Symbols

[johnnyprc]

When I watch videos on making symbols, it appears so easy. Yet, rarely when I select an object(s) do I have the option to make a symbol (greyed out). Can someone share the nuance on how one makes a symbol? Can you make everything a symbol, or just certain items?

Thanks

[dshall]

You can turn anything you are looking at into a symbol. a real cool thing is you can also delete selected surfaces, turn into symbol, and the surface that were deleted will not show. You can even turn symbols into symbols. Put two symbols in your plan, do an H view, and turn that into a symbol.

[johnnyprc]

That's the answer - the H view. I guess you can't turn things into Symbols in certain views.

No mention of that in the official instructions:
http://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00809/

It just says "Create a camera view or overview in which the object or objects that you wish to convert to a single symbol are the only things displaying" How do they think people will learn if they don't include this important aspect??? Unless the top plan view isn't a "view" or "overview", this statement is not correct.

[kenoeightspot]

You can create a symbol in other views than the "H" view, "Isometric", "View Direction", "Perspective view", " Orthographic View".

[Joe Carrick]

William is right. Basically any 3D View will work. I prefer a Perspective Camera but even Elevation/Section Camera Views will work. The key is that it must be a 3D View. You can not do it in the Standard Plan View because there are no Surfaces in that View.

The "Top Plan View" is not a Camera View. There are no surfaces to convert to a Symbol.

[moak]

I agree it could be clearer. It does not really point out that "camera views" and "overviews" are specific tools in Chief. If they included the icons below it would be clearer.

[kenoeightspot]

"Elevation" view, I never thought of it as a 3D view, but it does work.

[Joe Carrick]

When I create a symbol, I use a Perspective Camera View (Standard) so I can see all the materials as they will appear in a Rendering.

I then select each material and "Copy" to a new name so that it's relevant to the Symbol (Symbol_Name.Part_Name) as an example. Then when the Symbol is created those material names will be stored with the Symbol and allow you to easily identify what part of the symbol the materials are for.

example:

My_Panel_Door.Horizontal_Rails
My_Panel_Door.Vertical_Rails
My_Panel_Door.Panels

Later when the Symbol is inserted into a Plan, I can set each of the above to any material I want (maybe I want Tempered Glass Panels) but the names will keep their descriptive names.

[johnnyprc]

Good to know guys - thanks. I always thought of a floor plan as a "view" (ie Floor Plan View), but I guess it might not be in Chief.

Very good to know about the materials naming...

[Kilgore Trout]

A floor plan view is still a view, it's just not a "camera or overview". You can turn any 3D data into a symbol from any 3D view that you can create from the 3D menu. Not a floor plan, not a cad detail, not a layout.

[johnnyprc]

A floor plan view is still a view, it's just not a "camera or overview". You can turn any 3D data into a symbol from any 3D view that you can create from the 3D menu. Not a floor plan, not a cad detail, not a layout.

Makes sense now. In other apps I use the "top" camera (other names as well) is what we access for that view. In Chief that really isn't a "camera".

The only thing I'd add to this then is - why doesn't Chief let you make a symbol from selected objects in the floor plan? No one has to answer that, more a Rhetorical question.

[jcaffee]

Johnny, it was answered in response #5 from Joe...

"You can not do it in the Standard Plan View because there are no Surfaces in that View."

jon

[MarkMc]

a real cool thing is you can also delete selected surfaces, turn into symbol, and the surface that were deleted will not show. You can even turn symbols into symbols. Put two symbols in your plan, do an H view, and turn that into a symbol.

That is cool and looks to solve some issues I've had with side access glass doors.

But when I try that- found I have to export as 3ds, then import to be able to get it as a cabinet symbol- easy enough. But once I get the symbol in it does not act like a cabinet- I can't alter the size- in the general tab dimensions are greyed out and there is no "door drawer tab"??. What am I missing?

[Joe Carrick]

Mark,

Creating Cabinet Symbols is a totally different animal. The Door and Drawer's must be defined as "Planes" specifically. It's a very difficult and convoluted process - not worth dealing with.

I think it's best just to use Chief's "Native" cabinets.

[William H Lynch]

Ok, I got everything except what an 'H' view is...