3D settings & vertex elevations Coming
ComingThis feature is designed but not in DimSum yet. This page describes how it will work.
Every takeoff tool knows where it sits in Z and how big it really is (width, height, thickness, cross-section), so the same numbers drive the 2D drawing, the quantities and the live 3D model.
Overview
Each takeoff tool has a 3D property group, in the Tool Designer and on every item placed from it. These settings answer three questions:
- Where does it start? Base Elevation (defaults to the page's Level elevation) plus an optional offset.
- How big is it? Width, Height or Thickness, or for framing members a real cross-section + orientation (a 2x6 is 1 1/2" × 5 1/2").
- Is it sloped? Per-vertex elevations turn flat lines and areas into sloped members and planes (roof planes, rake beams, stepped footings).
Like everything in DimSum these are ordinary Properties: they can be formulas, Input properties asked for when the tool is placed, and referenced as {Base Elevation}, {Width}, {Height}, {Thickness}.
You don't need the 3D viewport to benefit. Width sets the drawn stroke on the plan, and Height/Thickness feed Wall Area and Volume.
Every part has a 3D group: Length, Width, Depth and Used in render, which is off by default. Nothing is drawn in 3D yet; these are stored for it.
Where to find it
- Tool Settings dialog → Dimensions & 3D tab (double-click an instance).
- Properties panel → 3D group, and the Vertices grid for the selected shape.
- On the canvas: select a shape, click a vertex → its elevation tag (
Z +10'). - Tool Designer → a tool → Base Properties for a tool's defaults.
- 3D pane: the vertex elevation gizmo (3D ribbon tab). See 3D viewport.
How to use it
Set a tool's elevation and size
- Double-click the instance → Dimensions & 3D.
- Base Elevation is a dropdown of every Plan Level (plus "Custom…"), set to the page's own level by default. Leave it to follow that level, pick another level (ceiling joists drawn on the Main Level page can belong to the Second Level, without leaving the page), or choose Custom… and type a value or formula.
- Add an Elevation Offset if needed (e.g. +8' for a header, +9' for a ceiling).
- For a member, pick the Cross-section (from the Materials Library, e.g. 2x6) and the Orientation (Flat / On Edge / Upright). Width and Height fill in automatically. For other tools, type Width, Height (Linear/Point) or Thickness (Area).
- Set Width Justification (Linear: Center / Left / Right of the drawn line) and Extrude Direction (Up / Down / Centered).
- Click OK. The plan stroke redraws at the true width, and quantities and 3D update.
Give a vertex its own elevation (sloped line)
- Select the shape and click a vertex. An elevation tag appears (e.g.
Z +0'). - Double-click the tag and type a value, e.g.
10'. - Choose Relative (offset from the tool's Base Elevation; the default) or Absolute (world elevation).
- Multi-select vertices (Shift+click) to set several at once.
- For exact entry, use the Vertices grid in the Properties panel (X, Y, Z, mode). Z can be a formula, e.g.
{Level > Elevation} + {Plate Height}.
A small slope arrow pointing downhill, with the pitch label, appears on sloped shapes in 2D.
Make a roof plane with the Pitch plane helper
- Draw the roof section outline as an Area (or use the Pitched Area tool, which runs these steps for you).
- Choose Plane helper (Pitch) and click the eave/base edge.
- Enter the eave elevation (e.g. 19') and the pitch (
6/12) or angle. Alternatively, enter two known heights (eave 9', ridge 16'). - DimSum computes every vertex Z so the area becomes a true plane.
Adjust in 3D
In a 3D pane, select a vertex and drag the vertical gizmo. It snaps to other tools' vertices and to level elevations.
Options & settings
| Setting | Linear | Area | Point | Default |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Elevation | Where the tool starts in Z | The plane's base Z (flat areas sit here) | Bottom of the symbol/object | {Level > Elevation} of the page's Plan Level. Follows the level unless overridden. |
| Elevation Offset | Extra offset from Base (e.g. +8' header) | Same (e.g. ceiling at +9') | Same | 0 |
| Width | 2D stroke width on the plan (to scale) and 3D thickness of the extruded wall/beam. On an item it is its Line Width — one number with two names, so nobody types 5½" twice | Footprint size (square/diameter) | From tool (e.g. 5 1/2") | |
| Line Height | The other half of the cross-section, and not the Height below: a plate seen from above is 5½" wide, the same plate seen in section is 1½". A ⇋ beside Line Width chooses which of the two the 2D canvas draws, per item; the one not drawn is kept. 3D reads Width and Height as it always did | — | Blank | |
| Width Justification | Center / Left / Right of the drawn line | — | Center | |
| Height | Extrusion up from Base (negative = down, e.g. footings) | Extrusion up (post, column) | From tool | |
| Thickness / Height | Extrusion of the area | From tool | ||
| Extrude Direction | Up / Down / Centered | Up / Down / Centered relative to the plane (slab: Down; sheathing on rafters: Up/outward) | Up / Down | Up |
| Vertex Elevations | Per-point Z (sloped beams, stepped footings) | Per-point Z → planes (roof planes, sloped ceilings) | All 0 (relative) | |
| Show in 3D | on/off | on/off | on/off | on |
| 3D Appearance | Tool color, opacity (material/texture later) | Same | Symbol shape: box, cylinder, custom (later) | Tool color |
| Minimum on-screen width | Keeps thin tools visible when zoomed out | — | App default |
Cross-section & Orientation (members)
A member has a real cross-section (Thickness × Depth) and an Orientation. Width and Height are derived, not typed twice.
| Orientation | On the plan (2D width) | Above the elevation (3D height) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat | 5 1/2" (depth) | 1 1/2" (thickness) | Plates, sleepers, decking, flat blocking |
| On Edge | 1 1/2" (thickness) | 5 1/2" (depth) | Joists, rafters, beams, headers |
| Upright | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" footprint | Member length (e.g. stud height) | Studs, posts |
| Custom rotation | Rotated cross-section | Special cases |
(Values shown for a 2x6.) Changing 2x6 → 2x8, or Flat → On Edge, updates 2D, 3D and quantities together.
Vertex modes
| Mode | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Relative (default) | Z = offset from the tool's Base Elevation |
| Absolute | Z = world elevation from the project datum |
| Formula | Z = any expression, e.g. {Level > Elevation} + {Plate Height} |
Base Elevation: a dropdown of any level
Base Elevation isn't just a number. It is a dropdown listing every Plan Level in the project, plus "Custom…":
| Choice | Behavior |
|---|---|
| The page's own level (default) | Follows that level; change the level's elevation and everything on it moves |
| Any other level | The instance is drawn on this page but sits at that level's elevation — the ceiling-joist case: draw on the Main Level page, assign to the Second Level |
| Custom… | A typed value or formula. It stops following any level — and switching the dropdown back to a level re-links it at any time |
Per-shape overrides (◆) use the same dropdown, so one instance can mix levels shape by shape.
Level elevation model
Every Base Elevation default starts from the level's elevation, so it matters what that number means:
- Elevations start at 0 (the project datum).
- A level's elevation is the top of its supporting structure. For the first floor over a foundation, that's the top of the foundation wall (the "concrete height").
- The floor system (sill plate, joists, subfloor) sits on top of that elevation, and walls start on top of the subfloor.
- Level names are always yours ("Main Level", "First Floor"…), and every value is editable.
Worked example: Main Level elevation 8'-0" (top of foundation). Floor system = sill 1 1/2" + 2x10 joists 9 1/4" + subfloor 3/4" = 11 1/2", so main-level walls start at 8'-11 1/2". With a 9'-1 1/8" wall, the top plate is at 8'-11 1/2" + 9'-1 1/8" = 18'-0 5/8", which is where the Second Level's floor system starts.
The Level Editor: levels are edited in a BIM-Forge-style Level Editor, where every level, offset and component of the stack can be adjusted — the model above is the starting point, not a fixed rule. A page can also be duplicated onto another level (the foundation plan on both a Footing level and a Basement level), so existing pages can be re-used for work that belongs at a different elevation.
⚠ Under this model, the default Base Elevation for walls will likely be "level + floor system depth" rather than the bare level elevation. The examples below still use the older "walls start at the level" numbers until the Level Editor's shipped defaults are written down.
Varying heights on one level (e.g. 9' walls with a 12' great room): override Height per instance or per shape. The default stays at the level's plate height, and the override flows into every dependent part (e.g. a stud-length list match — an Advanced Part, ) automatically.
Examples
| Tool | Type | 3D setup | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ext Wall 2x6 (framing) | Linear | Base = Level (10'), Width 5 1/2", Height 9'-1 1/8", Justify = Left (exterior) | Wall solids along each run; Top Elevation 19'-1 1/8" |
| Footing 20x10 (concrete) | Linear | Base = 0', Width 20", Height −10" (down) | Footing below the slab; 0.0514 cu yd per LF |
| Floor Slab 4" (concrete) | Area | Base = 0', Thickness 4", Extrude Down | Slab from 0' down to −4" |
| Roof Plane A (roofing) | Area | Eave edge Z = 19', pitch 6/12 → vertex Zs; Thickness 7/16", Extrude Up | Sloped sheathing plane |
| Siding – Front | Area on an Elevation page (Side 1) | Thickness 1/2", pushed out from the face | Panel 1/2" off the front face |
| 1x4 Trim – Front | Linear on an Elevation page (Side 1) | Thickness 3/4" (out from face), Width 3 1/2" (on the face) | Trim board on the face |
| Post 6x6 | Point | Base = 0', Width 5 1/2", Height 8' | Posts; 1.68 cu ft each |
| Cable tray (low-voltage) | Linear | Base = Level, Elevation Offset +9'-6", Width 12", Height 4" | Tray hung below the ceiling, visible in 3D for clash checks |
- Wall top: 10' + 9'-1 1/8" = 19'-1 1/8".
- Footing per LF: (20/12) × (10/12) × 1 = 1.3889 cu ft ÷ 27 = 0.0514 cu yd/LF (140 LF → 7.20 cu yd).
- Post: (5.5/12)² × 8 = 0.2101 × 8 = 1.68 cu ft.
Tips & shortcuts
- Leave Base Elevation at
{Level > Elevation}whenever possible. If the level's elevation changes, everything on it moves with it. (A Custom… (typed) Base Elevation stops following the level, and switching the dropdown back to a level re-links it —.) - Garages, porches and stepped foundations: keep them on the main level and use an Elevation Offset (e.g. −1'-4"), rather than adding a level.
- Use Orientation rather than typing Width/Height for lumber, so a size change can't leave the 2D and 3D out of sync.
- Check volumes with a quick hand calc on one LF or one sf before trusting a tool.
- Use Width Justification Left/Right to trace the exterior face of walls or the edge of footings instead of their centerline.
Rules, limits & edge cases
- Width does not apply to Areas; Thickness does not apply to Linear/Point.
- Custom rotation: the 2D width and 3D height are taken from the rotated cross-section's bounding box.
- Point Width is the side of a square symbol or the diameter of a round one.
- 3D editing in v1 is limited to vertex elevations, selection and visibility. Full 3D drawing comes later.
- Unaligned Plan pages still appear in 3D at their level's elevation using the page origin, with a ⚠ badge prompting alignment (Overlay & Align).
- Detail pages never appear in 3D.
