Master Dimension

8/21/22, 2:21 PM 17 Tips to Master Dimensions in Revit — REVIT PURE
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17 TIPS TO MASTER
DIMENSIONS IN
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May 31, 2022

/ Nicolas Catellier
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This guide takes a deep dive into Revit
dimensions. You will learn the difference
between the different types and you’ll
17 TIPS TO MASTER
master the type properties to create all DIMENSIONS IN REVIT
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3 DYNAMO SCRIPTS TO
There are multiple types of dimensions in AUTOMATE INTERIOR
Revit. In this post, we’ll focus on the DESIGN IN REVIT
Aligned type, which is the most Jan 12, 2022 ·
3 Comments
commonly used. However, the features
are similar from one dimension type to
another. 6 TIPS TO MASTER DOOR
SCHEDULES IN REVIT
Before going through advanced Jan 6, 2022 ·
6 Comments
dimension parameters, let’s do a quick
overview of the basic features. Create an
aligned dimension by using shortcut DI.
You must click on references to create
the dimension. Use the tab key to cycle  Blog RSS
between close references.
When you click on a dimensioned

element, the value becomes blue.
Change the value and the element moves
Dimensions can be used with multiple

references. Click a point in the white void
to complete the dimension. Use the Edit
Witness Lines tool in the contextual tab to
adjust the references.
2- UNDERSTAND
DIMENSIONS TYPE
PARAMETERS
For the Aligned Dimension type, there are
42 type parameters. That’s quite a lot!
Let’s go through them.
3- UNDERSTAND
CONTINUOUS VS
BASELINE VS ORDINATE
The first parameter that can be modified
is Dimension String Type. There are 3
options: Continuous, Baseline and
Ordinate. In the image below, you can see
the difference between the types. In the
next pages, we’ll focus on the Continuous
option, which is the most commonly
used.
4- SET WITNESS &

DIMENSION LINES
OPTIONS
Dimension Line Extension refers to
extension lines perpendicular to the
elements being dimensioned.
Witness Line Extension refers to exterior

extension lines parallel to the element
being dimensioned.
Witness Line Control: There are two

options: Gap to Element lets you decide
the distance between the element and
the witness line. Fixed to Dimension Line
lets you set a specific length for the
witness line.
Witness Line Gap to Element controls the

default distance between the
dimensioned element and the witness
line. Only available if you use the Gap to
Element option.
This is the default distance. It is possible

to customize this value of each
dimension instance by selecting the
dimension and dragging the blue dots of
the witness line.
Witness Line Length: When the Fixed to

Dimension Line option is selected, you
set a specific line to the entire witness
line. Distance to the element doesn’t
matter.
Leader Type: pick between arc and line.

The leader only shows up if you move the
dimension value away.
5- SET TICK MARK

STYLES
In the next tip, you’ll learn how to assign
tick marks. But first, you need to learn
where to find these styles and create your

own.
Go to the Manage tab. Click on Additional

Settings. Under Annotations, select
Arrowheads.
Here, you can see all styles available in

your project. You can create a new style
by duplicating an existing one. Here are
examples of tick marks you could create
and use:
6- SET TICK MARKS

Now that you’ve created multiple tick
mark styles, you can assign them. There
are 4 different mark parameters you can
set.
The first is the Witness Line Tick Mark,

which is placed at the extremity of the
witness line. This isn’t used very often.
Then, there is the main Tick Mark

parameter. This is the tick you are most
likely to use. You can see two different
options below.
Notice that in case of a line being used,

you can set the width of the tick with the
Tick Mark Line Weight parameter.
Then, you can set a Leader Tick Mark. It

only appears if you drag the value away
from the dimension.
7- SET CENTERLINE
OPTIONS
The centerline options automatically
appear when you dimension an object
based on its center. For example, we
dimension a round family with a witness
line in the center. Three parameters can
be used here: The Centerline Symbol,
with the CL letter. Then, the Centerline
Pattern, which is a dash. Finally, the
Centerline Tick Mark, which is a filled box.
The centerline visual settings are only

active when the dimension witness lines
are referring to the center of an element.
The other parameters use the standard
settings.
The Centerline Symbol is a loadable

generic annotation .rfa family.
8- SET INTERIOR TICK

LINES
The Interior Tick Mark appears whenever
you have three or more witness lines. The
extremities use the Tick Mark option,
while the interior references use the
Interior Tick Mark.
As you can see below, we use an arrow

tick mark with diagonal lines for the
interior.
There is an option called Interior Tick

Mark Display. The Dynamic option will
typically ensure that the Tick Mark value
is used everywhere, including for the
interior marks. Use the Always Show
option to display the Interior Tick Mark
you’ve selected.
9- THE “ARROWS” TICK

MARKS AUTOMATICALLY
REVERSE WHEN
DIMENSIONS ARE TOO
SMALL
If the arrows are too tight, they will
automatically reverse and place
themselves on the exterior side of the
dimension instead.
Arrows will not display if they are used in

the interior and if the dimensions are too
tight.
This behavior is specific to Arrows tick

marks. For some reason, you cannot
select an arrow tick mark for the Interior

Tick Mark.
10- SET DIMENSION

COLOR
In the type properties, you can switch the
dimension’s color. It has an effect on the
entire dimension: the witness lines, the
tick marks, the leader, the text, etc.
11- SET DIMENSION

SNAP LINE DISTANCE
Dimension Snap Line Distance controls
the default distance between two
dimensions. Revit will “snap” the
dimension in place at this distance. You
can always “override” the snap and move
the dimension beyond this specific
location.
12- SET TEXT OPTIONS

Setting the text options is quite
straightforward. Here are the 12 options
you can set:
While most of these parameters are self-

explanatory, some of them deserve
further clarifications. The Text Offset
controls the distance from the dimension
line to the text:
Text Location lets you decide between

Inline and Outline. This refers to the
leader line, which will either be below the
text or next to it.
Show Opening Height name isn’t quite

accurate. It doesn’t display the “opening
height”, but simply the height of the
dimensioned element. For example, it will
display 600mm for a window with a
height of 600mm.
This dimension only shows up when

dimensioning elements with a height
parameter. The dimension must be
placed on the precise width of the
element to display the height.
Read Convention is used to indicate how

the text should be displayed for vertical
dimensions. Typically, Up, then Left is the
acknowledged graphic standard. Try
other options if you want.
Suppress Spaces controls if there is a

space between the number value and the
prefix/suffix. Only has an impact if prefix
and/or prefix are used. Check out tip #14
for more info.
13- SET PRIMARY AND

ALTERNATE UNITS
Let’s explore the units options. First, you
need to set up the primary units. Typically,
this uses the project settings.
You can override the primary units. For

example, you could decide to set
additional decimal for more precision and
add the unit symbol.
Then, you can set a Secondary Units. In

this example, use Fractional Inches. For
clarity, we will use brackets for prefix and
suffix. We then set the value to display
Below.
Since Revit 2022, you can set up a prefix

and suffix for the main units. For example,
you could use the ± symbol in the type
properties.
14- SET EQUALITY

VALUES
When you have multiple segments, the
EQ button appears. If you click it, the
distance will become equal between the
segments and the = symbol appears.
In this example, we use a different

Equality Text symbol.
You can customize not only the symbol

used, but also apply an Equality Formula
and adjust the Equality Witness Display.
With the formula, you can show different
values, for example: total length, segment

length, and amount of segments. You can
set up prefix and suffix. In the example
below, we want the dimension to show
both the total length and segment length
of the EQ dimension.
However, for these parameters to show

up, you’ll need to change the instance
properties of the dimension. In the
Equality Formula parameter, switch from
Equality Text to Equality Formula.
Be careful: putting too many constraints

on your model can cause performance
problems. A good idea is to apply the EQ
feature but immediately remove it. You
can still display the EQ symbol if you
switch the Equality Display instance
parameter to “Equality Text”. The symbol
will display as long as the values are
equal.
15- SET TEXT AROUND

DIMENSION VALUE
It is possible to set text overrides around
your dimension. You have to double click
on the number value. Enter your text.
It is also possible to completely replace

the number value for a text value.
You cannot use a number override here.

No, we won’t tell you how to put a “fake”
dimension because we don’t want to be
responsible for bad practices that cause
costly construction errors.
16- AUTO-DIMENSION
WALLS
There is a tool that most people don’t
know about. It lets you auto-dimension all
the openings, intersecting walls and
intersecting grids in a single click when
placed on a wall. When placing the
dimension, use the Entire Walls option in
the Options bar. Click on Options and
select which elements you want to
include.
When done, select the wall you want to

auto-dimension. As you can see below,
the entire dimension is created in a single
click.
17- CONSTRAIN
ELEMENTS
It is possible to click on the lock icon to
constrain the dimensioned elements
together. When one of the element
moves, the other will move as well. Be
careful: too many constraints can slow
down your models.
Learn how to use ordinate dimensions

and automate dimensions with Dynamo
in our new DIMENSIONS bonus guide,
which is available in the 3-packages
bundle.
Tags Revit, Dimensions
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COMMENTS (2) Newest First
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POST COMMENT…
hezdar

2 months ago
· 0 Likes
great love it
https://lfu.edu.krd/
Ricardo Torres

Corza
2 months ago
· 1 Like
Hey Nicolas,
You're doing great with the Revit

tips and how-tos. I usually come
here when I'm stuck with very
specific workflows.
Keep it up, man!
Ricardo Torres Corza.
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8/21/22, 2:21 PM 17 Tips to Master Dimensions in Revit — REVIT PURE

HOME COURSES TEMPLATE BLOG CONTACT

May 31, 2022

7 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE

When you click on a dimensioned

Dimensions can be used with multiple

4- SET WITNESS &

Witness Line Extension refers to exterior

Witness Line Control: There are two

Witness Line Gap to Element controls the

This is the default distance. It is possible

Witness Line Length: When the Fixed to

Leader Type: pick between arc and line.

5- SET TICK MARK

where to find these styles and create your

Go to the Manage tab. Click on Additional

Here, you can see all styles available in

6- SET TICK MARKS

The first is the Witness Line Tick Mark,

Then, there is the main Tick Mark

Notice that in case of a line being used,

Then, you can set a Leader Tick Mark. It

The centerline visual settings are only

The Centerline Symbol is a loadable

8- SET INTERIOR TICK

As you can see below, we use an arrow

There is an option called Interior Tick

9- THE “ARROWS” TICK

Arrows will not display if they are used in

This behavior is specific to Arrows tick

select an arrow tick mark for the Interior

10- SET DIMENSION

11- SET DIMENSION

12- SET TEXT OPTIONS

While most of these parameters are self-

Text Location lets you decide between

Show Opening Height name isn’t quite

This dimension only shows up when

Read Convention is used to indicate how

Suppress Spaces controls if there is a

13- SET PRIMARY AND

You can override the primary units. For

Then, you can set a Secondary Units. In

Since Revit 2022, you can set up a prefix

14- SET EQUALITY

In this example, we use a different

You can customize not only the symbol

values, for example: total length, segment

However, for these parameters to show

Be careful: putting too many constraints

15- SET TEXT AROUND

It is also possible to completely replace

You cannot use a number override here.

When done, select the wall you want to

Learn how to use ordinate dimensions

Tags Revit, Dimensions

← 16 Tips to Master … Top 20 Best New Fe…

COMMENTS (2) Newest First

You're doing great with the Revit

Keep it up, man!

Ricardo Torres Corza.

© Copyright 2022 - BIM Pure Productions Inc.

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