Evolution

I think I'm pushing the envelope with the most patient of you CA guru's and I'm sure you're as tired of seeing this as I am of typing it over and over, but after removing X11 and all files from my home Desk Top, I've attempted to re-install, and migrate my libraries over.  WELL...……….I think the Electronic Gremlins are  attacking with full force. I know I'm technically illiterate especially when it comes to task like electronic passing of files and folders from one machine to another..... So, my office tablet (surface pro 4i7 ) has the standard USB port, so is there some way I can take my tablet home, interconnect it with my Desk Top and transfer the files (I don't want to lose them on my Tablet)  I just somehow got to get them on my Desk top too, so if need be I can work from home.  Please don't assume I'm as smart and savvy as you guys....that's just not the case. So it will have to be step by step....1) do this, 2) do that 3) caution don't do this 4) now open CAX11 at home and go to work?!?!?!?  I'd pay my own airfare out to your locale to dance at your next wedding! May the CA force (be with me this time)  Otherwise I have no choice but to give up! \0/

(EDIT) it still is not working.........PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME BEFORE I SHOOT MYSELF!?!?!

[EDIT]….I couldn't resolve the printing issue as long as I continued to try to send views to layout, and then print to the PDF format.  Since CA crashed on my Monday of this week, (first time ever it happened to me) I decided to go back as far as possible without losing all my changes to the plan file.  Deleted the Layout files all-together. Started with a brand new Layout template, made sure (good file management) I saved it in the same project folder and with the same file path .layout. Send a few of the same views previously sent to the old layout template, this time there was only few seconds time between the command, and printing.  I think the crash destroyed / sent some of the textures I had AWOL into the atmosphere. Anyway, I call it done!

Well...…...I didn't pull all my hair out.  Dermot helped me find the missing objects.  Some textures I couldn't recover but that's ok too.  I bit the bullet, cleaned up my Plan, deleted  my layout that was associated with the plan, created a smack-brand-new layout for this project. Sent all the same views I had originally placed in the old layout file.  The MOST WONDERFUL THING HAPPENED...……… All the full camera views I have done so far, and sent to layout only took a very few seconds.   Don't know what made the difference between yesterday's fiasco and todays recovery!?!?! but I'm just happy it seems to be back on track so I can start the construction drawings.

Glad I was able to help someone, after the millions of times others on this forum have helped me!

44 minutes ago, Dermot said:

 

Select your door in plan view.  Look at the status bar.  What layer is it on?  

Open your full camera view.  Look at your layer display options.  Is that layer turned on?

Dermot, you aren't able to see my "BLUSHING FACE" but of all things to miss! That corrected that and I don't see the double images any more..(this will go into my things not to forget list on my desk.… I haven't looked into the Printing issue further yet. But after I get the clients latest changes (I'm sure there will be more), I'll check the other.

11 minutes ago, Dermot said:

 

Your missing doors are on a layer that is turned on in plan view but are turned off in your camera view.  

 

Every view in the program has the ability to use a different layer set.  Every layer can be turned on or off independently in every layer set.  This allows you to have some views showing some things and other views showing other things.  This is very basic Chief functionality.  I highly recommend that you review the training videos regarding layers and layer sets.

 

As for the picture of the office you posted above, this is not what I am seeing when I open your plan.  See my picture below.  I can't think of any way to get the image you have shown using the same plan.  Turning off the windows layer should still leave a hole in the wall above the door.  This leads me to believe that the plan you posted is not the same as the plan you used for your image.  You may want to double check your file management system to make sure that you are opening and posting using the same plan files.

 

As for your performance problems, my best guess is that these are related to your system settings.  Most likely your video card or drivers.  Could be lots of other things though.  Might be a problem with one or more of the graphics files you are using.  Since you just posted the plan file without the graphics files, this can't be investigated.

 

Dermot, I don't know about graphics files? I assumed when I did a Complete back up that saved all associated files? During the back up though the message states (maybe a hundred or more?) files were missing, I did search but wasn't able to find (following the path in the message menu) where those files were? I just opened the back up file again, the floor plan file door layer was turned off, so I turned it on, and did another full camera to which when the camera opened and the doors are still missing, I checked the layer display for the camera view and the doors layer is turned on. Is it possible when X11 crashed, the graphic file (if doors has one) is one of those that went AWOL? The plan would still show the door but the camera needs a graphic file (correct ?) to display the object?

2 hours ago, glennw said:

Bob,

Why don't you post the Layout file as well to see if someone can save you a lot of work.

Do a File>Backup Entire Project from a layout and that will include the plan, layout and referenced files. 

I am off to bed now, but will have a look in the morning.

Glenn, the layout file is screwed up too.  I'm sure it has to be something I did (thought I haven't a clue what) but upon the last crash, when I opened the layout file of course got the message a new file was available selected ok and so on. The printing troubles started there. So I closed plan file, and opened the layout again, double clicked on the page with the as built plan on it, and instead of my last saved plan file opening, the saved as-built plan opened. On sheet A-5 the new floor plan, clicked on that and an old saved option 1 plan opened. That's why I think I need to start over from scratch 

That happened on several of the layout sheets. I closed the layout several times and reopened and it happened over and over until the Floor plan page, A6 is the correct plan file all the layout files should be associated with. I had to have done something that trigger all this mess...…………..but what in the world it was????  It all happened after the last crash on Monday evening, but I didn't catch the changes until yesterday during the printing fiasco. I know CA doesn't do this stuff on it's own?  That's what David Potter always reminds us of. I'll post the Layout files but I'm sure it won't help and I hate to waste anymore time for you or others that may want to help. So everyone that may look at the layout file knows, I did a complete back up but the message kept opening about missing files etc (probably a hundred or more). I guess it all happened when X11 crashed?? I really haven't a clue.

Orphanos Foundation Renovations Painted Brick option 1 REV 1.layout

12 minutes ago, madcowscarnival said:

.

 

The door issue I have no idea but suspect it must have something to do with display settings.  However, I have no idea which or what.

I thought so too, but when you check display settings doors are checked. I don't know if CA tech support can help but I'm inclined to send it to them.

No need to go into a lot of detail. I had a crash (three different times) on Monday. Upon restarting X11, went back to working on the plan CA had saved. Yesterday while trying to print the preliminary drawings, after an extended period of time I found missing or messed up items in the plan. i.e. doors showing on the floor plan, but not in the Full Camera view.  Also some of the FCV's had double images (almost like seeing cross-eyed). 

The plan was almost completed when the crashes occurred, and I hope with your help I can figure out what to do to avoid going all the way back to the start. 

NOTE: there are strange details, for example I used walls to produce the existing raised planter beds at the existing porch. Because of the way walls work, I had to use P-solids to produce the remaining 4 that exist and connect to the porch planters.

Also, the client had requested a Timber framed Porch Cover be added ( he made other changes that I was also working on at the time of the crashes) and now that detail is all screwed up.  The floor plan appears ok, except when you pull full camera views (FCV's) then the missing items are detectible, although the "double-vision" in the full camera may not show up.  I'd like to know how long it takes you to get the results of a Full Camera as it takes  from 30-45 secs on my machine. (Surface Pro 4 i7). I've posted the plan file here. Had to zip as CA said plan file too large to post. 

Orphanos_Foundation_Renovations_PAINTED_BRICK_option_1_REV_1.zip

11 minutes ago, glennw said:

 

Note, in the Drawing Sheet Setup dbx, that Drawing Scale should be 1"=1" (or, 1=1 any units) NOT 1"=1'.

Also down at the bottom of the Print Layout dbx, check Update Automatically and then in the preview pane you can see what the results will look like before printing.

Thanks Glenn. I'm going back to the beginning. Deleting all layout files, starting fresh but first I've got to see how to straighten out my Plan files as somehow they got all screwed up when my Surface pro crashed Monday. I didn't discover the mess until the printing problem yesterday. I'm starting a new thread and posting the last auto-saved plan file that CAX11 saved upon the last crash Monday.

11 hours ago, Chopsaw said:

 

 

 

Does your home system measure up to your work computer for memory specifications ? 

 

 

Chop this problem just started after my Work tablet (Surface pro) crashed, while running CAX11 on Monday. The Home DK is actually a bigger faster machine. I posted another thread about not being able to migrate my Bonus, and Manufacturer Cat's onto that one.

I haven't attempted to print the layout files on the Home machine yet. After about 3 1/2 hours, I was finally able to get Chief to print 12 layout pages before X11 crashed yesterday.  I rushed over to my local computer tech who was able to get the tablet back up and running.

WELL that may have been the cause of the resultant problems (although I can't understand why, I AM NOT TECH SAVVY) I had lost a lot of the work I had done on Monday and not until yesterday did I realize something screwy was going on. i.e. doors and their swings show in the floor plan, but doing a Full camera view, all door locations show up as holes in the walls no doors.  I checked the layers to be sure they were turned on and they were;  still no doors in the openings.

Since I have the most important part of the project (as-built, the demolition plan, new floor plan, RCP, Lighting plan, and Exterior proposed elevations) printed, finally, While he is reviewing them, and I prepare to start the Construction docs, I'm going to delete the current layout files (I think they're screwed up) and just start a new layout. Move everything into a new file folder (to avoid confusion) and move on, and just consider this one unresolved. I don't want to waste any more of my time, or you guy's time trying to help me !  May the CA force be with us all!

PS: I'm sure it IS NOT CA it is user error! I give up \0/

2 minutes ago, Chopsaw said:

 

Bob,  The only time that has happened to me is when the scale is set incorrectly and it is trying to print out at larger than actual size.

 

Not sure anyone has enough ram to do that.

By scale you mean 1"=1' print scale? On one of the pages, after about 45 mins a error message popped up something to the effect that certain textures were missing, at the bottom the menu offered to conitue printing, I thought that might be the culprit but even after I checked continue printing it just ground away for about another 30 minutes.  Enough time for me to walk away and cool down before I screamed bloody murder and finished pulling out all my hair.   This didn't start happening until my tables crashed a few times.  Funny thing though each time I reopened CA the message said there was a more up to date file and of course I selected it.  I'm working around the missing things for now, but I don't what I'll do when it comes time to start the code required drawings?  I have doors that show on the floor plan (I've checked my display layers to make sure all are turned on) but when I do a camera view all I have are holes in the walls where the doors are supposed to be.  That's for another thread I guess? The longer I work on this project the worse it gets.  I've met with the client on four occasions, and he looks at the drawings and says they look great. Then before I can get out of his sight he comes up with just one more change.

2 hours ago, robdyck said:

Also, if you have any "live" section or elevation views, that'll slow things down to a crawl. Interestingly enough, on color sections or 3D views, a live view doesn't generate as

In order to turn off live update, I need to go back to the plan, select the view, re-send it to layout, and then turn off live update?  I can't believe it took almost an hour and a half just to print 2 sheets that had full camera views (no PBR turned on) The plan sheets only took a few minutes.  But a couple of the Full cameras view while printing to PDF corrupted and had double lines, double images.  I don't know how to fix something like that

4 hours ago, solver said:

That looks like the correct place. Did you paste them there?

 

What's not working in Chief?

Eric, I did paste them (not drag). I copied them from my "C" hard drive (didn't drag them in to my back up thumb drive). What's not working is, I have the core library, I now have my User library (lost a lot of textures but I can deal with that), but none of my manufacturer or bonus catalogs are available.  If I open the Library browser I see the title for each, but when I select either, nothing opens no files.

22 minutes ago, robdyck said:

Also, if you have any "live" section or elevation views, that'll slow things down to a crawl. Interestingly enough, on color sections or 3D views, a live view doesn't generate as crisp a line as 'plot lines' but it does at least color inside the lines, whereas 'plot lines with color fill' can have unpredictable coloring results.

I'll look into these suggestions for sure.  I guess I need to turn off the love view and give a lower DPI a try!

After a half dozen CAX11 crashes, between Monday and this after noon...….I am very close to recovering everything that keeps disappearing. I'm supposed to print the preliminary (not for construction drawings) for the client. He has an ID that has volunteer their time to provide interior design.  I am trying to print the drawings but all CAX11 will do is just sit and grind, but nothing else.  Cntrl+Alt+Delete open the task manager and it says CAX11 "not responding". I have had to C+A+D three times now just to get out of the program.  Any suggestions? (except for turning things off?) I know there are about 400,000 plus objects although I can't see them all something has to give I hate to have to print one sheet at a time, if that will even work?

3 hours ago, solver said:

This shows where Chief expects to find the user library.

 

 

And here it is.

 

 

Look on the home machine to find where Chief expects it -- they might be different.

 

Copy the file to that location.

 

Here is where I am able to find any place to paste the files,  How do I find what you are showing Eric......SORRY but I am totally numb, dumb and frustrated that I can't do this simple operation.

You should be able to build the terrain, and where you place the house, do an flat terrain elevation region. If you set your terrain at zero, make the elevation of the flat pad +36. Then model the home within the boundaries of the terrain region. You can adjust the terrain region so that it is back under the porches.

Several Articles in the Knowledge Base help files are good to review as well:

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-01027/creating-an-elevated-structure-on-pilings.html

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-01182/using-the-round-pier-and-square-pad-tools.html

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00598/creating-a-post-and-beam-structure.html

10 hours ago, Kbird1 said:

 

Once you have all the folders from your Work PC on your USB Drive, ( and Chief Closed on home PC) you have to copy them to the same location on the Home Desktop PC ie :

 

C:\ProgramData\Chief Architect Premier X11\

 

and when it asks if you want to overwrite existing Files say yes......

 

Then with Chief Opened again goto  >Library >Update Catalogs.

 

 

M.

Mick I'll give it another try when I get back home this evening.  But, that is what I did, I copied the files from my thumb drive, (see my screen shot above) then with CA closed, went to the folder on my C drive, CAX11 libraries, and pasted them in, but I didn't get the message to overwrite existing files?

6 hours ago, BrownTiger said:

It needs to be pasted to

 

 C:\ProgramData\Chief Architect Premier X11\

 

NOT DESKTOP/

It is pasted in C:\ProgramData\Chief Architect Premier X11. But I still can't get them into the soft ware library. What is the secret?????

6 minutes ago, solver said:

 

Are you creating a new installation of Chief on your home system, or are you merging data from the work system into the home system

If it's a new install, then you need to copy and overwrite the folders from the backup to the desktop.

Eric, I did an install from my digital locker.

If I copy and paste the folders to the desktop, then what?   I said I'm a technical dumb!  Without the knowledge and experience you guys have, all I know to do is experiment so, I did

a search found data file libraries and am pasting my back files for all the catalogs into it? That's probably the wrong thing to do

27 minutes ago, BrownTiger said:

You needed to copy the entire content of 

C:\ProgramData\Chief Architect Premier X11\*.*

 

 

 

 

Brown Tiger, I didn't pick and choose. I copied the files that Chief Architects Help file said to copy, and it specifically said not to copy program data or don't change_dat. If you look at the folder I saved all the catalogs in you see they are all there. But how do I get them over to my Desk Top. I have the usb drive inserted, but when I select update libraries it doesn't give me the option to select these.

Well..............bummer..............after tyring ALL DAY LONG (no kidding) I managed to get my User catalog migrated over to my DK at home. BUT! None of my manufacturer or Bonus catalogs did? WHY in the world does this have to be so hard?!?!?!?! I checked and I have all my core library, and when I select my user catalog it opens with some over 400 items in it.  I checked to see if the items I had created were there, and they are! But, when I select Bonus Catalogs, there is no content. Same with Manufacturer Catalogs.  SO how do I back them up?  I did as Brown Tiger suggested..........Copy content of this folder to your USB drive .. it will take some time.

For user libraries: press <windowKey> E, >> Documents >> Chief Architect Premier X11 Data >>Database Libraries

Now copy file: user_library.calib on my office tables, then pasted everything to a thumb drive.  I need to get some work done and all I keep doing is going around in circles!

9 minutes ago, solver said:

I believe the user library saves a pointer to the texture image file -- where it's located on the computer (the path), and not the actual image itself.

 

That last column shows that path.

 

 

Those files need to be in the same place on each computer or Chief won't know where to find them.

 

You might be able to use the Replace File button to fix each one, or use the Add Search Directory button to tell Chief to look in another directory.

Thanks Eric

When this kind of stuff happens, I don't know what to do?   This popped up while backing up files to migrate. Im not sure how this will affect the over-all library files or if they're even applicable to my projects? I'm so frustrated with this whole process...……………..I recognize some of the files as those I've downloaded from David Michaels site>symbols. IF these files are saved to my user catalog then why are they missing? I'm trying to do this on my own without wearing you guys out...…..any help appreciated!