Alaskan_Son

I have watched it. Don't recall much about layer sets though. Can you elaborate a bit? We've always been able to copy layer sets so I must be misunderstanding you.

Use the Adjust Material Definition Tool (looks like a rainbow). Adjust the angle of both the Pattern (vector views and some other rendering techniques) and Texture (standard rendering, ray traces, and some other rendering techniques).

This has actually been an option since as far back as I can remember. Not new to X8... unless I'm misunderstanding what you're talking about perhaps.

Good idea Joe! I've always done that step in plan. Never occurred to me to do that in layout. Probably more useful in plan in most cases, but definitely a few instances where doing in layout would make more sense.

You can't. You can either redraw or export as DWG and try using the CAD to walls tool. Or, you can possibly import the model as a symbol but it's usability is about zero. I would probably just redraw. And you should really start another thread instead of hijacking this one.

You can fillet the corners and make circles but that's about it. You can get polyline shapes really easily though using CAD masks in plan.

The more I've thought about it, the more I realize that a custom toolbar configuration could be superior to a drop-down list in a lot of cases for use during specific tasks. I'll try to make a quick video when I have a little extra time.

I'm not familiar with the discussion in question, but… You should be able to simply draw the railing section in a blank plan, create a 3-D view, and create symbol.

You are correct. I realized that right after my original post which is why I followed it up with another post about the 2 methods essentially being the same (as long as the cameras are saved with the template plan). In other words, one way or another, the same cameras must be used for them to update.

I might add that I still don't see much of a difference between the SAM and Chief's preferred template methods except that as Joe suggested above, with the SAM, the template is constantly being modified and updated. If at the end of every job a person saved the plan as their profile plan, they would essentially be using both the SAM and Chief's template method.

The only way your elevation cameras will update is using the SAM. One of the upsides of using that method. Cameras and elevation views are forever tied together and since we cannot copy cameras, the only way to have elevations change is to use the exact same cameras (i.e. by saving the plan WITH the cameras to a new name and linking that plan to a new layout).

As far as I know, we don't have any way of creating a custom dropdown list, but there are 3 alternative options that come to mind... 1. Do as Joe suggests and just use the library. 2. Create a custom toolbar and then just toggle that on or off. 3. Probably the closest thing IMO...Create a custom toolbar configuration specific to the task at hand, assign it a custom icon, and then add that custom configuration button to any given toolbar. Only small downside is that you would have to click on another toolbar configuration to exit the custom configuration, but the upside is that you could load it up with a ton of different doors, windows, or whatever.

Here's a quick crappy video going over the basic process...

Yes. Add the appropriate door to your user library and then add Place Library Object to your toolbar for each door (assigning a custom icon for each instance).

That's funny. I'll often times recite that whole quote by Vizzini out of the blue for no real reason at. One of my favorite movies ever.

See this suggestion for anyone interested in adding their comments... https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/8182-annosets-make-the-layer-attribute-independent-of-the-annoset-entity/#entry71947

Here's my personal view of annotation sets in a nutshell... Once activated an anno set does a few things (some of which are optional depending on how you set them up)... 1. It decides which dimension styles you will be using along with the relevant settings (including which layers they will be placed on). 2. It decides which text styles you will be using (regular and rich) along with their relevant settings (including which layers they will be placed on) 3. It decides which CAD layer you will be drawing on. 4. It has similar settings for callouts, markers, and arrows. 5. It decides which layerset (if any) will be activated when switching to any given anno set. In general an annotation set should be used for exactly what it's name implies. In order to make annotations. The way I personally use anno sets is almost exclusively to direct the program to put the appropriate annotations onto the correct layers... something that can also be done simply by moving those items to their own layers...HOWEVER, once your annotation sets are set up, it is MUCH quicker to simply choose the appropriate anno set and just go to town. It just takes a little while to go through and set them up is all. I just wish there was a quicker way to select and copy any given anno set and then simply switch the appropriate layer sets.

Here's the link to my last request... https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/6599-option-to-convert-mouldings-to-solids-or-symbols-to-solids/?hl=%2Bmoulding+%2Bsolid

Not that I know of. I wish there was. I made a request a while back. I would encourage you to make it again. In the meantime you can just extrude a polyline in the appropriate shape and use that. Downside of course is that you can only essentially use one moulding line at a time.

You bet, and you are correct...until you start using anno sets, simply moving dimensions to their own layers is probably the best solution.

I've never had this problem. Maybe because I've never set the back to match front. Is there really any reason to do that?

I think you need to study up on annotation sets. You can also just group select the plot plan dimensions and put them on their own layer.

Can you clarify what exactly is driving you bonkers? I don't think it's possible to have separate layers per layer set. If an object is assigned to a layer, that layer must exist everywhere.

You bet Michael. On a side note for anyone following this, the method in Yusefs video works as well, although I've tested it in a couple plans with some pretty mixed results. It seems to be pretty jumpy. Painting results when connected to a landing can be inconsistent (and actually even changes the STRUCTURE of the narrow stairs in some cases). Railings are also a little jumpy and inconsistent.

Interesting. I tried the same thing. Definitely doesn't work on my end. landry, did you send this in to tech support yet? Or has anyone else sent the issue in?