Alaskan_Son

A quick video... http://screencast.com/t/PAsgE5rl

We already use Sketchup. I actually prefer Chief though for most things... Plus, natively created Chief symbols usually behave much better than those created in Sketchup.

It actually doesn't work for anything except a rectangular cross section.

Ya, that would work. It limits what can be done with boolean operations though which is what I am really after. It would be nice if we were either able to convert a moulding to a solid or a symbol to a solid. Ima gonna post a suggestion.

Ya, I guess I should have clarified. See my last post above. The functionality I'm after would require the ability to create a moulding path not just a straight line.

Here's a quick example... I created this ladder recently, and while I was able to build it with primitive solids, it would have been much quicker and easier if I were able to use mouldings to create the side rails.

Is there any method of converting a moulding to a primitive solid? Seems like it should be an easy thing to do...select a moulding, convert to solid. Am I missing something or is there really no way to do this?

Yep. Colored, LIVE, vector views would be a nice addition to CA's capabiliites. Not anywhere near the top of my priority list, but a good suggestion and a useful feature. For now, its a bit of a pain but we can layer multiple views in layout to get close, however its not the same.

I think turning off the layer IS the option.

Nice job Johnny

I've personally never wanted any of those colors or fills in layout. As far as I know, the only way to do that is to send it as an image.

Hmmm...Still kinda cool, but after running some tests, it appears you can only use + and - and that only one calculation can be performed at a time (i.e. 2"+2", NOT 2"+2"+3").

Thats AWESOME!!! Thanks for that little tip!

What I believe you are seeing is framing material...plywood and/or stud material. Just use Adjust Material Definition (rainbow tool) and change the color.

I think most of us make those parts from moulding polylines...at least I do.

Thanks Larry!! Good stuff. I personally just learned a lot from that. You get another point.

If you read back though you'll see that I gave myself the rest of that answer too.

You know what...thank YOU for posting the plan. It is EXTREMELY helpful. In fact I'm going to start giving people points for posting the plan. Giving you one right now.

This conversation was a little outside my interest zone until this statement... Whoa! That sounds crazy. If that works for you than have at it, but I don't see any benefit other than perhaps easier sorting. That could be done using the project browser in one single plan though.

Not sure I like that answer but it is helpful none the less. As it turns out, it will also work if you select right or left side...just not centered. I guess what I'll do is select either right or left and then move the callout back to where I want it (essentially centering it). Thank you Scott, not exactly what I was hoping but that got me where I needed to be : )

Thanks Scott, Here's a quick example... Sample plan.plan

Okay, so it seems there should be an easy way to do this, but I can't for the life of me find any way to hide a modified cross section line with hiding the whole camera/callout or adding a CAD patch Not something I've ever needed or used before now, but I've recently discovered and started to utilize the ability to cut and reshape cross section lines. As soon as the line is modified however, it is displayed in plan view as a solid line. I can change the line style in layer settings but this affects the callout display as well. There seems to be a setting for cross section line in the camera dbx but I can't seem to find any way to select and change it...its grayed out and I can't find anywhere in defaults or preferences to access it. I'm assuming its something simple that I'm missing. Any help would be appreciated.

I gave you a point too Glenn, although...you didn't really give the answer like Scott did. The build platform setting was actually set correctly. I would give you 2 points Scott, but alas...I cannot.

I agree with you Glenn. I didn't think it should matter either. Just knew that it worked when I changed it to an exterior wall. Should have looked better and caught the zero thickness thing though. Good job Scott.

Gave you a point Scott. I looked through those wall definitions too. I missed the zero thickness though.