensions are view-specific. In Rhino, we only have Model > Layout, which complicates things when it comes to dimensions.

@Japhy @jokamm any ideas?

Layout dimension.3dm (145.1 KB)

Layout dimension.gh (30.2 KB)

2

I’m not using drafthorse.

You can bake into a layout with native Grasshopper Rhino components by specifying the page layout in the visibility input… but it doesn’t bake into the detail yet

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3

Thanks @martinsiegrist

I managed to bake onto the layout. The issue now is getting the dimension correct.

  • Test 1 shows the correct length but the wrong position.
  • Test 2 shows the correct position but the wrong length.

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The issues must be tied to the paper space vs model space issue, but not sure how to fix it. Test 2 seems like the right approach, but to get the correct dimension length on a layout, the dimension must reference Rhino geometry in the detail view (viewport). However, as per this post, I’m not sure it is possible. @AndyPayne any thoughts?

Layout dimension_2.gh (29.1 KB)

4

This request is on the list as RH-91528 GH annotations bake with command history
-wim