STRANGE BEHAVIOR WITH MOLDING POLYLINES PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS 3D MOLDING POLYLINES

[kwhitt]

First, when adding molding from an elevation view, the resulting profile gets offset quite a far distance from the intended location.  After created, it must be manually moved into place every time.  3D molding polylines used to fall into place perfectly. 

 

Second, the Length/Perimeter under the Polyline tab is totally inaccurate - see attached.  This example is made up of 4 sides with two segments at 36-1/2" wide and two segments at 10" in height - although I am unable to select the vertical segments in a 3D camera view.  The total perimeter should equal 93" while the dialog box reports 73".  I very often use this feature to calculate molding quantities which is totally useless to me now.  Instead of orbiting around the room in a camera view and adding up the total lengths, I now must create 2D elevations of each wall and manually add all the segments together.  It doesn't seem to be a problem in plan view where I often use "Make Room Polyline" to calculate shoe and baseboard.  I no longer trust Chief to return accurate molding measurements.  Granted, this is a file created in X15 now being edited in X16 if that factors in.  Has anyone else experienced strange behavior from the new Molding Polyline? Can someone confirm the Length/Perimeter readings are off? 

[Alaskan_Son]

Funny you bring this up, I started noticing some issues with these moldings recently as well.  You're not wrong.  The values can be incorrect, and converting a polyline to a molding causes the resulting molding polyline to offset.  The latter definitely seems like a bug.  The other though is a little debatable depending on which values you expect to see.  The values in that Polyline tab will vary depending on exactly how the polyline is drawn, how you have your polyline selected, and in which view/editing plane you're working.  The reported lengths/areas in that dialog seem to report the length/area of the polyline shape is it relates to a very specific plane. 

 

If you want simple molding lengths, you should probably be using the Components tab, the Materials List, text macros, or the Ruby Console to get that perimeter or molding length. 

 

[kwhitt]

2 minutes ago, Alaskan_Son said:

Funny you bring this up, I started noticing some issues with these moldings recently as well.  You're not wrong.  The values can be incorrect, and converting a polyline to a molding causes the resulting molding polyline to offset.  The latter definitely seems like a bug.  The other though is a little debatable depending on which values you actual want to see.  The values in that Polyline tab will vary depending on exactly how the polyline is drawn, how you have your polyline selected, and in which view/editing plane you're working.  The reported lengths/areas in that dialog seem to report the length/area of the polyline shape is it relates to a very specific plane. 

 

If you want simple molding lengths, you should probably be using the Components tab, the Materials List, text macros, or the Ruby Console to get that perimeter or molding length. 

 

Thanks Michael.  I was just getting ready to start a ticket but as usual I cannot find the link.  It's as if Chief does not want you to open a ticket.  Do you have a direct link?  Kevin

 

I've also noticed that you are unable to select a vertical segment within a molding polyline in a camera view.  I prefer doing my take-offs in 3D if there's not much to count as I find it faster than creating a material list.

[Alaskan_Son]

3 minutes ago, kwhitt said:

Do you have a direct link?

Go to Chief's home page>My Account>Technical Support Center>New Case

[kwhitt]

15 minutes ago, Alaskan_Son said:

Go to Chief's home page>My Account>Technical Support Center>New Case

Thanks!

[robdyck]

On 1/28/2025 at 4:18 PM, kwhitt said:

the resulting profile gets offset quite a far distance from the intended location.

This happens only when a polyline is converted to a molding. Instead, select the molding from the library and draw on the intended surface using the Molding Line tool. If you start with cad lines, just leave them there and draw over them with the Molding Line tool, using them as snap references.

I have reported this to Chief a long time ago...as soon as it became a problem actually.

 

Keep in mind that the Molding Polyline tool will draw moldings at some interpretation of 90 degrees from what is intended. This is why it is better to use the Molding Line tool and then complete the shape once the molding has been established.

Also reported...but not fixed.

[tundra_dweller]

38 minutes ago, robdyck said:

This happens only when a polyline is converted to a molding. Instead, select the molding from the library and draw on the intended surface using the Molding Line tool. If you start with cad lines, just leave them there and draw over them with the Molding Line tool, using them as snap references.

 

Great info!