Getting result to display as true value-Positive or Negative Distance

[[Br...]]

I am having trouble getting the result to display the actual difference between the two points in the Z direction.

I need to show if the second point is above or below the first, with neither of the locations being my alignment Z “0”. If I use “Cartesian Distance” the result only shows the distance always as a positive number. If I look at the “actuals” in the feature I can see that the second point is below the first and I need it to be displayed as negative. Is there a different characteristic that I can choose? I have to believe there is an easy way to accomplish this, I’m just missing something.

Thanks for any help you can give.

[[Br...]]

After walking away from this I might have come up with an answer to my own question.

I could create a secondary alignment using the first point as the Z "0" for the second point. Then a simple Z value of point two would be either (+) or (-).

There are 12 pairs of points to check this way so I would have to make an alignment for each pair. Not too bad I guess.

If anyone has any better ide how to do this please let me know.

Thanks.

[[Pe...]]

Use a Result Element characteristic (Size > More > Result Element). Enter the formula

getActual("Point2").z - getActual("Point1").z

(Replace Point1 and Point2 with whatever your points are called, keep the quotes). Set your nominal and tolerances, and you should be good to go.

[[Br...]]

Thank you Peter.

That is exactly what I was looking for. Quicker and easier than what I was going to try.

Thanks for the help.

[[Er...]]

abs() ?