Best Way to do Elevation Dimensions?

The dimensioning tools in Elevation views don't seem to work well for me. They don't want to snap where I want them. The workarounds I have tried:

1) Draw CAD lines where needed and dimension between them (cumbersome and hard to be accurate)
2) Export dxf, import into Autocad and use Autocad for final drawings (hate to use a separate program)
3) Export dxf, import same dxf back into CA and dimension in CA (This emulates the Premier "convert to CAD lines" option)

I'm sure there is a better way, any suggestions?

I will often use a CAD line or markers from where I want the measurement points to be. Then I will use "Rich Text" and write the dimension that it needs to be. Then use a CAD "line with arrow" on either side of the text to replicate a dimension line. I find it is hard to get the dimensions exactly as you want otherwise.

I use Text-markers as well as simple CAD lines for elevation dimensions, you can also use the point to point dimension tool that creates its own dimension points as you draw.

Home Designer - Chief Architect software is natively 3D just as AutoCAD is natively 2D, many users of AutoCAD still use it for elevations and construction document annotating (I never have but I never used AutoCAD either so I do not Know what I was missing).

In terms of exporting to AutoCAD, well, that is a personal preference as opposed to otherwise, it is a matter of what you are comfortable/familiar with, Make sure your "Dimension Defaults - Locate Objects" are properly set as to "Locate Objects" (what is easily dimensioned or not), it saves a lot of "clicks" if properly set first.

DJP

Thanks for the tips!