Ross101

Not so good, and hopefully this gets sorted. Thanks for sharing this.... anyone else having issues with MacBooks and X13?

Thanks Michael, It looks as if 3D has been sorted out, which was one of my concerns. X13 hasn't worked in 3D on my current, admittedly ancient MacBook (perhaps we've got too used to computers "just working" these days ... ). I'll start going through the options.

Thanks Ryan, This helps. I’ll get the 16” (my current 15” is OK for client visits but bigger will help). I’ll look at the cost of the M1Max upgrade and probably bite the bullet for future proofing as you suggest. Nobody having any issues with the latest MacBook Pro and CA? I understand that real time ray tracing isn’t possible but I won’t need that. Thanks Ross

Hi All I’m finally upgrading my old Macbook Pro (15”, Retina, Mid 2014, 16GB Memory, etc). Its been good so far, but it's hit the wall with X13. I’ve had to stay with X12 in 2021 because I’ve not been able to produce 3D views with X13 on it. I’m trying not to buy an overpriced and over-achieving new laptop, but likewise I want it to produce 3D views and run well for the next 5 years or so. I should add that I don't do ray tracing or other presentation views, just simple 3D renders. Also, I want to stay with Mac, so changing back to PC isn’t an option for me. I’ve read the Chief Architect system recommendations for Mac, which are in summary: · 32GB RAM · 1TB SSD Storage · CPU with 4GB+ of video memory and 6+ core There are posts on ChiefTalk about MacBook issues that I’m trying to make sense of, but some are old posts, I know Apple has changed its chips from Intel and it quickly gets technical beyond my knowledge, so I’m asking advice from any MacBook users here. 1. Should I get an M1Pro or M1Max? (It looks like the M1Pro will be more than enough for my needs…. I’m not producing high-end video YouTube stuff). 2. Should I get a 14” or 16”? (I plug my laptop into a BENQ external monitor when using CA. A lighter and more portable 14” laptop is attractive, but there may be factors I’m unaware of here)? 3. Are there any other issues with a new MacBook laptop that I should consider? I'd really appreciate any input before purchasing. Happy New Year! Ross Young Katoomba, Australia

Why was it changed? Ross

Thanks Eric. Yes, it works exactly the same as SHIFT/Select/Deselect used too, but now using COMMAND/Select/deselect. COMMAND might be specific to a Mac? I shall retrain my brain... I am now seeing previous answers to this (including yours). I did a search before posting but none of these came up... wrong search terms, obviously. Thanks again Ross

Hi All When "group selecting" a number of items, I use Shift/Select as usual to click on each item to select it. If I accidentally select an object that I don't want to be included in the group, I used to click on it again while holding down the Shift key, and it would be deselected. This no longer works for me? I'm sure this will be an easy answer... but what am I doing wrong? Relevant information, possibly: X11 (latest update) MacBook Pro, mid, 2014. Thanks Ross

Thanks Chopsaw, that was it. At some stage I must have changed the Toolbar to "Extended Tool Configuration" and those options disappeared. I've changed back to Default and got them back on the menu. Thanks again, Ross

Hi, I'm familiar with controlling display and line weights, etc in a Plan view by using "Active Layer Set Control" and "Active Annotation Set Control" ( I'm not that confident, but I can get it to work....). However, I'm now wanting to draw some CAD details and put them into my Layout. I want to draw these details from scratch. I go to CAD/CAD Detail Management/New and get a new window that I can rename and draw the details onto. However, the menu bar for the doesn't display the same "Active Layer Set Control" and Active Annotation Set Control" options to allow me to control the line weights, etc of my details. (See attached pictures). What am I missing here? I suspect its something very obvious..... Is there a way to get those options onto the menu bar or is there another way to control the line weights in CAD detail? FYI the Plan view goes to Layout at 1:100 scale and the Details will be 1:20 and 1:10 (sorry for the metric units) Thanks Ross X9

Hi Mick, I don't think its a firewall issue. I use a MacBook and as far as I know anyway, there isn't a firewall. I don't use any virus checkers? Its interesting that its occurring across platforms. Sherry uses Windows and I'm using Mac. So far, no further message but early days. Cheers Ross

Support have replied with the suggestion to deactivate the licence, then reactivate using the product key. I've done this but will need to wait a while to see if this fixes the issue or if the message pops up again. It was only popping up every week or so... maybe longer. I just used to ignore it until it said the program would terminate in a few days time. Hopefully this fixes it. Cheers, Ross

Likewise with the message.... I've just sent a message to Support to try to sort it out. I have a good strength WiFi connection to my laptop (Macbook) and the house modem is on all the time so the laptop is connected always to the internet. The message says that I "must connect this computer to the internet prior to Thur Apr 12 21:28:01 2018 (i.e., in 6 days time). If these operations are not performed, this program will terminate and this software may require re-registration". Cheers Ross

Tim, I've had this issue as well and spent time trying to get a perspective view to show the correct shadows. Basically I've found that after I've made a north point and set a time to see the shadows, I need to close the old 3D perspective view and generate a new view. Once Ive done that, the shadows are correct. This only needs to be done once. Any further change to the time of day will change the shadows correctly in the 3D view. Cheers, Ross

OK, thanks everyone who answered, I'll go with the BENQ monitor. Regards Ross

Hi Chopsaw, I thought about the wider 21:9 screen ratio. The benefit of that would be that this monitor will be shared by my partner who looks at documents rather than drawings and it would suit her to look at several pages side by side. I can't get my head around the idea of a curved screen.... maybe too long looking at a flat drawing board in the past. Mick, that is a good suggestion and link. There is the Benq monitor at $499 as you say. Its a demo model but that doesn't worry me too much. New price for new for BENQ BL 3200PT 32" seems to be about AU$700 to AU$800. Cheers Ross

Hi All Some quick advice. I've been using my 15 inch Macbook Pro as my primary workhorse for two years and putting up with the small screen, but now want to buy a larger monitor to use with it. I'm looking at a LG 31.5" MP58 Full HD IPS Monitor. Here is a link. American readers, look and gasp at the Australian price:) http://www.harveynorman.com.au/lg-31-5-mp58-full-hd-ips-monitor.html I'm not a gamer, am not fussed about 100% colour rendering, don't do much ray-tracing in CA, and don't plan to watch TV or DVD's on it. This monitor has 5 or 6ms refresh rate (I recall this was pretty good a few years ago?... maybe showing my age) and a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080. I reckon it will do the job for me, but before I make the purchase, any comments or advice? Should I look at something else for the price? I've added a picture of the system specs, including graphics card...... Cheers Ross

Glenn.. I thought it was a main layer issue but wasn't familiar with the new dbx display and how to change the items in it. Thanks Ross

Griffin, Chopsaw, thanks for the replies. Griffin, the Reverse Layers button isn't what I'm after for this job as it puts the brick on the outside (i.e., conventional rick veneer, not reverse BV). Chopsaw, that worked... thanks, I didn't know about that icon or what it can do. It looks right in 3D as well so this is a good solution. I thought it was something to do with setting the "main layer" in some way.... but couldn't see anything there. Thanks again Ross

Hi All I'm getting back into using CA after an absence, and having trouble with what is probably a simple problem.... I'm using X8 for this plan. The exterior walls are reverse brick veneer (timber framing and cladding on the outside, brick wall on the inside). The interior walls are timber framed. Where an interior wall meets an exterior wall, I want the timber frame to stop at the interior face of the brick. What is displaying is as per the pictures. The timber frame wall goes through the brick wall to meet the external timber frame. I've got a feeling its an easy fix, but just can't find it!! Many thanks Ross PS Pictures and test plan attached . Reverse Brick Veneer Test Plan.zip

Still playing with this and have discovered the following..... The wall in question is a pony wall, with a change of wall type at 2250mm AFL. This is also the head height of the window units. If I change the wall so it is not a pony wall and make the whole wall the same type, the mulled window displays correctly in plan. Anyway, a quick short term solution is gained by "exploding" the window unit. It then displays correctly in plan. Thanks Ross

Hi Mattyt, You are right! I opened another plan, inserted two windows, mulled them and their appearance in plan looked correct. It is something specific to this plan or these windows, not a problem with the program. Hi Glenn, This is probably the issue.... In reading about mulled units in the Manual..... Window Levels do not define the height of a window, just the appearance and behavior of windows and doors in floor plan view. • In floor plan view, windows and doors on the Default Level display the line color and style of the layer they are on. See Layers. • Windows on any other level appear light gray, regardless of the layer they are on. This seems to be it, but how do I change the "level" of my window (or mulled unit) back to the Default Level? I can't see where to do this in the Window DBX. In the "Options" section of the Windows DBX there is a "Vertical Stacking" option, but that is greyed out (and set to "0") Thanks Ross

Hi All Does anyone know how to make mulled windows appear the same as un-mulled windows in plan? Attached are images of window assemblies in adjacent bedrooms (a double casement above a fixed window) One bedroom window unit is mulled, and the other is not. When I mull the windows, the wall fill color continues in the window area in plan view. I'd like the window area to have no wall fill color, whether mulled or not. Any hints on this? Thanks Ross

Hi If you have SSA you can download a bonus plant catalogue at the following: http://3dlibrary.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?r=site/detail/872 There are seven Douglas Fir images there of different sizes. Cheers Ross

Hi Alan and Mick, sorry for not responding to your answers .....I didn't have my settings set to be notified when a reply was made (now fixed). It must have been a busy day on the forum as the post went down the list and off the page quickly. I ended up finding that same Eucalypt on-line but it's good to know its still in the library. If anyone is looking for other Australian plants there is a resource of images at http://www.ozbreed.com.au/3d-graphics.html .... it's a bit light on eucalypts considering there are over 800 species and still counting. Thanks Ross

Well, I prefer Ross in usual discourse, or even Rossco ...... to my friends. The name came when the new CA forum started up and there was an option to have a nickname. I'm originally a New Zealander and as you may know, Pounamu is the Maori name for greenstone, a very hard, beautiful and sought-after stone used for both weapons (clubs, axes) and jewellery. It seemed like a good idea at the time...... I'm only an occasional poster on the forum so I have never got around to changing it. However, it looks as if you can't actually change it anyway? As far as I can see you can change most details of your profile but not your nickname. Cheers Ross(co)