Getting Started
Where to Find It
After installation, find the Quick Dims 3D button on the Pixeltools panel in the Revit ribbon. The button is available in any 3D, plan, or section view.
The Problem It Solves
Revit requires a correctly aligned work plane before placing dimensions in a 3D view. For fabrication parts, this means manually setting the plane to match each fitting's orientation. Tedious and error-prone on complex spools.
Quick Dims 3D reads the connector coordinate system from each part, sets the correct work plane automatically, and launches Revit's native Aligned Dimension command. Click a part, Tab through plane orientations, and dimension normally.
First Dimension
- 01Open a 3D view showing the parts you want to dimension
- 02Click Quick Dims 3D on the Pixeltools panel in the ribbon
- 03Click a fabrication part. Quick Dims 3D reads its connector orientation and sets the work plane.
- 04Press Tab if you want a different plane orientation (cycles through up to five candidates)
- 05Place the dimension using Revit's native Aligned Dimension behavior: pick references and drop the witness line.
The plugin uses Revit's native Aligned Dimension command. Your dimensions are real Revit dimensions: fully editable, schedulable, and printable like any other.
How It Works
Quick Dims 3D sits on top of Revit's existing dimensioning tools. No proxy geometry, no hidden families, no invisible reference points. Every dimension hosts directly to the elements you click.
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Pick a part | You click a fabrication part in the 3D view. Quick Dims 3D reads the part's connector coordinate system to determine its orientation. |
| 2. Set work plane | The plugin creates the correct SketchPlane and sets it as the active work plane for the view. |
| 3. Show preview | A colored wireframe overlay is drawn in the viewport so you can see the active plane before you commit. |
| 4. Activate dimension | Revit's native Aligned Dimension command is launched. From here, dimensioning works exactly as it does in a 2D view. |
Plane Cycling
Most fabrication parts give you several useful work plane orientations. Press Tab after picking a part to cycle through up to five candidate planes:
| Plane | Description |
|---|---|
| E / W | Vertical plane facing east/west, aligned to the part's local axis. |
| N / S | Vertical plane facing north/south, aligned to the part's local axis. |
| Plan | Horizontal plane through the part. Typical for top-down dimensioning. |
| Drop | Vertical plane perpendicular to the part's run direction. Useful for elevation drops on risers and offsets. |
| Aligned | Plane aligned to the part's primary axis at its true orientation in space. Useful for sloped or rotated runs. |
The wireframe overlay color changes as you cycle, so you always know which plane is active before you place the dimension.
Sticky Mode
When you dimension a series of similar parts in a row, you usually want the same plane orientation each time. Sticky mode remembers the plane direction you chose on the last pick and applies it automatically to the next part.
- Pick a part and Tab to your preferred plane
- Place the dimension
- Click the next part. Quick Dims 3D selects the same plane direction by default.
- Tab again any time to switch
Sticky mode is most useful on long runs of duct, pipe, or conduit where every dimension should be in the same orientation.
Connector Snap and Dimension Inherit
Ctrl+Click: Snap to a Connector
By default, Quick Dims 3D places the work plane origin at the part's center point. Hold Ctrl when you click to snap the plane origin to the nearest connector instead. This is useful when you need the dimension to start exactly at a fitting's joint.
Click an Existing Dimension to Inherit Its Plane
Click an existing dimension (instead of a part) and Quick Dims 3D will reuse that dimension's work plane for your next pick. This makes it easy to add a parallel dimension to one you already placed without cycling planes again.
Combining inherit with sticky mode lets you build up a stack of parallel dimensions across a long fabrication run with minimal clicks.
View Lock Safety
Revit will not let you place dimensions in a 3D view unless the view is locked. Locking and unlocking 3D views by hand interrupts your workflow.
Quick Dims 3D handles this automatically:
- Before launching the dimension command, the plugin records the current view lock state.
- If the view is unlocked, Quick Dims 3D locks it temporarily so you can dimension.
- When you finish or cancel, the original lock state is restored. Locked views stay locked, unlocked views are unlocked again.
If Revit crashes or the session is interrupted mid-command, the view may be left locked. Toggle the lock manually from the view control bar to restore it.
Plan and Section Views (2D Passthrough)
Quick Dims 3D works in plan and section views as well as 3D views. In a 2D view, the plugin skips the work plane setup (Revit's native dimensioning already works correctly there) and launches Aligned Dimension directly.
Leave Quick Dims 3D as your default dimensioning command across every view type. No mode switching required.
Keyboard & Mouse Reference
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Start Quick Dims 3D | Click Quick Dims 3D on the Pixeltools panel in the ribbon |
| Set the work plane from a part | Click any fabrication part in the active view |
| Snap plane origin to a connector | Hold Ctrl while clicking the part |
| Reuse an existing dimension's plane | Click the existing dimension instead of a part |
| Cycle to the next candidate plane | Tab |
| Accept and place dimension | Use Revit's normal Aligned Dimension picks, or press Spacebar to accept |
| Cancel | Escape (restores the original view lock state) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which versions of Revit are supported?
Revit 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027.
Do the dimensions placed by Quick Dims 3D behave like normal Revit dimensions?
Yes. Quick Dims 3D launches Revit's native Aligned Dimension command. The dimensions you place are standard Revit dimensions. They update with the model, can be edited, scheduled, tagged, and printed exactly like any other dimension.
Does Quick Dims 3D add proxy geometry, hidden families, or invisible reference points?
No. Every dimension hosts directly to the elements you click. There is no hidden geometry created in the model.
I clicked a part and nothing happened. Why?
Quick Dims 3D reads the connector coordinate system from fabrication parts. If the element you clicked is not a fabrication part (or has no connectors), the plugin has no orientation to work from. Try clicking a fitting, duct, pipe, or conduit segment instead.
How do I get a horizontal dimension on a sloped run?
After clicking the part, press Tab to cycle to the Plan orientation. The work plane will be horizontal and your dimension will report the horizontal projection of the run.
My 3D view is locked but I can't place dimensions. What's wrong?
Make sure the view is locked from the view control bar at the bottom of the view (not just oriented to a saved orientation). Quick Dims 3D handles locking automatically when you launch from the ribbon. If you start dimensioning manually instead, you'll need to lock it yourself.
Does Quick Dims 3D work with non-fabrication content (generic ducts, pipes, families)?
The connector-driven plane setup is optimized for Revit fabrication parts. Generic MEP elements with connectors will usually work but may not give you all five candidate planes. For non-fabrication families, use the cycling to find an orientation that fits your dimension.
Can I bind Quick Dims 3D to a keyboard shortcut?
Yes. Use Revit's Keyboard Shortcuts dialog (File → Options → User Interface → Customize) and search for Quick Dims 3D to assign a key binding.