Color to Lineweight

[Madriver]

I think I understand what you are saying here but is it not just as easy to change the line weight itself using the same method? Select all the items, change the line weight, chage the color if desired and you have the same solution. Or am I missing something here?

Yes...but if you read my previous post...the reason I don't change lineweight is that (using a black backround) the backround drawing (i.e existing plan or elevation of a house is in light grey). All new work comes up on screen as color and is defined as new work. It's visual on the screen for both plan and elevation. Again, more of a 2D thing, but in ACAD it was invariable that nubies would layer plans correctly but elevations were layered any old way. The thought was just to get LW for output sakes not caring about how an elevation or section was layered just as long as it plotted correctly. So by having a color to LW option you can maintain layering while still producing correctly layered drawings, have existing conditions show up as lighter backround and new work pop on the screen with color. This won't work with a white bacrkound and black line color unless you turn on (show LWT). Now you could have another seperate 150 layers dedicated to existing conditions (and I do have many) but if you don't want seperate layers for existing conditions, then you can simply change the color to meet your plotting needs.

In Chief I have set up existing wall types as a light grey fill, but take everything that goes into a set of existing condition plans. Do you really want a seperate existing condition layer for every nut and bolt? Maybe, but if you don't you change the color to reflect a light line or backround and again, it is also visable on screen to reflect it as something that is existing or whatever you need. It's a flexability in layering and plotting that is useful. The real advantage is that you never change a layers atributes, and if you need to change back, isolate the layer and return it to it's default color.

BTW, any one else want to tell me how ACAD works or what it can or can't do? I'm not comparing ACAD to anything, I'm asking questions, and looking for ways to adapt my ingrained processes so that Chief is a viable drafting tool for me and my clients. Chief users see things one way and ACAD users see it another, both can work together. I'm not trying to re-invent your wheel, I'm trying to impart another perspective. Some of it may be good, some of it may seem silly, but I'm here to learn with an open mind.

I am a Chief nubie, I am learning every day. I have issues with how some things work in Chief, but with time and experience I'll find out it works, but really, when it comes to how ACAD does something, I don't know anything else, Chief may be the greatest platform in the world, but the more options I have, the more editing capability, the more flexability to do something in more than one fashion is something any CAD user appreciates.

Bob