Gawdzira

Here is some recent work. The majority done in CA. The Yokes were gleaned from 3d warehouse.

Chief imports Sketchup models very well. Sketchup is the best (free) 3D modeling tool money can buy. I suspect that if Chief expanded the modeling tool set it would be about the same learning curve as Sketchup. With that in mind, I am able to get some pretty complex shapes worked out quickly with the (very simple) solid modeling tools that exist in CA now. Boolean and subtraction. If I need a complex shape that someone has not already posted on the 3D warehouse I can usually hack something from an existing model in Sketchup, and my knowledge of how to use Sketchup falls somewhere between sad and laughable. Did I just stop progress (assuming I may be considered a "power user" which may also be laughable?). I don't think so. I think what I did was help to focus resources on the tools that are most useful in producing (building) design work and construction documents.

Whenever I export I just export the plan file. I am pretty sure dxf is an option although I always get dwg requests. If you export the layout view (which you can do) they will have lost the feature of scale. It will be going out in what ACAD calls Paper Space. I have not exported layout but I suspect it would only have the layout layers. Do they want your actual Layout? Is this so they can have the title block? If so, then you might want to export layout page 0 for them.

No. Generally I use a cad mask to cover areas I need to mask out. White line style and white fill.

You can note this under the components of the windows and doors.

@William. Yes, but, that is a random pattern on a ceiling (see my random patterns by doing the same). I tried for 10 minutes to adjust this texture to get one of those rectangles to hit the corner and I just ended up mumbling like Lewis Black while waiting for the material editor to complete it's task. This is no way to achieve what the OP is asking for or what any of us have asked for that wanted a tile pattern to start at the top of the freaking counter top. Bottom line, this is something that CA is very weak at currently. Hoping that some smart person proves my incompetence shortly.

It sounds like the correct answer to what you are looking for is, No. Same with a good adjustable tile grid for walls or floors. No sensible offset and distribution tool for polyline filled by grids.

Perry, you better hope it does not rain tonight or you may be struck by lightning.

If I ever run into Greg in NY I am definitely buying him a pizza.

The layersets are great functionality but the Annotation set is where you can set up to get your 1/2" scale plan to behave properly. Each unique annotation set only takes a few minutes to set up and then you can save them to open with every plan loaded with the annotation and layersets. By setting up unique layersets and annotation sets you can easily jump to your partial plan (or have a majority of the items locked) so you can navigate quickly and efficiently. As an example, the layerset I have for creating electrical plans has the cabinets, rooms, walls, fixtures, windows and doors on locked layers. Therefore, as I click in to grab a can light above a counter top I get the can light the first time.

https://sketchfab.com/

Sometimes you can get what works by adjusting the camera clipping planes.

Once you create the dimension string you can move the dimension extension to wherever you need it to be. First click on the dimension line (where the numbers are located) and then grab the diamond shaped handle at the end of the dimension extension.

I seriously doubt anyone at CA is looking at a thread on this forum with joy when one of us shows a way to muscle around a shortcoming to hack in a solution. I do, however smile each time someone comes up with a solution to a problem which can get my job printed.

O.K. Rich...What did you do? Did that go out to Sketchup for the rotation?

Barry did a project for me recently. I would email him directly in case he does not monitor this thread. His email is in the earlier posts.

Someone wake up Lew. This thread is bound to be like getting the Games of Thrones episode early this week.

Great info. Just read the first few pages and this puts to rest so many questions that have been bantered about on this forum.

I use layers. Let's say I have a patio where I use a slab to make it display in 3d. It is the keeping track of line weights and fill pattern and then the fill pattern weights to make sure when I go to the 3d view or the site plan in Layout, I have good visual definition. Sometimes (or often) those two different views (my 3d rendering vs. condocs) each need different levels of visual punch per item.

This is something worth discussing in depth. The big schism for me comes with trying to make sure my 3d objects work well as 2d objects. This comes into play if you don't want to make redundant items in plan view so that the site plan I send to layout for con docs is accurately reflected in the exterior rendering.

A fairly typical file structure for one of my jobs. All the plan and layout files live in the Plan folder. Printing goes to the Plot folder.

In your plan view, CAD---> Cad Detail From View. Then clean them up and save them as needed in the library.

Are these Live Elevations? Probably so if you are sending Technical Illustration. They get blurry and then if you are in Layout and update the view they get great. Then they get blurry sometimes again. Then they get great again. Hakuna Matata.

I'don't much rather have cable railings follow stairs than floor framing per room.

Try the variations on the Blocks to import or not. Grasping at straws.