MarkMc

Hmm, toggled that off and on and it doesn't appear to affect the foreshortening?. Wonder if it is a setting in my mouse instead? The only other setting I've found says it's for 3D mice.

I'm not happy this works. A cabinet made this way doesn't allow changing or adding doors or drawers. It would not work as easily IF it did or followed all the defaults.

Right, and at this time you can't simply convert a 3D view to a cabinet, the only way is to export and import.

tried that first, does not work on the cabinets I tried

I use the scroll wheel all the time and don't get that happening. I assume it is a setting somewhere but I can't find it??. Help says

Found this by accident. I'd been going through hoops to get millwork into the cabinet schedule. Arch blocks don't always read dimensions properly, converting millwork to a cabinet door is a pain to place in plan. So Open new plan, place object, take 3d view with everything else turned off, export as .DAE. Then import as symbol, select type "cabinet", set materials to -plan, use default. There is an option to select the type of cabinet-base, wall or tall. If you select base and your default cabinet is set to have a counter you will need to change that in the object once you place it. Once in the library there is very little you can do with the new "cabinet" object. NOTE-if you're hood has molding that protrudes from the side and you include that with the new symbol the dimension will include the molding as part of the overall size. That doesn't match most brands sizing. Solution is to make the symbol without the molding and add it later. If you are making the hood symbol from scratch that is easy enough. IF you are using an existing symbol you can hack out the molding and corbels. I've used this technique to hack other library symbols to something else (say you need to alter the top section of a turned leg, ..door symbols were done using this along with a solid and a cabinet.) The easiest way to get rid of those is to hack the symbol through a couple of generations. Plan attached starts with a hood from the library on the left, then shows generations going to the right. Each generation MUST be converted to a new symbol before altering it to the next generation. Look at the stretch planes to get an idea how this works. The last 3 symbols are the new cabinet. The first one is raw, second one I quickly stuck on some molding, 3rd one I add a flat to clean up lines if using a shorter molding than it started with. (this is also useful if there is a hood in the library but you need to change the molding- Hood to cabinet schedule.plan

Might be filed of view- default is 55, is it something else?

With a multi-panel door you have to watch stretch zones and planes. Normally cabinet door symbols work best with stretch zones as opposed to planes. Problem is you can't have multiple zones, only multiple planes. Make the door symbol close (or better yet) exactly the size you need if at all possible. Using cabinets to build the symbol allows making new sized symbols quickly using the same plan. Attached shows zones on a single door cabinet where the center rail is set to align with base cabinets. The double door rail is also set that way but in this case the stiles resized to be slightly off once the door was configured to the correct size.

Is this what you mean? These are made using a cabinet- panels are "side panel inset". I have a bunch of door symbols that are panels without frames that I use as wainscott or to make door symbols. I've posted "kit" plans over in symbols in the past. Also instructions for doing it and Michael (Alaskan Son) did a vid on it in tips I think.

Most likely place would be windows control panel, mouse, pointer, pointer schemes. If you never use cross hairs and that is set for precision change that pointer and save the scheme as something and select that.

Dunno, don't remember it not being there but then again nowadays I make the wife wear a name tag.

note that using "paneled" or "auto panel" for a side in the dbx will NOT show in plan. OTOH-pick the side you need, "match front", then change to "custom face", and it will show, just change the configuration of the side to suit.

I try to keep requests to things that are a matter of life and death, lead to nervous breakdowns, smashed screens or to fill in rabbit holes. like clipped corners

Agree, for me these are SOP but have had plenty of layouts come across my desk from others without them. I've run into so many installers who don't know what they are that I've add specific notes for overlays AND a 3D view with notes (installer on phone "the fillers are 1/4" too short", better yet they get installed in place of the fillers and clients think it's a mis-order) I think CA deals with this just fine. What would be easier? ... If you don't want be opening the dbx just keep them in the library. I have a several variations in the library by brand-overlay split in two to match drawer head and door height, both types with an outlet in the top for islands. It only gets messy if they need to be arch blocks, but still not too bad. In most brands filler overlays (or build ups) need to be a separate line item in the schedule -for that drag from library, size to correct dimensions if needed, P to P move on top of the filler. If it doesn't need to be a line item add notation to the library item in the OIP -place standard fillers when working then "replace from library". The only issue I run into with overlays or fillers is making the dimensions in the schedule read what I want to order, still no big deal.

There are fillers in the build menu, I have them set with keyboard shortcuts.

Sorry, was in a hurry and gave you bad info on getting into the schedule- it has to be a cabinet to get it into the schedule. ( I have them blocked with fillers in the library.} Cabinet set at 3' deep forced to overlap the filler.

Place filler manually, open dbx, front tab, change from blank to door panel, specify slab door. If you need them to appear seperately in the schedule you have to place as loose doors. X9 shows doors in plan, if using that check your layer settings.

I've been happy using Clevo/Sager laptops running Windows Pro. My first one is going in for a monitor cable but otherwise fine even with a few drops. Lot more bang for the buck on Windows machines than Apples IMO, just not as sexy. I prefer the OS others don't. Which one you like may be a deciding factor. Sager is a US re-brander of Clevo (world's largest laptop maker)- there are a few others. Highly configurable (done by the re-brander), all the ports you could want, don't look like spaceships. FWIW the original Alienware laptops (before Dell bought Alienware) were all Clevos. I bought the first one from Sager, second one from XoticPC. Either is fine, think I slightly prefer the latter. In most of the gaming brands (Asus, MSI, Gigabyte..) it is now possible to get a desktop processor which (in my case anyway) eliminates having to fiddle with Optimus and Intel video cards. Downside is battery life. Other than that get an SSD (m2 is a good idea), check ports.

An option is designate room as kitchen and use autoplace- still likely have to move some but the GFCI's will be on the wall at correct height.

In wood even complex shapes are most often built from straight pieces, it helps to know how that will be done IRL.

I use separate parts, more or less as I would build it, with different textures in the proper direction. If I start with a single piece, copy paste in place, alter to isolate members. Once converted you can change textures individually. Have original plans saved, parts in library, between the two alterations are quick.

My answer was not face by face mapping and I have no problem with getting it consistently accurate or altering parts. Corrections, I always have the correct overall grain direction for wood members.

Plan can't go back. Post the plan. Someone will solve it.

The actual question asked "What I'd like to figure out is if there is a way to model case goods + cabinets, etcwithout having a room around it. " Chief is perhaps the best software out there for case goods unless you need cut lists or to interact with CNC . First you said "no" because of texture mapping, 2 of us provided solutions (and I answered his question.) Then it changes to upholstery. You're right, Chief isn't ideal that. Sure improvements in CAD and 3D would be nice (ran into a few unexpected quirks making that arch top)...I'd rather see improvements for stairs. Think if you took a poll the results would be similar. If someone needed to design upholstery or even chairs more than occasionally they should look elsewhere for software. If just as a reference for a client I find something and alter it. The few times a year I come across needing more I use a pencil, just as when I built the stuff (but my concern then and now included connections thicknesses, that it can be done) maybe I'd also use 2D cad, maybe Chief and finally hand it off to the maker. (the ones I know produce physical models). I think you can either complain or look for ways to get what you need. Look hard enough, think a little differently and it may be there. Invariably what is learned can be useful later (make a module of Seagram's curtain wall with a cabinet . It's a hold over from my last line of work- "if you know someone who can do it don't call us", motto- "hey they built the pyramids with less" Very nice Graham, what did you use?

OTOH I have no doubt this guy does not use Chief. I wonder if he'd have done as well if he started with software instead of a pencil and a chain saw. http://craftivism.com/blog/wendell-castles-10-adopted-rules-of-thumb/