Nicinus Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 I have some issues with 2D dwg import for details and just wanted to get some feedback on whether I've understood it correctly, or if there is a better way: 1) In order to import a dwg detail I create a new detail in 'CAD/detail management' in plan, and then import the dwg. 2) Hatch patterns are lost or converted to solid polylines. 3) I mapped all layers to a single layer, but created a new CAD, details in order to "minimize" the mess For some reason all notes disappear in the import. Initially my dimension notes disappeared as well, but came back after I told Chief not to import as cad block instead of dimensions in the import dbx so I assume this problem is related. I've enclosed the cad detail in case anyone would like to import it and see why the notes are lost. You have to rename the file call 'Wd_Std...." from .plan to .dwg as the uploader refused to let me upload neither dwg nor zip. Wd_Std_SPS_Window_Silly.plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwideziner Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I import dwgs into a blank plan file as I save all details in a plan file this works most of the time but sometimes I have to explode the dwg text first. It d4epends how the dwg was made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicinus Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 Interesting. So you have one dedicated plan file for all your details, and then you copy from that one to your working plan or directly to layout? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwideziner Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 No I have mostly 1 detail per plan, exceptions being cladding flashing details which I have up to 5 in 1 plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe_Carrick Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I have a Plan for each type of detail: Railings Door Head, Jamb, Sill Window Head, Jamb, Sill Foundation Roof etc. Within each Plan I have a set of "CAD Details" that are named and have a Callout with text (Macro uses %view_name%). All my CAD Details have an invisible border of the same size so I get consistency when sent to layout (same layout box size) I create all my Details completely within Chief. Each of my Detail Plans are modified versions of Chief "Detail Template" which provides a really nice simple way to create consistent details. Occasionally I import specific product dwgs (manufactured objects) which I add to the library so I can put those things into my details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJSpud Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Joe: Interesting. How many different plan files do you have for all the various detail types you keep? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe_Carrick Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Joe: Interesting. How many different plan files do you have for all the various detail types you keep? Currently I have 6. The Standard Details and General Notes that I use for just about every project are already in my Layout Template. Having the Detail Plans works kind of like a Library of Details and everything is to Scale. I just pick the appropriate Details to send to Layout. If I need a new Detail it get's done in the appropriate Detail Plan and then it's available for the future. This means that I typically have 7 Plan Files associated with each project. One for the Project and six for the Details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicinus Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 I have a Plan for each type of detail: Railings Door Head, Jamb, Sill Window Head, Jamb, Sill Foundation Roof etc. Within each Plan I have a set of "CAD Details" that are named and have a Callout with text (Macro uses %view_name%). All my CAD Details have an invisible border of the same size so I get consistency when sent to layout (same layout box size) I create all my Details completely within Chief. Each of my Detail Plans are modified versions of Chief "Detail Template" which provides a really nice simple way to create consistent details. Occasionally I import specific product dwgs (manufactured objects) which I add to the library so I can put those things into my details. Why separate plans for these categories and not one with several detail pages? To avoid a mess in the Detail Management dbx? There doesn't seem to be a way to create sub directories in the Project Browser (except cameras where I have an Overview folder for some reason.) How do you handle layers for these details? Are they all in Cad, default or do you separate out text and dimensions? What is is that designates a drawing to a certain category like being a detail in Chief? I would for tidiness like to have an elevation category but it all ends up in 'Cross Sections'. Sorry for all my questions, but I find the reference manual to be very dry when it comes to motivating different options, and searching usually results in very old threads and Choef versions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy1 Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I keep all of my cad details in the library. I have folders and sub folders. I place them in the plan cad detail management as I need them and then send them to layout. This way, it's easy for me to know the exact details that were used for the specific plan. I also do plan specific electrical legends. I know some people use a generic legend that has a lot of stuff even if it's not in the plan because it's faster but I like it plan specific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicinus Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 That certainly sounds like a good way of organizing them, and you don't have to have separate plans for them. Would be interested to hear Joe's view on advantages with using separate plans instead? I've noticed that it seems to be a good idea to work on exploded details in a clean plan so that I don't mix up layers with my typical setup, as a blocked detail only uses one layer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan_Son Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I don't know Joe's reasoning for using multiple plan files (other than organization), however the more bits and pieces a plan has, the slower it gets, CAD details in particular can slow a plan down a lot. Keeping the plan small is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe_Carrick Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Why separate plans for these categories and not one with several detail pages? To avoid a mess in the Detail Management dbx? There doesn't seem to be a way to create sub directories in the Project Browser (except cameras where I have an Overview folder for some reason.) How do you handle layers for these details? Are they all in Cad, default or do you separate out text and dimensions? What is is that designates a drawing to a certain category like being a detail in Chief? I would for tidiness like to have an elevation category but it all ends up in 'Cross Sections'. Sorry for all my questions, but I find the reference manual to be very dry when it comes to motivating different options, and searching usually results in very old threads and Choef versions. I just use Floor 1 as my working detail. It's a copy of Chief's "Detail Plan" template with a few added components that I use to build the detail. As soon as I've completed the detail I copy it to a CAD Detail Window and clear the area for the next detail. Each CAD Detail Window can be "Named" so it shows in the Project Browser as what it is - that's my index - and the macro I use in the CAD Window uses that same name. Having separate Detail Plans gives me a finer division, limits the number of details in any given Plan, and makes it easier to find what I'm looking for. I do have different Layers that I use in my details - mainly to control Line Weights, Line Types and Colors. Since my Details are mostly at 1/2" scale, the Line Weights have to be different than for 1/4" scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicinus Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 But what happens when you import dwg's? Won't you get a mess with layers? Btw, you say your details are at 1/2" scale, I typically use at 1 1/2". Do you use 24x36? How big are your invisible boxes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe_Carrick Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 I don't import dwgs other than those provided by manufacturers. Those are almost always just 1 layer. Sorry for the miscommunication about the scale of my details. I use 1" scale for details. For Interior Elevations I use 1/2" scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicinus Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 That seems to vary though, the one example I have above with the lost text is from Nichiha and came in with 6-7 layers. Would anyone mind loading that detail in the first post and see where the text went? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebdesign Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 I imported that dwg into Chief & got the same thing you did. The text abv was there but not the rest. I opened in OtherCAD & all the text was there. I assumed I needed to do something in OtherCAD before importing it into Chief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 create a blank plan and import any new .DWG's there first then clean-up the drawing and layers as needed then copy into the real plan Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicinus Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 I imported that dwg into Chief & got the same thing you did. The text abv was there but not the rest. I opened in OtherCAD & all the text was there. I assumed I needed to do something in OtherCAD before importing it into Chief. Yes, there either seems to be a problem with Chief's import, or there is some option that strips away this text that I don't understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicinus Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 I just can't figure this out. I looked at the detail in Autocad and everything seems normal, but as soon as I import it into Chief some of the text is lost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwideziner Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 You may have to explode the text while in acad I find this sometimes with some files. Try posting the dwg file also and I will have a look later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebdesign Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 I open it in AcceliCAD & the text isn't there. I open it in Draftsight, it's there. So, I don't think it is all Chief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwideziner Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 I cant see a dwg file to open, Jim from your comment it would appear to be a problem in the dwg file and not CA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicinus Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 Graeme, the file is in the first post. Rename it from .plan to .dwg. So it works in Autocad, Draftsight and Othercad but not Chief and Accelicad. That's almost funny but to me it actually indicates a problem with Chief, as it seems more programs than not can open it. What I can't figure out is what makes that text different from the other items that do import. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwideziner Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 here is the plan file X6 after importing. I had to open in Draftsite and select all text except title at the bottom and explode as they had blocked the text with the leader lines. I find this is quite common so maybe it is something for CA to look into. silly plan.plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebdesign Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 "OtherCAD" is just a catch-all phrase for any other 2D drafting application. It's puzzling that the text didn't show up in AcceliCAD: & I did turn everything on. I think. I'm really liking Draftsight so far. I just installed it a few days ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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