jeffroyer

An update on this problem. The issue is that symbols or pio's placed in a round wall do not have snap points in flyover mode. They do in top/plan. I am posting on the bug submit as well.

That's precisely the issue. Dealing with drawings from multiple consultants and multiple formats (anyone ever work with Softplan?). I think I have a better handle on how to get this done though. The main issue is the lack of a consistent common point to lock into the 0,0,0 point. thanks for the input

How does one go about ensuring that layers referenced in with wgr are accurately aligned to the layers in the primary document?

I found that the extrude along path failed due to the fact that I wasn't using a simple circle for the profile of the railing. In the end I was able to get a pretty decent solution using a series of sweeps based on the arcs that composed the "spiral". Lots of long-hand math but it did the job.

I am attempting to create a 3d detail of a stair handrail turnout at the bottom tread. The primary handrail was created with a sweep since the stair is curved. The turnout needs to negotiate the height difference between the handrail and the adjoining guardrail. Thus, it pitches down approximately 14? along its path. The turnout (see attached) is composed of 3 arcs. I have attempted to combine them into a single nurbs curve and use extrude along path but cannot figure out how to accurately manipulate the curve in 3d to achieve the slope I need. Is there a better way to do this? thanks

Hi Benson, Yes, I did place 3d loci. Actually you have to get the symbol to break the wall. I think the answer may be to convert the symbol to a group but unfortunately that takes away the ease of mass updating later.

I have created my own hybrid window symbols for use in a round wall. The wall is tall and has two levels of windows. Once placed, I was trying to use the tape measure to verify the distance between the windows but didn't find any snap points. I was also intending to do some extrude along path for the trim on these windows but I think I will need to snap to points on my window to define the path.

Is there a way to snap to symbols in walls (i.e., windows)?

Actually, yes - you can render a sweep just as you would any 3d object. Either through the class settings or in the oip.

thanks. Just came back to say "it didn't work"! Setting to 0 took care of it though.

thanks all. thanks for the workaround Kevin. Funny thing is that I do have to specify the wall thickness anyway for my detailing but just hadn't gotten to that yet. Jeff

Yes, that was a touch small! Should have previewed. I have attached another, this time as wireframe since it better illustrates the problem. I duplicated the issue in a clean file to verify it wasn't file specific.

I am getting an undesirable effect when inserting windows into curved walls. Two "fins" at either side of the window, just beyond the actual jamb, protrude out either side of the wall. They don't show in top/plan, only in 3d. See attached image for description

I should have mentioned the law of diminishing returns - don't set the resolution too high or it will take forever to render.

I have been downloading profiles from the internet and then tracing using simple lines and arcs. You can then compose into a polyline and create a symbol if desired.

Miles, Is your 3d model view saved to a sheet layer? If so, you can modify the dpi for the sheet layer to a higher number which will greatly improve the resolution.

Thanks for the input. The problem is when it gets more complex than that. Say a sweep of 111.43degrees. It isn't impossible to do the math (I actually do like math) but it doesn't really make sense for the input to be set up this way. This assumes that the majority of sweeps are based on 360. And then if you do want to tinker with the sweep length in the edit mode you are back to adjusting the pitch in the oip. If height was absolute, then you wouldn't need to. Example - working on stringers for curved stairs with a set floor to floor height.

It would be very useful to set the pitch of a sweep not based on a full revolution but based on the amount of revolution you are assigning the sweep. This becomes especially important if you go to the oip to tweek the sweep. The pitch (height) remains a constant regardless of adjustments to the sweep. Now you have to do the math for every adjustment (who wants to do math?)

Take a look at this podcast by Jonathan Pickup: http://web.mac.com/jpickup1/iWeb/Site/Podcast/D14F12E0-3704-4974-8742-0973C00A7169.html I don't know if this method will work in your particular case but it is worth a try.

Once it has been placed there are fields in the OIP to specify the style setting of the various elements. You then need to specify what those style settings are in the class attributes.

it was right there in front of me the whole time in the view roll down menu. "update selected viewports"

Thanks. That is a mighty nice change from what I have been doing! This must have been on the one page of the manual I didn't cover in my late night reading

Thanks for the tip!

It would quite helpful if when editing an "extrude along path" profile one could snap to the center of the cross hair for accuracy sake.

What types of details are you trying to achieve (what type of complicated ceiling?) As Peter points out, it is fairly quick and very accurate to flip between top/plan and the various elevation views. The number keys on your keyboard quickly toggle between views (I picked that up from Peter in another posting). You don't need to convert your 3d object to a symbol in order to position it. It does make sense to locate the object in plan and then flip to another view to locate it in the z dimension. You can also just use the 3d move command to move it up or down if you already know how far it needs to be moved. Extrude along path is a great way to create details (crown moldings, etc) but beware that the user manual does a miserable job of describing how the tool works. Do a search in the forums as it has been covered before.