MarkMc

Thanks Perry, will try it

Perry -are you also saving interior cameras in template? I've tried that for kitchens and I haven't been able to get that to save much time. Suggestions?

I've had mixed results converting PDF to DWG- it seamed to depend on the file provided. Some files worked great, some were useless. I haven't messed with a conversion in something like 5 years. I think I tried every converter available at the time. Are they more consistent now than what I ran into? I now open in BB and export as png to bring into Chief for tracing. ON a good day the supplied PDF has layers so I can turn off what is not needed and clean it up.(wish we could get layered pdfs from Chief)

Importing into a "new cad detail" prevents the size change and doesn't mess up your floor plan. You can drag and drop from Windows Explorer and the dialog box pops up, still have to click away. Two at a time are possible. They will place exactly centered on each other but the last one dragged in will be automatically selected so you can move it. More than two gets messy because of that. I'm sure who use more details than I do will chime in here about long term storage and use. I either keep them in a warehouse plan or the library depending.

Not sure if you are looking at this for working on or for printing? I use some layersets for working only- such as wall cabinets are hidden, base cabinets are hidden- and variations. (I have most of these tied into annosets but that is another discussion) May help with what you are after instead of changing defaults back and forth. If I need to show cabinets in the printed electric plan I use a detail from view. (I have some layersets specific for those too). After creating the detail from view you can select the cabinets and make those with "NO FILL" without affecting the defaults or other parts of the plan. Block, put on layer and "paste in place" back into the electric plan. I don't usually show counters or molding in electric plans but the same applies BUT I do like to see Crown molding when working on recessed lights to avoid conflict.

+1 for Bluebeam Used many if not all till I got BB Revu standard, 6 yrs and upgraded once.

1-look into annotation sets combined with layersets. A bit to learn, worthwhile. Yoda or someone will add more. 2-layerset(s) for working, has the camera layer on. Another layerset to send to layout with cameras hidden and layer of the 4 way callout(s) showing.

Can do it-solid cylinder, set size. Copy in place, open object, change size. Transform replicate, copy and move given distance (x 10) select first object, solid subtraction, select second smaller cylinder. Transform replicate, move (3rd object) back (x -10) and up or down if you want to see it (z) wouldn't be my first choice unless I needed just something that simple. More complicated or more machine parts there are tools better suited. You do know that IRL you can't put a 1/2" diameter tube into a 1/2" diameter hole right?

Good thought Michael, there are desktop mobo's with Intel chips. Think Graham has one?

Do a forum search, in the past folks have posted materials that work.

Check task manager and resource monitor, get Nvidia's GPU monitor to see what is happening there. AND just for grins try connecting to a single monitor, and then connect to a single monitor with another type of cable (hdmi) I've had issues in the past going through Display Port to a second screen-worth a shot. And if you have any other GPU intensive software -is that working fine?

I tried it , no problem with your plan- with shadows, without, 2d 3d.... hard to say without sitting at your machine. You are running 64 bit not 32 right (not that should do it but well...) I have no issues with X8 other than sending layouts with transparent fill to Bluebeam PDF (no problem printing those from within program itself though)

With Win10 a 3DS works fair when opened in "3D builder" -allows zoom, rotate , can't figure out how to pan. I've used 3ds from CA to turbocad to produce 3dPDF which allow all but I haven't figured out how to maintain textures in 3DPDF-may not be possible.

When out at the UGM the how and why of getting changes was explained to the User Panel. The way I understood it was they add to a database from: suggestion forum, suggestions sent in, tech support. When it comes time a bunch of them sit down and fight it out. The regular forums were not said to be included in the database but could possibly have something to do with the "what will we do brawl" as I'm sure each persons own experience and prejudice does. So does listing work-arounds discourage improvement-mhhh. Should it stop? seriously. I don't think so. Even in the suggestions forum I think there are times that it makes some sense. While I don't think that poo-pooing someones request should happen sometimes it does make sense to offer "until they fix that try this" expecially for things that will A take longer to get, or B-not be high on a majority of lists. Any way-I'm personally always grateful for a way to "get it done". I've been on since X3. In my end of things, kitchens and baths, I was pretty critical of CA's approach to our end of the market. I completely understand that the program is first targeted to full houses, AND that it is damn complicated. After the UGM you could say I drank the kool-aid, I came away convinced that every single person from CA I met cares a lot about the product and the users.

Alternatively, full or floor overview, 3D, camera view options, cross section slider. Play with setting, adjust camera. Only works in standard view, vector makes the slider go away. Still easier than photographing the real thing

Yepah that's all of it. Upload yours and I'll take a look, who knows...

Here is a file I exported and opened, see if it works for you in ACAD. CAD test.zip

I just tested exporting an elevation to dwg, no problem. I see no change in behavior with this (still too many overlapping lines) I always use a few versions back for safety, no problem. I use TCad not Acad and always have to click to view extents.

At the UGM they indicated the issue was with file size growing. We had just done a bunch of plan templates for various cabinet brands in X7. I imported the defaults and made a few adjustments for X8. I just moved the layout templates over, maybe next time.

Sometimes you have to reduce the bounding box size of appliance symbols. This is best done before changing the appliance size. Changing both can have unwanted/ unexpected results though and may need trial and error. Sometimes when inserting from the library an appliance won't fit even when the cabinet is correct. You can usually drag the cabinet off somewhere, increase the width and depth or item height...then inert appliance. Then resize back to the correct size and put it back. When the final view of the face of an appliance,with proper reveals, is critical I find a SU or dwg and delete the body. Then import that as a symbol (fixture that does NOT insert into a cabinet) then float that onto the front of the cabinet.

You can assign the polyline itself to any layer you want. Then turning off that layer turns off the label for it. Set the line properties to white if you only want the label to show. More often I'm using psolids with a label, blocked so I can get it into a schedule-in that case I usually set it to below the surface of the floor with white lines.

place object in plan -anywhere-CAD, CAD block management, find the CAD block and select insert. Unblock, open, change line stile to dashed, reblock. beat me to it.

Michael beat me to it;)

Convert to regular poly line first. Then you can change the number of segments, then convert to solid or molding line.

I also always have to hide lights and rarely have an exposed bottom molding. Block CAD detail and add to library or place in a warehouse plan,one for framed and one for frameless... never need to make it again and rarely have to alter it.