Bumping the Feature Request for Dual Dimensions in Layout

[endlessfix]

Well, all of the previous threads asking for dual dimensions in Layout are closed so I’m starting a fresh one. It is really a slow and cumbersome process dimensioning a Layout document in Imperial and Metric. This should be an easy and simple operation but instead takes a very long time and is full of potential errors. It’s such a common thing for many of us and for other programs and it’s not going away, can we please have a method for choosing stacked dual dimensions in Layout?

It’s the little things that make a professional tool really work for professionals. Thank You.

Dual dimension layout (imperial & metric) v

Thank you Anssi and all those who comment. I have been using Sketchup since version 6, I know the tool very well. vYes I know the Dual dimension of TIG, but I am talking about making a layout, a real layout with many dimensions. I don’t do in Sketchup, that would be a pain. Our layouts are shared around the world, both in imperial and metric. The dimensions on the layout avoid bad conversions. It allows everyone to quickly read a plan, without calculating in their head to make a conversion. I…

2023

We need an option for dual dimensions in Layout (metric and imperial on the same dimension line)

I mainly use AutoCAD for drawings and I always use dual dimensions because I communicate with people who use imperial and people who use metric. I am loving using Sketchup to model and Layout to make design documents since it opens up a lot of options that I don’t have in AutoCAD but the one thing that is missing is the dual dimensions and it’s pretty critical for my work. If you add this feature I would greatly appreciate it.

2017

Dual Dimension in Layout

I dimension all of my drawings in both metric and imperial in Layout. I spend a lot of time dimensioning twice and then adjusting the presentation to be clear and clean. It seems like a simple check box to show the numbers in both imperial and metric would be easy to do. How do others handle this issue. I noticed SketchUcation has a plug-in called Dual Dims, but I don’t have access to it and it looks to be SketchUp only.

2018

Dual Dimensions

there is a phenomenal plugin in sketchup (dualisms) for having dimensions shown in metric and imperial at the same time. This is a must have feature in layout!!

[DaveR]

I agree that dual dimensioning would be useful.

Have you seen my relatively quick workaround?

[endlessfix]

I don’t believe I have. Would like to see it if you can share. Thanks.

[DaveR]

I’ll share it with you when I get home.

[kai2]

I do it manually and its a pain.

[RTCool]

I haven’t had a huge need, but I agree. I can imagine it’s more important in Canada.

The method I’ve used in PowerCADD, seems doable in LayOut by copying all, pasting in place and changing them to metric and below instead of above, maybe even on their own layer. How that plays out managing them as things change I don’t know other than to delete them all and do the drill all over again?

[DaveR]

That does work in LayOut. You wouldn’t have to delete and redo the dimensions, though. You can have both sets of dimensions connected to the model. When I need to do this I have each set of dimensions on a different layer which makes it easier to access one set without having the other set in the way.

Still, it would be nice to have the dual dimensions as a setting in LayOut.

[RTCool]

When I copy and paste dimensions, they lose their connection and even their scale. How do you get both sets connected to the model?

[DaveR]

Usually they connect automatically for me. Once in a while I have to reconnect them by moving their anchor points. That’s usually not an issue for me. In most cases I haven’t needed to add the second set of dimensions until after I’ve pretty much got the model carved in stone. Then the client comes back to me with something like, “Oh, by the way, we need the dimensions in metric as well.” Then I don’t bother connecting them and just set the dimension scale to match the viewport.

As I wrote, I would welcome automatic dual dimensions in LayOut but I don’t find the workaround such an onerous task. If our European friends get their way there won’t be a need for dual dimensioning anyway.

[Fredo6]

I am investigating a plugin for dual dimensions in Layout.

The approach is:

• Take a Layout document with single-unit dimensions
• Select a target unit system (unit type, unit precision, unit measure for decimal)
• Generate a copy of the Layout document with dual dimensions

This allows to keep the working Layout document untouched and just get a copy of the document at the end. The main reason is that as soon as you touch dimensions in Layout (like adding custom text), you may disconnect the dimensions from the underlying model.

The plugin would also work for just replacing dimensions in one unit system into another unit system, so that you get for instance the original document in decimal units and a copy in imperial units.

I made a few tests to check the feasibility. For instance, if you start from the original document:

You obtain the generated document as:

I anyone is interested, just contact me. This is a fairly easy plugin, so it should not take long to develop and publish.

[Fredo6]

For info, the plugin is published at Sketchucation as LayOps.

Here is a video to give an overview

LayOps - Dual Dimensions in Layout - Overview

[ivanjones]

When this topic comes up I think if it is ever addresses in future versions it would be great to combine any combination of dimension types. Beyond inch/mm , engineering / arch would have its use and I can think of others where you spare the document viewer the pain of grabbing a calculator.