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Measuring: Measuring Tape, Angle Measurement and Dimension Lines

Measure distances and angles in Snaptrude, keep dimension lines up to date as you edit, and measure cut and fill on toposolids.

Snaptrude has two measuring tools: the Measuring Tape for distances and Angle Measurement for angles. Dimensions you place with the Measuring Tape stay on the model as dimension lines and update when the geometry they measure changes, so you can keep checking sizes while you iterate on a design.

Before you start

  • Both tools are in the top toolbar in Design Mode and BIM Mode, next to the Section tool.

  • Both tools work with snaps, so you can land on exact points. Hold Alt (Option on Mac) to turn snapping off for a moment.

Measure a distance with the Measuring Tape

  1. Select the Measuring Tape tool. The keyboard shortcut is T.

  2. Click the first point. Use snaps to get an exact start point.

  3. Click the second point. The dimension line stays on the model.

Tip: You can measure vertical distances in 3D, such as a space height, a ceiling height or a wall height. These height dimensions update when the height changes.

Measure an angle

Use Angle Measurement to check angles in your model, for example on a splayed wall or a sloped roof. Select Angle Measurement, then pick the geometry that forms the angle. The tool works with snaps, so you can land exactly on the points and edges you want to measure.

Note: Angle Measurement also measures between reference lines. This is useful when you've set out a grid or construction lines before modeling.

Keep dimensions up to date while you design

Dimension lines are attached to the objects they measure. They work with spaces and every BIM object type. When you change the model, the dimension refreshes to show the new value, so you don't need to measure again.

Dimensions update after:

  • Push-Pull: the value refreshes when you release the mouse. It does not update live while you drag.

  • Edits in the Properties tab of the right panel, such as a space's width or length or a wall's height or ceiling height.

  • Size changes made in Program Mode.

  • Undo.

  • Moving an object to another story.

  • Changing a space to a Space Type that has a different default height.

  • Roof overhang changes.

Dimensions also stay attached when you copy, array or rotate the object. They stay attached if you cancel a move, delete instances down to one, or use Make Unique. Actual distance dimensions re-orient to follow the object after a rotation.

Dimensions between spaces update too. If you move a space, the gap dimension to the next space shows the new distance.

Measure cut and fill on a toposolid

On a site with a toposolid, you can measure the graded terrain. Use this to check distances, slopes and elevation differences on cut and fill regions while you plan grading and earthwork.

  1. Select the Measuring Tape tool.

  2. Click your start and end points on a cut or fill region of the toposolid.

Tip: Turn on the Topography snap under Settings (gear icon, bottom-left) > All Snaps to make it easier to snap to the terrain.

Select or delete dimension lines

  • Click a dimension line to select it. This works at any zoom level in 2D and 3D.

  • To select several, drag a marquee or hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) or Shift while clicking. Ctrl + A (Cmd + A on Mac) selects everything, dimension lines included.

  • If a dimension line sits on an object's edge, hover over the edge and press Tab to cycle the selection to the dimension line.

  • Press Delete to remove the selected dimension lines.

Show dimension lines on sheets

You can bring dimension lines from the design canvas into Present Mode plan views to use them on drawings. They appear in plan views only, not in 3D or elevation views.

Use the Dimension View Settings in a view to show or hide dimensions and to set line color and weight and the font, style and size. You can apply these settings to several views at once with a bulk update. Line style settings for dimensions are labelled Line.

Site setbacks you create with Create buildable envelope also come into Present Mode as dimension lines.

Troubleshooting

Some edits don't refresh dimensions reliably. If a value looks out of date after one of these, delete the dimension and measure again:

  • Changes to voids.

  • Changes to staircases.

  • Changing the thickness of walls made with Sketch to BIM.

  • Changes to instances.

Related articles

  • Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Snapping

  • Push-Pull, Move and Copy

  • Site and Toposolids

  • View Settings in Present Mode

Related Articles
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