ACADuser

Yes the zoom works, Why can't they fix that? Looks like a lot of these 3D programs are weak when it comes to standard CAD tools. The space bar to quit a command is killing me when I switch to ACAD. I programed my 2nd left mouse button so I can stop that habit. But in ACAD I use it to switch drawing files & now that is anoying me. I guess I need a mouse with another button. Which some of the Chief keys could be reprogramed. Frustrating!

Wow, I think you are saying Chief has no Offset command.

Thanks for the quick reply. I am plotting in One Color and still too dark, no change. Did I miss something?

I have a U shaped polyline & want to offset it 12 units, not copy. The new object should be 12 units larger tha\n the original. Also why when moving an object using the point to point move the command quits when I try to pan using the middle mouse button during the command?

I have a need for faded or light plot of an office furniture. Working with 25 each 8'x8' office cubicle's. The layout is a U shaped with 3 desks, a chair & one shelf. So I inserted 3 tables stretched to fit & used a counter top for the shelf. Along with the chair I made them into a Arch Block. Problem is I am only concerned with the plan view & plotting these items in a faded look. So perhaps CAD lines may be a better choice for a CAD block. Line weight of 0 or 1 is not working. Thanks for your time.

Modifying the Window Schedule. I want to include the Glazing type "Double Pane Low E" which I set in the windows specification >energy value >assembly > glazing type >Double Pane Low E Can't seem to find that item in the Window Schedule dialog.

Oops, yes Ray Trace. Looks like 4 to 6 passes before it looks OK. This is 1 hour 40 min pass 7. Computer specs added to signature.

I am doing my first renders & they are taking hours. Would you share your settings so I can give them a try?

Thanks Joe.

OK I'm starting to put it together. Yes there is a window for changing the 2D block in that dialog box. Wish they had context sensitive help.

Wow, got it. Opening a 3D view & right click selecting the Receptacle then the chair w/ pencil icon, select 2D on left menu, then select a block I made. Too many terms & concepts that I don't understand yet. Thanks for your patience.

OH forgot that one already. Thanks

OK at 5. I have a new CAD block in my floor plan 6. select what symbol? Isn't a symbol a 3D object displayed in a picture view or elevation? Open the Symbol dbx I assume that is the chair icon only available when you can select a symbol. Sorry to be so dense.

tommy Thanks so much for the offer. I may have to take you up on it.

Joe thanks so much for your presistance in this task. 1. OK 2. OK Once opened the pop up window does not have a menu or allow Ctrl V with out exiting the pop up. I assume that steps 1 & 2 were to assure that the block exist in the drawing. 3 & 4 Inserting the block with this menu did produce as block that I could explode. Thanks you 5. There is no Unblock option only Explode doint so I was able to edit the text object block the objects & choose an insert point. I added it to the catalog. Which it chose User Catalog. The problem I now have is that the block is a dumb block which does not insert as the electical block, snapint to walls, auto rotating & when this block is rotated the text is no longer positioned correctly. I do apreaciate your efforts & I see how to edit a block now But I still want the smart block from electrical to insert smartly. Is that doable?

Thanks Glennw, Changing the label does not change the 2D cad block. In my case I want it to say "WP GFI" on all future blocks, I don't use any WP recepticals thet are not GFI & the plans examinor wants to see the GFI indication. You must use WP GFI in rain exposed locations so GFI by itself is not exceptable.

Just so happens that I turned 8 or so layers off & after a time working on that drawing I could not remeber all the layers I had turned off. Looks like I will have to clone the layer set next time, live & learn. I didn't check History to see if the Hide command recorded all my actions. Oh wait I just checked & I can't fins a history? Does Chief record all actions upto a set number for your review? That is tied to Undo in ACAD which reportd to the screen each time you undo it says what action it is undoing, this is very helpful. So neather of these features are in Chief?

Thanks, seems like a workaround when Select Similar would be the tool of choice. Speaking of layers, say you are working in plan view and you want to hide a few layers to make eslecting objects easyer. You hide several layers & now you layer Set is messed up. Shouldn't you be requierd to SAVE the changes to that layer Set if you wanted a perminant change. No simple way to restore the layers you have hidden?

OK I created a bunch of floor trusses just fooling around with the tools & such. Now I want to select ALL the floor trusses & delete them. selecting one truss & there is no "Select similar" option. How do you select all of them?

I do not see any unblock! Look at the bottom tool bar. The WP highlites and a move grip appears, I am clicking on the recptical in the plan. cad block management only gives me the option to insert a new Recptical.

See picture attached. Looks like no Explode or Unlock available for this object. Using X6 Primer

OK, you are talking to a guy with 9 days of experance with Chief. Add "WP" to the cad block. Check Find the cad block and insert it on the plan , Check unblock it and change it, Oops, can't find the explode button for this block?

All water proof outlets must be labeled GCI or GFCI So how do I change the 2D block? Sorry f this is a dumb question but haven't found the answer yet. Thanks in advance.

I think you should have the flexability to change the dimension text. Using ACAD you can add text to the dimension , above & below the line & if you want, eliminite the dimension & have text only. I do that a lot to denote an area with a note & not use arrows. If you feel like it shouldn't be done then don't do it but why police my drawing?

Sad you can't roll your own. I have over a hundred LISP routine I use in ACAD. Granted Chief has many tools built in but often in ACAD you prefer to modify a command or use it with defaults of your own. In ACAD you can create a modified command and assign it to a tool bar button to expedite the process. Looks like Ruby has been crippled. So helper commands are out of the question. Let me say I have been using Chief for less than a week so I could be mistaken. I love Match Properties. With LISP you can make your own match properties choosing the properties you want to match. One thing I miss already is a layer Select, I can pick an object to get its layer (or several objects) hit enter then rectangle an area of the screen & all matching objects on the appropriate layer(s) are selected. Or hit enter without selecting & all objects in the drawing are selected with matching layers. I too draw in ACAD with layer sets but use a prefix to separate the layers. F0_layer name for foundation, F1_layer name for first floor, F2_layer name for second floor, E1_layer name for 1st floor electrical, etc. So I can draw the house with all layers stacked. I often have several sets ON & have a tool to select an existing text and then add text matching the layer, text style & text height. That's one click to match & one click to point where to put the new text. You see my point that giving the user the power to interact with the drawing on that level open the door to endless possibilities to customise the user work environment.