Adding Datum Points, Text Annotations, and Dimensions to Elevation Views in Architectural Drawings

Place datum points, add level text, and apply accurate dimensions to your elevation drawings using proper layers and scaling techniques.

Understand the process of adding annotations and dimensions to a design project using specific layers and tools. Learn how to place datum points, change uniform scales, add text, and incorporate dimensions to achieve an accurate and detailed design representation.

Key Insights

  • The process involves the use of specific layers such as A Finish Floor, ANO DIMMS 48, and ANO SIMMS 48 for placing datum points, adding text, and keynotes.
  • Dimensions are added to the design by adjusting the uniform scale, creating single line text, and aligning objects accurately. Special attention should be given to maintaining the symmetry of the design.
  • The final touches to the design include the use of the VDCI Tick 48 dimension style, adding linear dimensions, and accurately setting the top height of the window. The design is then saved for future use and reference.

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Let's add our annotations and dimensions. The first thing I want to do is to turn on the A Finish Floor layer.

So I'll come up to my layers and choose A Finish Floor, turn it back on. This is where we're going to place our datum points and our text for our levels. That's what these are called, is levels.

And we're also going to be using the ANO DIMMS 48 layer and the ANO SIMMS 48 layer when we place our keynotes. So for now, let's choose the ANO SIMMS 48 layer. This is the layer we're going to use to bring in our datum point.

So I'll go I Enter and let's go browse. I'm going to jump out of my title blocks folder, go into my drafting blocks and find datum point. I'll hit open.

We didn't change the uniform scale. So I'll place one up here. It'll just be a tiny dot.

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I'll select it and hit delete. And then I'll change the uniform scale to 48. Now I can click the datum again.

And we're simply going to place one at the endpoint here and click it again and place one at the endpoint here. All right, there they are. Now we need to add our text that says Top of Plate, TO Plate and Floor Level.

So let's change our layer to ANO Text 48. And in this case, we can just use single line text. It looks like the text is roughly the same height as this datum point.

So I'm going to measure from here to here. It looks like that is six inches tall. So that's the height that we'll use for our text.

So I'll go to text, single line, click over here in space. And the height is preset at six inches. So I'll accept that.

The angle is zero and we can start typing. Make sure all caps is on and write T.O.Plate. Hit ENTER to go to the next line. Floor LVL, enter, enter.

We'll close single line text. And you'll see that because we use single line text, this created two objects. So I'm going to keep these aligned with each other in the horizontal direction.

And then we'll move this one down in the vertical direction. So to start, I'll select both, go move. And we'll just place the Top of Plate roughly in the right location.

And then we can move Floor Level down. So then I'll select Floor Level, move, and I'll go down to roughly the same location. These don't have to be exact.

We just want to make sure that this datum is associated with this text. If you don't like it, just make sure you grab both at the same time and use your control keys to shift them around. Escape, escape, escape.

Next, let's add the dimensions that are on this string. In order to do that, it looks like it would be nice to have just a little bit more room here. So I'm going to go Stretch, S, Enter.

I'm going to grab right above the text. I'm going to go straight through these lines but not touch any of the building geometry. Crossing window across all of this, Enter.

And I'm going to just move this to the left one foot, Enter. To make sure that my drawing is symmetrical, I'm going to come over and stretch this out one foot as well. Stretch, Enter.

To the right one foot, Enter. There we go. Now that's symmetrical.

Let's change our current layer to be the DIMS48 layer. A, N, O, DIMS48. And let's go to the Annotate tab and see what our dimension style is.

Right now it looks like we're on Standard. We want to change that to the VDCI Tick 48. And we can draw a quick linear dimension.

I'll go from the end point, shift right click end point of the line to the shift right click end point of the line. And we'll see that eight foot one placed here. We can also do a Dim Continue to bring this down for the six inch.

So I'll go Continue. Grab this end point, Enter to say I'm done. Escape, Escape.

And we have one more dimension on this drawing. It's the six foot eight inch dimension, which sets the top height of the window, the head height. So I'll go linear from the shift right click intersection.

I'm going to grab the corner of the building and the finished floor line here. And then I'll grab this end point at the top of the window. And we'll bring that out just to the outside of the downspout.

There we go. There are no other dimensions that we need to add to this drawing. And no other symbols until we do our keynotes.

We're going to save our keynotes for the next lesson. So for now, this drawing is done. Let's zoom out.

I'll close my blocks palette. I'm going to set this in the zoom window. And Control S to save.

In the next video, we will add this view to our A301 sheet pile.

photo of David Sellers

David Sellers

David has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Penn State University and a MBA from Point Loma Nazarene University. He has been teaching Autodesk programs for over 10 years and enjoys working and teaching in the architectural industry. In addition to working with the Autodesk suite, he has significant experience in 3D modeling, the Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam Revu, and SketchUp. David enjoys spending his free time with his wife, biking, hanging out with his kids, and listening to audiobooks by the fire.

  • Licensed Architect
  • Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI SILVER– Certified > 5 Years)
  • Autodesk Certified Professional: AutoCAD, Revit, Fusion 360
  • Adobe Visual Design Specialist
  • SketchUp Certified 3D Warehouse Content Developer
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