Gytis

I strongly second this. I may be paranoid, but I autosave a backup copy to new location AND manually save my original file like gmm18 describes: I hatessess re-doing thingssess....

Not sure what your desired result is, but your base object is 2 polylines, one of which is not closed. You will not get reliable 3D results with impossible objects. Use NURBS....

Thank you gmm18--very handy!

Have you checked CLASS visibilities for the viewport?

Yes, truly a fair gripe, oft repeated. That being said, have you used working planes? They offer a lot of what you request, once mastered.

Yes, please. I strongly second, though I have my doubts on this one, as "Extrude Along Path" is really a NURBS function.

The file size change is an important clue. As I had changed Document Prefs>Save VP Cache in order to retain renders, I increased the file size, but unexpectedly dramatically. With all VPs rendered it was over 1GB! The root problem is that though each VP is cropped to a close-up, the ENTIRE design layer is calculated THEN cropped, and it is quite a DL, less a model than an aggregate of all pieces/parts. I would recommend more rigorous and liberal use of layers and classes to isolate, control, and organize visibilities. I played around turning classes off and got much better results, i.e. quicker renders and much less memory usage. I'm not sure of your requirements, but I would put different assemblies on different layers (including an invisible "Reference/Derelict" which I include in every file to dump development stuff), while using classes more as you have, to control types of parts. IMHO, this is definitely the primary issue. HTH.

I've looked at the file you posted, and have a few observations: 868 MB=very large and unwieldy file Some ways to minimize: purge un-needed colinear vertices in polylines use more symbols for repeated items (one definition=endless usages w/o memory penalty) most importantly, create leaner file structure with DLVPs to reference files with standard elements I've been told there is no perceptible difference between For VP settings, I've been told there is no perceptible difference between "Shaded Polygon" and "Final Shaded Polygon" except the latter takes lots longer to render.... [*]I don't know what the official recommended file size is, but I get the feeling that staying under 250 MB is a good idea. Personally I try to stay under 150 MB. I was able to render your D Rails Sheet, but it took f...o...r...e.....v...e.......r........

Maybe you could post a file, so people could have a look. I'd suspect a geometry issue.

It doesn't.....just go to View>Stacked Layer Options....> select Display 2D Objects on Active Layer.

It has been bundled with VW but I'm pretty sure you can buy a separate license for an existing VW serial #. I think it's about 2000 USD now. Send an email-they are very responsive. info@extragroup.de

Another way: It won't be a 2D elevation, but you can readily view AND manipulate the inside of a 3D model with View>Set 3D View (or better, Renderworks Camera if you have RW). You can place/move objects with 3D tools or use OIP when possible

Yes, please, to stacked dimensions and separate leader!

In VW Prefs>Autosave, what are your settings? Overwrite or backup copy? Then there are options for where it is saved...original location or custom. If you were doing backup, this may help you find a backup file.

Check out: NNA Tech Tips custom title block and: NNA Tech Tips issue manager

I like to include 2D or 3D loci with symbols, in their own class to control visibility, and even if you forget to switch class off, they won't print or render.

My apologies for a too brief response. Draw a profile (top or bottom of "door"), and a rail (the height) and 3D Modeling>Loft THEN Shell. Very quick and clean. I will post an example when I get a moment... HTH

Convert to Nurbs first, then Shell.

No, unfortunately, though it's been wishlisted. You would have to undo the fillet via "Ungroup", then edit the Extruded Rectangle with normal tools, then re-"Fillet Edge". The OIP "reshape" is actually making asymmetrical scale changes, which affect the fillet dimensions as well.

You could duplicate the symbol in the Resource Browser, rename it say, -red. Use "Replace.." dialog in OIP to place precisely in desired previous black instances...

UPDATE: Experimented with a stripped down file, same results. Forged ahead with original file, ignoring the issue, and suddenly I notice that SVPs are rendering as desired! Happiness, sort of. What was wrong? What "fixed" it? Will it occur again? I had been working on minor revisions, some on primary design layers, some on SVPs, VPs... I've always believed in the ghost in the machine.

Goes to section VP which does not display correctly......see attached.

Frustration! Section viewports which previously had displayed attributes of original objects (i.e. hatches, fills, etc.) in the section plane no longer do, nor will no matter what I fiddle with. Other files, and earlier versions of troubled file are display correctly. Viewports are set to "none" class, and ALL settings are identical to functioning VPs. File has increased in complexity with DLVPs to external file, and several SVPs duplicated numerous times for details, a detailed 3D model pushing the file to nearly 100MB. Could any of this be the offending animal?

Wow, Pat. You are the man! A space in front of "Fronts" was the wrench in the works. Thanks...you have ended a debilitating bout of intense confusion. How about this: how do you reference a database sub-row cell, e.g. B3.2? Seems to just read formula as text. I've played with various operators to no avail and can't find instructions....

I don't know what I am doing incorrectly, but I cannot make an external call reference from a spreadsheet row in one worksheet to a database cell in a second worksheet. Both are in the same drawing/file, and I have followed the manual directions(I think...), as shown in grab. I am trying to reference the contents of cell E13 in Worksheet 'Fronts'.