Expert: Bob - 1/18/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello!
I just got my degree as an architect.I am working on autocad for about 7 years and now I am trying to learn autocad architecture. I have two questions and i can't find how to fix these two things on my drawing.
1. When i add a window at a wall eg on a horizontal wall I can't see the two vertical lines that the wall is split and the window is added
2. Let's say that I am drawing a residence and i draw mw external walls. Then I want to draw an internal wall.I have my start point but then when I click my other point immediately the wall extends to my opposite external wall.
The only way to draw the internal wall and not to be extended to the opposite side is to specify the length of it. But as you can imagine many times we just want to end our wall at a general point.
well i don't know if you had similar problems or if it would help to attach a drawing example. Please tell me if so.
Thanks for your time!
Ioanna

ANSWER: Hi--

It is late here: I am going for  a quick reply.

1--this could be due to the height of the window within the wall (cut plane) or maybe you have the display on Low Detail. I would have to think more, and you should investigate your settings more.

2-- this one sounds like your OSNAPS may need to be off for a moment -- you seem to be snapping the new wall to the far wall. I have never seen this problem.
Presumably you have GRID and SNAP off. Of course, if the wall is too long, you could simply trim it with the other interior wall it intersects.


BUT MY MAIN REPLY IS -- DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT try to learn ACA without a course or a good book, which it seems like you are  doing. Your second question, in particular, is about a quite odd occurrence. Your first seems to say you dont understand display representations or display settings.

But I am guessing a little. Sending me the drawing is not possible ---

BOB

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for replying so quickly!
I am having tutorials is just the teahers are no so expertised here so i am searching for a better answer.
I don't have my snap and grid off. I very rarely use them. I also had many tries with the osnaps on and off or even with the cleanups (as my teacher told me) eventhough i don't think it has to do with the wall cleanups.
Thanks any way!If you have any news I would be happy to hear from you!
thanks again

ANSWER: I suggest always to have the correct edition of Paul Aubin's book next to you when trying to learn ACA. It is up to you to make up the deficiency in teaching at your school, sorry.
The price of a good book is much cheaper than wasting your time.
http://paulaubin.com/mastering_autocad_arch_2008.php

BOB

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the suggesting me that book.
I also had searched and found a tutorial series that could be bought via internet and it is authorised by autodesk.Do you suggest something like that?Of course usig and refering to the book first of all.
An other question that I would like to ask is about the unit.How can I draw in meters and not in milimeters without changing all the parameters of the programm.I think the problem with the cut plane had occured because i changed the units and the cut plane settings where not changed.
thanks!
Ioanna

Answer
If you are attracted to the tutorial series and it covers topics you need, I am sure it is good.

AutoCAD draws in UNITS -- not inches, millimeters, etc. You could draw in mm and use a dimension style that reads 3.75m, rather that one which reads 3750mm.
--- BUT, on the very first day of AutoCAD class, we show how to set up a drawing. If you type UNITS, one choice is meters. Sorry, I think you need to go through a good AutoCAD book before the ADT book, and see if there is more that you missed.

BOB