Expert: Bob - 4/8/2009

Question
Autocad Architecture 2009
When i select render/materials nothing happens.
How do i get materials to open ?

Answer
Hi--I don't know what in the world to do about the fact that questioners mostly -- not just you -- do not fill in:
-- their form of work and what they are trying to accomplish.
-- their traning and experience, whether self-taught, etc.
-- whether you tried looking for a solution and where, or did you just give up when the way you tried failed?
-- with ACA, I must know whether you are using it with a plain AutoCAD profile or not. (it's different if these are 3D intelligent objects you are rendering vs a plain ACAD drawing) And I must know if you have training in ACA, or just plain ACAD.

Thus, I often don't have the basis on which to understand you, nor to ask the proper questions back. By the name you chose, I will guess you are a student.

As it happens, I am not using ACA 2009, but had a class in it last year, after many years of using the former versions. I am going to try to point you in the right direction. Today, I don't have time to open the program and look for your answer, sorry, but my goal is always to show you how to find your own for next time.

First, I seem to recall that materials have to be set up, or applied, in  a different way for ACA than AutoCAD, even though the render engine is the same --- thus a user of old AutoCADs may try the method you tried and get nowhere.

HIGHLY suggested: DO NOT use ACA without a good book next to the computer. It is endlessly complicated and confusing until you get the hang of it.

BUT-- did you check out HELP?  (Again, it can be confusing, because some of the help files are straight ACAD, and not 100% right for ACA.) There should be a tutorial on materials, as well as references in HELP, and in the New Features part of help.

Write back if you dont find it, with FULL info, and I will try to assist you. Again, my best memory tells me that you tried the "regular old way", while there is a new twist.

BOB