[arriscad] Offset Images and Problems with Patterns

John Ray johnray at jmr-architecture.com
Fri Feb 13 00:36:19 PST 2015 

Welcome to the fifth level of Arris hell; patterns.

 

Patterns are easily corrupted and will corrupt the database after they are
placed.  I usually have to pack, recreate the display list and/or repair the
pattern(s) (sometimes multiple times) before I can continue working on the
database.  This does not stop the patterns from disappearing, moving, or
offsetting randomly going forward.

 

The best thing I have found is to use patterns sparingly, as a last option,
only in simple outlines, and as the last thing I put on the drawings before
printing.  Never edit them – sometimes it’s okay, as in once, but never
twice or more. It better to erase the pattern and redraw it.  I’ve erased
entire sheets of patterns to edit the drawings and then redrawn the all
patterns before replotting to save time and grief.  I’ll also freeze them as
lines, if possible, after I place them to eliminate associated problems when
I can.

 

I think one of the worst things you can do is to a copy a pattern, and the
very worst is to a copy a pattern over an axis (i.e. x|x, y|y, etc
).  I
also don’t recommend moving or copying patterns between layers or databases
– they, and the databases, don’t seem to behave very well afterwards.

 

If the pattern is made with an R.I. and rotated, forget it – you’ll forever
be fixing it.  I don’t usually include patterns in R.I.s, because the
biggest problem I have with that is not having the pattern library loaded or
available in other database when I use the associated R.I. (or vis-a-versa)
– Arris still can’t keep them together – it tries, but not very well.  If I
do put I pattern in an R.I. I’ll freeze it before I make the R.I.

 

Sometimes you can move the pattern origin (e.g. to line up adjacent patterns
or a specific origin point) but this often produces random results – good
luck.

 

Don’t try and change a pattern type (i.e. line to R.I.)  or parameters (e.g.
scale, color etc..),  just erase it and start over with correct type and
parameters.

 

Additionally, the default for selecting a pattern under “Geometry Edit” is
“Boundary Line”, but it is very hard to select a pattern by the boundary
line if the pattern layer is a lower number (as it should be for plotting –
even if “Display Order” is “Back”) than other entities. But setting it to
“Point In Pattern” for easier selection means that more than 90% of the
pattern needs to be within the active window for the pattern to be selected.

 

As for all the other geometry edits on the pattern “Geometry Edits” menu, I
say use at your own risk – best recommended practice is draw once, don’t
edit, erase if you need to revise, redraw with your revised boundary.

 

If the pattern changes color for some reason (usually to color 1), forget
it, it cannot be salvaged – erase it, redraw it, and move on.

 

One more thing, save, save, save, after every pattern you place and make
sure your undo is set correctly (it will reset to zero randomly as it does
with undo after copying).  Actually, I recommend you save as a new database
(or as a copy) every once in while just in case. There will be a point where
the patterns will completely corrupt the database and you’ll be scrambling
(any praying) to recover your work – been there, done that, not fun.

 

Patterns in viewports are the devil’s playground – use at your own risk.
(Use what at your risk you ask? viewports or patterns? take your pick.)

 

Sadly one of the greater strengths of Arris is now one of its greatest
weaknesses (again, viewports or patterns? take your pick).

 

The plotting problem probably stem from which PDF engine you are using.
Whether it is from Arris or some other PDF printing engine – they are not
all the same and they will produce different results.  Many are engines free
and I suggest trying several to achieve your intended results (although
Arris’s seems to work fine for me).  I did have problems with shifting
patterns in some earlier versions, but (the current) spin 523 seems to have
cured that issue.  Previously I did have to open PDF drawings in Adobe
Professional and fix the patterns before I sent them to the printer. I don’t
know if Arris updated their engine over time, but you might want to update
to the latest version of Arris for plotting (won’t solve your pattern issues
though).

 

As for the doors offsetting – it seems to be a result of updating walls in
older databases.  Jeff’s solution is the best one I have found so far – and
yes it is a pain. Windows will wig out also, but not as much of an issue as
the doors.

 

You’ll notice if you query a door that’s been placed with a flush offset
(and select ‘make current’) the offset becomes “flush” -3 ½” (or -5 ½” – or
whatever the wall thickness is) and that is what the door is offset from the
wall.  What’s happening with the doors when the walls are updated is that
they are offsetting incorrectly according to the door parameters –
confusing, yes.

 

And finally off topic, if you ever segment a line and then go to the R.I.
menu you will always find that the R.I. scale changes to “4”,  or “8”

(depending on the database scale) and rotation changes to “90” or “-90”
regardless of prior R.I. settings – big deal? No. Annoying? Yes – (third
level of Arris hell).

 

Please let me know if you or anyone has experienced the fourth level of
Arris hell; ellipses.

 

Aaah, I feel better now.

 

JohnRay

JMR Architecture

 <mailto:johnray at jmr-architecture.com> johnray at jmr-architecture.com

(916) 337-3375

 

 

 

From: arriscad [mailto:arriscad-bounces at lists.arriscad.com] On Behalf Of T.
Jeffery Clarke
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2015 07:10
To: Phil Lederach; arriscad at lists.arriscad.com
Subject: Re: [arriscad] Offset Images and Problems with Patterns

 

Door frames offsetting on their own has been a problem for a long time.  I
usually (a) match door parameters (b) mark the center location with a short
line and (c) replace the door.  It's a huge PITA.  

 

 

  

Jeff 

  _____  

T. Jeffery Clarke AIA NCARB LEED Green Associate  

T. Jeffery Clarke Architect LLC
116 Commons Way
Princeton NJ   08540

 

(609) 252-1164

 

email -  <mailto:tjefferyclarke at comcast.net> tjefferyclarke at comcast.net

website -   <http://www.jeffclarkearchitect.com/>
www.jeffclarkearchitect.com

 

Please visit us on Houzz -
http://www.houzz.com/pro/tjeffc/t-jeffery-clarke-architect-llc

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Phil Lederach <mailto:phil at lederach.com>  

To: arriscad at lists.arriscad.com <mailto:arriscad at lists.arriscad.com>  

Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 10:17 PM

Subject: [arriscad] Offset Images and Problems with Patterns

 

I have a project where I’m having difficulty with several things.  I’m not
sure if they are related or not:

 

1)    When I Regenerate Display Lists the plans get offsetting images – i.e.
the door frames come up separately as an offset image from the plan; also
I’ve had plans come up separately from other sections of the plan, or
patterns come up separately from the plan.

2)    I seem to constantly have problems with patterns, and my problems seem
to increase after I begin placing patterns.  In my most recent case - things
seemed to be just fine until I start adding patterns to the building
elevations.  It seems I constantly start having crashes, and/or problems
with pattern recognition, or aligning once I place them, or try to cut them
for a window or door, etc.  There are times where the patterns change
direction, or disappear entirely.  In some cases patterns appear where none
were ever placed.

3)    I also have problems with plotting PDF files, especially sheets that
have patterns on.  The sheets appear to plot into PDF format fine –
everything looks to be just fine – pens, patterns, text appear to be great.
But when I send them to my printer/plotter, it tells me there’s a problem
with the page.  Again, everything appears (looks) to be fine the way I
intended the sheet to look but there seems to be something else going on
that’s not readily apparent in the PDF image.  In one instance after a great
deal of fuss, I got rid of the patterns, because they never seemed right
every time I’d go back into the viewport, so, I redid them, and then
replotted the PDF, and it then ran a hard copy print without any problems –
the hard copy looked just like the PDF image.  I thought a PDF copy was an
image of the ARRIS file, and I don’t quite see how anything associated with
the pattern, and/or anything else would carry into the PDF copy.

 

I’m running ARRIS 9.5.  All the patterns in my projects use only those that
came with the ARRIS software.

 

You help will be greatly appreciated.  I’ve redrawn the one floor plan twice
now, and I’m hoping to avoid redrawing it again.

 

Philip C. Lederach, RA, AIA, NCARB, LEED.AP, MArch

LEDERACH ARCHITECTURE, LLC

telephone:   215.256.8272  x  105

www.lederach.com <http://www.lederach.com> 

 

 


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