Joe_Carrick

I know how to create Custom Toolbars for Library Objects. However, I would like to be able to arrange these with "DropDown Buttons" which could then have specific Library Objects on the DropDown List. Does anyone know how to do this? Obviously CA has done it for Walls, Railings, Doors, Windows, etc. I just can't find a way to do it within the Customization Tools that Chief provides.

Glenn, I'm going to look into this further. I would like to be able to create "Child Buttons" so that I can have a drop down Toolbar. That way, I could organize my Wall Types for quicker access. Do you know if this is possible for a user defined toolbar?

Scott, The 2D CAD Block can't be offset to match the 3D y-origin. CA messed this up in implementing the Projection Window Symbols in X6. I've reported this bug before, but it hasn't been fixed. Remember the suggestion "Make 2D CAD Blocks match the 3D Symbol Offsets"? You are probably right about the Vector View of the back side - editing would be required.

That's a good idea Glenn. But you're right - I have about 20 different Walls in my Library - plus Railings, etc. It's forced my to organize my Library very carefully with Folders and Sub-Folders. OTOH, for those that I use the most the Toolbar solution would be nice.

Scott has it right. The Niche is a Symbol made up of Solids - 1 box, 1 cylinder & 1 sphere. The cylinder and sphere were subtracted from the box to create the niche seen in the lower right of the pic. This was then converted to a Window Symbol (Pass-Thru which is something I hadn't realized before was an option in the Symbol dbx) and the y-origin adjusted to accommodate the depth of the symbol. I placed Stretch Planes at y=1/2" & z=6". I also set the 2D Block as "None". I don't worry about the Plan View or the back of the Wall in most cases because I generally have these things in Walls where there's a void behind such as a plumbing chase, etc. If I need to close the hole on the back side, I use a simple box converted to a symbol (12"x12"x1") as a "Drywall Patch". I just have to inset it into the wall 1", stretch it to cover the hole and match whatever material the back of the wall consists of. If I really want to get fancy, I can make another Symbol with a filled 2D Block to insert from the back side to make the Plan even more accurate. The end result is a niche that looks good in both plan and in 3D. Note: The symbol I used in the example is fairly simple and is flush with the face of the wall. It can be much more complex. If anyone has one that they would like to have setup to work like this - just post it here and I'll have a go at it. If there's a specific Wall Type you want to put it in with a back side Fill I can add that to the symbol as well.

Add the Half Wall, Railing Wall, Shower Wall, Custom Cabinet, Window, Door, etc ....... to the Library. Now it's available for every Plan - exactly as you defined the first one. It's more than just the Wall Type or a Default Cabinet - it's customized objects. All the details are preserved to be reused whenever needed. This is a tool that everyone should learn to use because it essentially does what's being asked for - Repeatable Complex Object Definitions.

Michael, Select the 4" wall in your Plan, "Add to Library" (assuming that you don't already have that wall in the Library), Select the Library wall & draw over the 6" wall. Voila!

The rest are probably saying NO - but are trying to do so politely

Tools > Space Planning in X6 is standard. It's been there at least as far back as version 9 - at least that's what I recall. I tried it once or twice and decided that I'm more comfortable just drawing the walls. I haven't used it for at least 6 years.

Note: I have the Layer Eyedropper, Layer Painter, & Layer Hider Buttons on my Toolbar. It's really easy to use them and works pretty much like "Match Properties" tool in ACAD.

OK, I guess it's time for me to chip in. IMNSHO, Scott has it right. To simplify that statement: 1. The Layer has Linestyle, Color, Thickness & Text Style (Those are the only Properties available in Chief) 2. Edit the Layer of an Object and all of those properties change. 3. Each Layer Set can have different settings for each Layer, so it's infinitely flexible. It is of course possible to over-ride the Layer Settings for any object, but it's really better to stay with Use Layer so that you take advantage of #3 above. Bottom Line: Select the Objects and Edit the Layer - that's as good as it gets!

Curt, If you save that light to the user library after making the fill transparent - does it come in as transparent when you select and place it from the user library? Yes, of course it does. The problem is that we can't edit the symbols except in the User Library or in the Plan, so anything from Chief's Libraries have solid fill and you have to either modify the Text Style or select a different Text Style.

I think it's because it was created in an earlier version and the materials simply didn't come into X6 when I imported the symbol. I edited all the materials and now it looks OK. IAE, the size doesn't match what I have at HD and Lowes,

Use a Room Polyline - edited to match the area that will be covered with flooring.

Tommy used a Doorway - I used a Window Pass-Thru. I haven't been able to get Tommy's to display as anything but black - don't know why.

The easiest way to do this - IMO - is "replace from library". That gives you options

I use a Rectangular Symbol (just a Flat Box) with a macro displaying the (width x depth)/144 as the Label. Generally, I have this with a Transparent Fill but you can use any hatch pattern. The only problem with this is that it has to be a rectangle. OTOH, it does dynamically update as you stretch it.

Very true. To use this reliably you can't have an arrow pointing to a location where there are two or more coincident lines. Sorry about the multi syllables Scott.

Closed Polylines have a Ruby attribute "area" which can be used in a reference macro. You will need to have a Text Box with an arrow pointing to the Polyline.- it's really that simple.

Not bad - not perfect but it works.

Here is another Version of the Symbol. This one auto-magicly creates a pass thru for you - but you might have to adjust the height above the floor. In addition, if it is on the wrong side of the wall, you would need to rotate the symbol about the z axis and adjust the y origin (both of those edits would be in the general tab of the symbol dbx. In the Pass-Thru Window dbx, suppress the Frame. Washing Machine Outlet Box-AutoInsert.calibz

Niches should be fairly simple - CA could use their subroutines for "Wall Material Region" to cut holes in the wall layers as thick as the niche recess. It might require a new Symbol Class or it could just be a flag and y-origin adjustment. IAE, I agree that this feature is long overdue. My back is better - I got a cortisone injection for a pulled muscle. Still some pain but not too bad.

Without the Plan nobody can answer your question.

Hi Cheryl, Sorry I got tied up and forgot about this. Here's a symbol that should work for you. It's set to mount on a wall 42" above the floor but you will need to provide an 8"x 6" pass-thru window at 42" above the floor and move the symbol 3-7/8" into the opening. If the wall is exposed on the opposite side you will need to put a Solid into the Pass-Thru on that side to fill the hole in the wall finish material. Washing Machine Outlet Box.calibz

There are also several on 3D Warehouse but nothing exactly like yoiur pic. The solid door on the left side in your pic seems to be unique.