Wall section/detail workflow - how to see annotations when editing section in place?

[jhud]

I am looking for a workflow while working in section views that will allow me to see 2D annotations while editing 3D elements. The default behavior when choosing 'Edit Section In-Place' hides annotations. Is there a way to change this behavior?

[line-weight]

I don't think there's a way of doing this.

 

The best I can think of is to use multiple view panes, so that you are editing the 3d elements in one pane whilst looking at the viewport (including annotations) in the other. But you'd need to manually update the viewport each time you wanted to see the effect of changes you'd made in the model.

 

What is the reason that you want to see 2D annotations while editing 3d geometry?

 

 

[jhud]

Darn, that's annoying. Sometimes I find it very helpful to start with a 2D section and work my way backwards to create the 3D models and it's often very helpful to be able to snap 3D elements to 2D elements directly in the viewport. Even something as simple as drawing construction lines doesn't seem to be possible.

[Tom W.]

Can't you place the 2D elements on the Design Layer rather than modelling inside a viewport...?

[jhud]

You can, but... there's some quirks to doing that. I was thinking if I did that I would have to create a unique symbol for each wall section viewport. Wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious with the intended workflow before I played around with that.

[Tom W.]

3 hours ago, jhud said:

You can, but... there's some quirks to doing that. I was thinking if I did that I would have to create a unique symbol for each wall section viewport. Wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious with the intended workflow before I played around with that.

 

It's just from your earlier post it sounded like you were drawing a 2D section in the annotations space of an otherwise blank viewport...? If so, couldn't you draw the 2D section on the design layer instead + create a VP from it, then the geometry is there where you want it (on the DL) when it comes to modelling from it in 3D? Perhaps I've completely misunderstood...

[line-weight]

6 hours ago, jhud said:

You can, but... there's some quirks to doing that. I was thinking if I did that I would have to create a unique symbol for each wall section viewport. Wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious with the intended workflow before I played around with that.

With VW there often isn't an "intended workflow" as such. This can be a strength and a weakness.

 

Going from my own experience (and others will have completely different approaches) ... once I started modelling in 3d properly, there were a bunch of things that I'd previously have done in 2d that I just started doing in 3d from the outset.

 

Without knowing quite specifically what situation you are thinking about, it's hard to comment on how one might go about it in a more predominantly 3d workflow.

[jhud]

This is all helpful info, thank you! I'm coming from a pretty high level BIM management background with Revit, where I've found that even if I can manipulate the software to do exactly what I want, no amount of training to the contrary will prevent users from defaulting to the "intended" workflow because of how strongly the software is geared to it and how limited functionality is to allow for alternatives. I will play around with a 3D based workflow and see if I hit any roadblocks.