Alaskan_Son

I definitely agree with your statement re: the switch and toggle method being a bit of a kludge but to some extent it's all that we have so until we get something better I'm rolling with it.

It can also be done with "switches" or "toggles" that are set via the layer name or by using another object containing a global ($name) macro that acts as the switch (using line weight, true/false, etc). As you well know though...it really all depends on exactly what you're after and what level of control and flexibility you want.

This can only be done with some custom macros. It's an ability that has been requested by myself and I'm sure others. Wouldn't hurt for you to request it again.

I was only offering a side note because I've experienced problems in the past although I can't exactly place my finger on when and how those problems did or might manifest themselves. At the very least it can be annoying if you have multiple viewports open and changing the layer set in one view (plan maybe) affects what you see in the other view (layout maybe). Sure the problem will likely correct itself but its annoying nonetheless. Anyway, having said all that, I still really like your idea and think it has quite a bit of potential. I've been using a similar technique to toggle labels using layer names that are not the same in all layer sets...a feature Chief has stated that are doing away with. I'm thinking that the method you've brought up may help replace at least some of what I am doing with that method now. I am thinking I would do things slightly differently than you are though. Namely, I personally find it easier and a little more intuitive to just toggle the various label display options by placing a single toggle control into a polyline label and then using the line weight for that polyline as the toggle (0 = no label, 1 = automatic label, 2 = header, 3 = schedule number, or whatever). The line weight could easily be changed on a layer set by layer set basis. You could even block a Rich Text box with that polyline that may include not only all the necessary macros but also a description of which numbers mean what and they could even be made to display which label type is currently active in that view. Not the same thing exactly but the box could have a reactive display like I did with this Kitchen Triangle tool I made a little while back... https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/10386-kitchen-work-triangle/ At any rate, I really appreciate you sharing, its a technique that seems worth exploring further. P.S. I sent you a PM

BT, Haven't spent a lot of time on it and I'm probably done playing around with this for today, but just a little side note for whatever it might be worth to you. I remember now why I stopped using global ($) macros as any sort of toggle...it can be very finicky. Macros will execute in unwanted fashions simply by opening or closing text macro management, and switching a layer set in plan can affect the view in layout even if the view in layout hasn't changed layer sets. Anyway, you have to be EXTREMELY careful with the way you set up and execute your global macros to avoid unwanted results. It can be more of a hassle than its worth in many situations.

I haven't really studied your macros but I have accomplished this type of thing in at least a couple different ways... 1. Place the necessary macros into the object's label and if necessary simply set one or more to .clear or to return "". 2. Place the macros into one or more text boxes, block it/them, and add to the library. Again, you can set one or more macros to return "" or to .clear if necessary, OR you can set the text color to white or the text height to zero so the macro doesn't even show (if necessary). It totally depends on exactly what you're trying to accomplish but hopefully one of those will work for you. NOTE: You can actually even simply use a place holder object. A cabinet for example with the macros in the label. Add the cabinet to your plan and then simply delete it and the macros will load. Same thing with a text box or anything else for that matter. Also, you can right click on any symbol or architectural block that's already in the library and then click on text macro management to either write or import any macro you want. Any and all macros you add will automatically load with that object whether they're actually being used with that object or not.

Ya, I think this should probably be considered a bug and fixed. You should report this to tech support as I don't believe it should work that way. You can fix the problem by placing a very small gap between your copies though...looks more realistic to me like that anyway, and if you go that route you can also add a grout line.

If it was an upgrade to X8 that triggered your issue then I suspect you need to turn shadows off. Shadows are turned on by default in X8 and can really slow things down. The setting was also relocated from preferences to camera defaults.

Alan, Your problem is that the material you're using for your floor structure (Pine 1) is not a Framing material. There are a few ways you could change this, but here's one... Open your Floor Structure Definition dbx, select that Pine 1 layer, click Select Material, click Plan Materials, click Edit, and then change the Material Type from "Area" to "Framing". Then probably set your Floor Structure type to "Lumber" (although that is not necessary to get your trusses working).

For something like that you can also just use the Delete Surface tool.

Here's one way but it requires either creating a Save As version of the plan and/or temporarily changing your material definitions in the main plan. 1. Switch to your 3D framing set and turn on the Walls, Normal and Windows layers. You may also want to turn off the casing layers. 2. Use the Adjust Material Definition tool to change your walls' interior and exterior layers by: A. Changing the Material Type to "Gap" (this is for Vector Views). B. Clicking on Properties, switching the Material Class to "General Material" and setting the transparency to 100% (this is for other render views). There are other more complex ways too, but I think that would be the easiest for a few quick renderings.

It just seemed pretty clear to me that Lew wasn't understanding that he was using the wrong "center line" which is why I stressed the importance of using the lines that show up in the correct orientation (perpendicular to the side you're trying to center on).

Lew, layout pages are probably the single most difficult place to use the center objects tool. You just have to very slowly move your mouse across down at the bottom or top until you get a VERTICAL marker. Do the same thing on the side until you get a HORIZONTAL marker. When trying to center on a layout page those particular markers only show up when you're in just the right spot it seems.

You can actually drag those colors to whichever box you want. Just left click, drag, and release.

Take a look at this thread... https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/10009-how-to-make-groove-in-wall/?hl=grooves#entry87465 I personally would usually use p-solids for this type of thing, but a material region set to cut layer of parent object works as well. It just requires you take some time to set up the proper wall definition (possibly using 2 walls sandwiched together) and the material region's layer simply gets turned off (it becomes the joints). Take a look at that thread though for some more detailed answers.

I'm a big fan of creating the proper sized openings, placing and properly sizing the freestanding appliance and then properly positioning it in the cabinet. It's a lot more accurate and far less likely to result in a sizing mistake. When an appliance is inserted as a face item it can too easily be sized incorrectly to start with or resized by mistake. I personally place almost all my appliances manually.

You can't move the origin but what you can do is move everything in relation to the origin. I think edit area all floors and point-to-point move is probably your best bet.

Larry, if its not an allowed file type, zip it first.

There are several easy ways but start out by switching to the point marker tool, holding down the Shift key and marquis selecting all of them. Now either... A. Change the marker radii to zero B. Assign the Invisible line style to the object or layer(s) C. Turn the layer(s) off

You'll probably need to attach the plan. It sounds to me like you are selecting more than just line work.

This is just a guess without seeing the plan but you probably need to check "By Layer" next to the color setting when you group select. When you group select I'm betting that box is filled in (no change).

Select those edges and click the "Convert Curve To Polyline" tool. Give the curve a higher number of segments to keep it from looking too choppy. And make sure you have fascia checked as has already been mentioned. This was done in X8 but X7 works the same way...

That situation looks a little more complicated and it would help to see the plan, but check these 2 videos out to see if you can glean any good info. from them (they're both really short). It's a little different situation but you might be able to use similar techniques... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syvgoRxbGDw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ewC5n4dv00 ...specifically, I'm thinking the zero width main layer setting might help; otherwise, the next thing I would try doing would be to draw those layers as individual single layer walls that are just all sandwiched together. There are a lot of possibilities but I'd probably start out there. Again, if you attach the plan you'll probably get a better answer.

Also...you may want to toggle shadows off. If I remember correctly, they are on by default. Depending on your system this may solve the problem entirely.

In X8 there are quite a few ways we can do that. You have less options in X7 but here are a couple that come to mind... -Using a dimension with the invisible line type is one good solution. -Using room dividers set to no room definition, placed on your CAD layer, and including a very simple macro in the wall label is another. This way you can move the label wherever you want.