Topic: A.F.F. Notation

[Luke]

Too many times that I use this symbol or that I get plans from architect using their version of this symbol the dimension is incorrect. 

The reason is because it is text that needs to be keyed in and manually updated. 

Does anybody have one that they would be willing to share? I'm looking for one that works like a dimension, so that when you move it (assuming you move or anchor the defpoints properly) it will update and adjust the dimension.

[mjfarrell]

Try doing it this way.

Place a line with a no display state in your block, with a stretch component
attach a field to that line the reads it's length
put that attribute text on the AFF line

then when the dimension (line) is stretched the attribute (field) updates, and the line vis state can then be set to off....

[Shinyhead]

Another trick is to make a dimstyle that matches your text display properties, but has extension lines and witness lines turned off.
Create a dim using this style and put the dimtext where your text is.
Make the whole thing a DB.
one node is in the middle of the benchmark, the other is handled with a stretch actions.

[Luke]

I think that is a great idea.  I'll probably just put that "line" on the defpoints layer.  Then I don't have to toggle visibility on and off.  

I'm having trouble getting that field to read the line length...

[mjfarrell]

please do not use defpoints....

that layer is really only for autocad to use....please


for the filed are you using Object, Objects, Object Type, then selecting the line? the lenth, and using the additional formatting to add your suffix?


and please do not use defpoints....

[Luke]

Thanks MJ I'll try that. 

No not to start a whole different conversation but why is defpoints so bad?

I have a layer called NO_PLOT that does just that... does not plot but in this case why can I not use defpoints?

[mjfarrell]

Luke, it isn't that YOU can not use DEFPOINTS (the darkside), it is that you should not.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=3007657&linkID=9240615

and all of these other issues.....

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/usearch/results?la=en&siteID=123112&catID=123155&id=2088334&nh=10&qt=defpoints&rq=0&oq=defpoints&col=usuppprd


however...I can't stop you...

will you do it for The Princess?  The Wookie?

[Krushert]

Luke, it isn't that YOU can not use DEFPOINTS (the darkside), it is that you should not.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=3007657&linkID=9240615

and all of these other issues.....

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/usearch/results?la=en&siteID=123112&catID=123155&id=2088334&nh=10&qt=defpoints&rq=0&oq=defpoints&col=usuppprd


however...I can't stop you...

will you do it for The Princess?  The Wookie?

Mike you need to off the drugs, put down the Star Wars DVDs and get outside!
 

But overall nice thread subject.  Something I been thinking about on how to improve our current practice.

[mjfarrell]

Krush,

Just thought I'd try a little levity...so's I don't get called the CAD Gestapo (no there's anything wrong with that) again.   

So along with the Reason to not use defpoints I included a little laugh, hoping to help them remember....

Glad you liked the article, I however will be implementing none of your suggestions. 

[SPDCad]

The symbol is not quite the same as what you have, but the principle is there.
Feel free to modify the DB to your liking

 
 

[Hedgehog]

Luke, it isn't that YOU can not use DEFPOINTS (the darkside), it is that you should not.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=3007657&linkID=9240615

and all of these other issues.....

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/usearch/results?la=en&siteID=123112&catID=123155&id=2088334&nh=10&qt=defpoints&rq=0&oq=defpoints&col=usuppprd


however...I can't stop you...

will you do it for The Princess?  The Wookie?

Interesting, but all of these refer to old versions of AutoCAD the most recent being 2002... in fact conversley it says...

Although the DEFPOINTS layer is not intended to be used as a layer for placing objects, it can sometimes be helpful to place reference or construction geometry or other objects that are intended for viewing only

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=2898250&linkID=9240817

... for 2000 thru 2007.

That said I have never used it for placing any entities.

[mjfarrell]

Luke, it isn't that YOU can not use DEFPOINTS (the darkside), it is that you should not.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=3007657&linkID=9240615

and all of these other issues.....

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/usearch/results?la=en&siteID=123112&catID=123155&id=2088334&nh=10&qt=defpoints&rq=0&oq=defpoints&col=usuppprd


however...I can't stop you...

will you do it for The Princess?  The Wookie?

Interesting, but all of these refer to old versions of AutoCAD the most recent being 2002... in fact conversley it says...

Although the DEFPOINTS layer is not intended to be used as a layer for placing objects, it can sometimes be helpful to place reference or construction geometry or other objects that are intended for viewing only

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=2898250&linkID=9240817

... for 2000 thru 2007.

That said I have never used it for placing any entities.

hmmm, could be that these "newer" versions of autocad provide a NO PLOT function thus removing the incentive to use the DEFPOINTS layer as a proxy for a no plot layer prior to autodesk providing us with a layer that would not plot.

Back in the day of the multi pen carousel plotters would REMOVE the pen tip from a pen, and THAT would be our no plot layer.  So glad we do not have to do that anymore.   

[Luke]

So I think I've got this thing modified to do what I want, only issue I have now is the order the attributes show up in the editor box.  Can somebody remind me how to switch the order of these...

[Julie@Integra]

Luke, looking at your JPG reminds me of something...  not quite on-topic but meant to be helpful, nonetheless.

Remember, A.F.F. is "above finished floor". To use the value in your graphic as an example:  an elevation is
either given as 151'-3 1/16" (where 100'-0" is at finished floor, for example), or as 51'-3 1/16" A.F.F.   
151'-3 1/16" A.F.F. would indicate one hundred fifty one-plus feet above the finished floor (presumably incorrectly).

It's just one of those things that I occasionally see done incorrectly... not that YOU would [have], necessarily.   

(And for all I know, you're working with skyscrapers... and your project is a reeeeeeeally tall building!)

[Shinyhead]

So I think I've got this thing modified to do what I want, only issue I have now is the order the attributes show up in the editor box.  Can somebody remind me how to switch the order of these...

use battman and change the order