Chopsaw

Found some great symbols today but the DXF files are all 2D, any suggestions. Or any way to convert into a format that can be used in Chief? The Manual is very explicit on this topic, "If you have 3D data in another format, you must convert it into one these formats first. (.dwg, .dxf, .3ds, .obj, .stl, .dae, and .skp)" but not very helpful as to how one might go about this. These are the available formats.

https://3dlibrary.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?r=site/detail/895

Not quite sure who I offended or what I did wrong but I know how much work goes into this type of thing because I have been working with a big plumbing supplier for the last week to get .dxf files that if I am successful I might share with the community. So I was thanking Susan for her work and asking if someone could help me find a thread that I had been frustrated trying to find for hours with a broken search engine on the new forum. Thought it would be useful information for me trying to get more library content and anyone reading this thread who wants to be involved in making this a better program. So if it did not sound that way to you I am sorry, and you can put away the darts now.

Thank You Jon, That sure was quick, I guess I did not go back quite far enough. Thought is was more recent but it looks like the one I was looking for.

Susan, Thank you for all your background work on this thread, there have been many requests for this in the past. There was a thread a while back that I have been unsuccessfully searching for, possibly by a CA staff member requesting suggestions for library's and talking about communicating with suppliers through social media to help build up the CA 3D Library. Does anyone remember it or have the link?

Mike, The last one I did I also tried to use a doorway and could not make it work. Resorted to a hinged slab door and changed most of the vizible materials to "Opening (no material)" and then edited the Description Column to say "Doorway For (size) Sliding Barn Door". Then I just needed one tiny cad line mask over the slab door in plan view. I put in a request to tech support at the time for it to work with a doorway, quite logical. Chopsaw

I guess I will be calling tech support tomorrow. I just opened another different cad block and the first time it was on the proper layer, the next time it was on Wall Niches,Labels layer then the third time it decided to be on the Cad Default layer.

Sorry, it is nothing that complicated. I just opened a blank plan to do 1 item of library maintenance and pulled my cad block out of the library and exploded it and changed the layer and then reblocked and named it the same as the existing one in the library. Got the "Replace All other instances of cad block with this one?" message option and said yes. It changed the one in the library but will not permanently save it, ( reverts to original version when plan is closed and reopened ). I have also tried deleting the copy in the library before placing the modified one back in and get the same results. Totally frustrated so it must be some simple brain freeze.

Yes I understand Current Cad Layer but I was trying to assign a custom layer to the item before cad blocking so that when placed back into the plan and unblocked it will be on that custom layer but it keeps going back to it's default layer after I close the plan file and reopen it. All is fine while the plan is open and the "Replace All other instances of cad block with this one?" seems to replace the library item of the same name in the library in X9.

Thanks Michael, I thought I had it working that way in X8 and X9 but I just retested and it only worked in X9 this time but still will not save. Give it a try with something simple, I was just trying to edit the layer.

I have never had a problem saving something into the Library before but just noticed for the first time that when using "Replace All other instances of cad block with this one?" function it only temporarily saves the Library instance of the file and then reverts to the original cad block properties when the file is closed and then reopened. Every other time I have put something into the library there is no other steps required to save it, or am I missing something?

Hi Diane, If you have not done so already watch some of the latest videos and give it a try in a blank plan file and if you like the results make a copy of your plan file and try it there. If you run into trouble ask more questions. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/242/trace-a-terrain-lot-image-to-create-a-site-plan-or-terrain-perimeter.html?playlist=101 https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/1056/import-a-surveyor-dwg-file-for-a-site-plan-or-terrain-perimeter.html?playlist=127 https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/6082/grandview-how-we-modified-the-terrain.html?playlist=127

Just go to your Electrical Plan and check to see what layer they are on and make sure that same layer is turned on on Floor Plan.

Mike are you running X9 now? There seems to be something they changed about that tool in the last update that I don't like and it could be unstable.

Mike, You likely toggled off Connect Cad Segments Also there is a setting in Preferences>CAD>Options>"Connect CAD Segments".

Take a look at this thread :

I just changed the foundation wall type to 8" Concrete Stem Wall and opened the Room Specification DBX for the basement under the structure tab and changed G from 11 11/16" to 0". If you would like me to show you check your PM or I can return the plan file.

Does this look any better?

Not quit sure what is going on when I opened the section view for the Master Bedroom the stem walls were there but for some reason the floor is 11 11/16" lower, and then the stem walls disappeared on me. I am not sure that I did any thing that would have caused that. You might need someone with a little more experience with monoslabs to take a look.

That looks better but where did the stem wall go? Hang on and I will take a look at your plan file. What does the structure DBX look like?

Try this first. Plan Defaults> Foundation> Select "Hang 1st Floor Platform Inside Foundation Walls".

Take a look at this and see what you think. I changed the floor back to the way you originally had it which I think is correct. LI 1930 Colonial House fix.plan

How about this? I think this is closer but there is still something in defaults I missed. Not quite an expert yet.

How does this look? Let me know if you would like the file back or if there is more required.

If you can provide some photos of what you need and maybe some screen shots of where you are at, and be as specific as you can with issues you are having. Someone will be sure to help. Also what version of the software are you using?